Reviews (page 4 of 8)
This is #day453 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's to my final album from 2008. Pretty terrible year, judging by the selection on this list. Now, this... is an okay pop-rock album; at times, overly generic and radio-friendly, which makes me wonder again: is this the kind of music you need to hear before you die? Also, those vocals… What strikes me more is the fact that there are three fucking albums by this band on the list. Three. This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day454.
Closer is a really good opener Good radio music, I enjoyed it. Not great because faceless, one of the albums I'd go 3.5 if I could
Commercial music. Coldplay if they were as bad as people say they are
Sorry this band is too boring to get through a full album.
57/100. Sex on Fire and Use Somebody are definitely the saving grace of this record. As a whole it's pretty rough.
Couple of bangers but otherwise mediocre
It’s not a “bad” record. I think for a casual listener, this scratches the itch of being unique enough to feel “indie” or “alternative” about your music taste. But, it’s… really an ok record. It’s got a few glossy production tricks, and a some interesting highs here and there (Crawl is SO close to being cool), but really, am I going to put this on again? Maybe if I need “something I can ignore”, as Rob Gordon once put it
This feels like something I should like, but I have this mental block with certain groups over things they can't necessarily help. These guys remind me a little of Mumford and Sons in that, with both, I find the lead singer's voice gratingly earnest in a way that feels arch, like he thinks he's hot shit. It's a turn off.
The epitome of "meh." I never understood why this blew up the way it did. Its arena-ready anthems are self-apparent, but the singer sounds half asleep and there just seems to be nothing differentiating these guys from a hundred other bands just like them.
I've always been a fan of this band since hearing their hit single play on the radio, which I enjoyed using my old iRiver MP3 player while I rode the bus to elementary school. I excitedly sought to hear the rest of the album, expecting it to be as enjoyable as the single and was swiftly disappointed by how forgettable and, at times, bad the music was. My disappointment is unchanged nearly 20 years later.
Generic AOR that will be forgotten about in a few years and will become the soundtrack to the 'Hey remember the early 00s?' retrospectives when the Gen Z'ers retire. 3/5
Expected to hate it because of how overplayed the singles are, but it's listenable!
A bit more polished than their earlier albums. Felt like this was made for radio play. There are a couple interesting songs but most are just bland.
Not as bad as their other album on this list, but not great by any stretch of the imagination. Loses a star for the creepy ass sing about underage girls.
First four tracks carry
At the time that this album came out alternative rock really needed something cool and this album did it. My hometown boys tap into stadium rock anthems and caught fire. “Closer” and “Revelry” are my favorites. Love this album.
....
Only knew the two big singles coming in, so not super familiar with the whole body of work here. Hard-soft rock is probably the best description of the sound that Kings of Leon offers. The cracking vocals of Caleb Followill gives them a slight edge when comparing to the Imagine Dragons of the industry. This is perfectly apt as dentist's office music, though. Meaning that it's digestible enough for the masses and *appears* soulful. I guarantee I'll hear "Use Somebody" sometime during my next dentist appointment (I actually don't really hate the song, although it's become a bit of a meme recently).
Objectively a great album. It flows well from start to finish, with some solid highs along the way. “Sex on Fire” wore out its welcome out in 2008, but “Closer” still stands as the best track. 4.5/5 stars.
Sellout KoL is best KoL. I liked this a lot when it came out and I still do, but it's not really anything special. 3.5 rounded down
Rock without any new ideas. Pleasant enough, but not vital to moving the craft of songwriting, the craft of production, or even the genre of rock forward. Best thing about this family band is the drumming and percussion of Nathan Followill. Favorite track: "I Want You" Honestly, after listening to more than 650 albums on this list I can say that the British music press has shit for taste. Not one of Kings of Leon albums belongs on this list. You booted Sting's Ten Summoner Tales for 1 more Kings of Leon album? Seriously?
Filth
I have always liked this album however 17 is so gross, point deducted for that.
Really, really, good. SO close to 5 stars. Follow on tiktok @1001album for full review.
His voice is a little single dimensional but the music is great at least for one album.
I feel like if I saw them in person, maybe a small venue, they’d blow my dick off. Clearly have some chops. But on this record it comes across as mass produced and uninspired. Probably a result of the fact we’ve heard the hits a billion times, but I did go back on Pats rec and their older stuff was real. The vocals are where it sounds like a feigned attempt at soulfulness that irks me. Again, if this dude were singing this live I’m sure I’d be impressed. 2.5ish
This is gonna sound pretentious and elitist but whatever. There is something really workmanlike about the KoL. They are competent and skilled, but lacking any inspiration. They’ve go no point of view, no personality besides ‘vaguely soulful’. No hint of madness, and thus no possibility of genius. Nothing to hate but also nothing really to love. Simple but somehow cumbersome melodies. The chord changes are functional, more to resolve the scale than add anything unique to the song . I like the big drums and the heavy bass - solid grooves but nothing memorable. Best song is 17, but even their brand of pedophilia feels flavorless. Also, the singer always sounds like he needs to drink a glass of water.
It’s the bass guitar and drums that take most of the tracks here beyond being just another pop rock song. Very impressed by this IMO, you could throw out Use Somebody and Sex On Fire and still be left with a good album - Manhattan, Revelry, 17, Notion (where this album cooks IMO). 3.5 stars and rounding up
Have never really cared for these guys - Sex is on Fire is kind of a bore. Use Somebody is decent. This time around though, found myself liking Manhattan, Notion, and I Want You enough to say this is a decent album. Went down a rabbit hole, and learned that their first album is a totally different sounds - almost like the Strokes - and that KOL actually doesn't love this big hit album either. Check out their album "Youth and Young Manhood" - worth a listen just for comparison.
Not quite as weird and wonderful as Aha Shake Heartbreak but still a tremendous voice and spectacular sound
This style is not for me but I can appreciate the production. Overall too self serious, kind of Imagine Dragons-y. Light 3.
Fine indie rock. Unfortunately it all sounds very similar to me. Never cared for Sex on Fire, but Use Somebody is pretty good. The rest is ok but not compelling.
Nostalgic for me. It was so fun for a genuine rock song to be a hit when I was in high school. The full album is a bit redundant and I get why there are some negative reviews on here, but I really don’t think the music is bad. It sets a cool vibe.
This album, this band, should not be anywhere near a list of (top) 1000 albums. I can't believe there are enough people who think otherwise. I have wasted enough time on this crap. We really need a negative rating for albums that need to get taken off these lists. Unbelievably bad, it's not even banal, it's just shite. -infinity....
This is a really good album
Pretty good album. I knew the pop songs: Closer, Sex on Fire, and Use Somebody (though I don’t think I knew who sang them). Some of the other songs are growing on me too, like Manhattan and Revelry.
Have you ever watched a Summer blockbuster where you could tell the director sort of wished they were doing an art house film? Like there's some interesting cinematography and it doesn't quite move rhe way most big budget movies do... but in the end it's still a big, dumb Summer movie. This album sort of feels like that.
I somehow missed the high point for these guys (but for 'Sex on Fire,' which was inescapable.) While there's some filler here, I enjoyed more than the familiar singles ('Closer,' 'I Want You.') Might not go into heavy rotation, but would definitely listen again.
The Ark, but from Temu and with more cowbell
Its fine. I didnt like it when it came out and I like it more now but not really all that much more. Feels over produced like alot of radio bs. The vocals I cant stand except when it gets a little country in the middle somewhere. I think that style is much more suited to this vocal technique. But still not that great. Sex is on fire is the only song worth much here and mostly for novelty and nostalgia to be honest. Use somebody still stinks like the first time I heard it. The ohs sound like they are coming out of a bar 2 blocks away. Its weird and not very pleasant. Its whatever though. Good enough to not make me angry but nothing more or less. Kinda unmemorable
Not a fan, song #2, crawl, is good, one more comma just cause.
14/10/2025 It is far too overplayed, but it was on okay album. I can't hate it too much. Spotify listeners: 21.3 million
Slower rock. Definitely could’ve used somebody to listen with.
Nice one. Some songs that are classic; variety and consistency; lyrical interest. Yeah should be on the list. High 3. Nearly 4
I think a lot of us liked Kings of Leon for about 5 minutes because of "Use Somebody". I'd forgotten just how bad the album is. This is the album with the STD song. With two songs with near identical titles (see Be Somebody). With the song 17 (it's exactly as wrong as you think it will be).
I like the hits when they are on the radio, but something about listening to them all on an album started to grate on me a little. His voice started to grate me a little and it just felt really generic and blah after a while. If these brothers hadn't gotten in a fight on stage I don't see them making this list.
I like the hits but the rest of the songs didn't especially draw me in. Crawl is pretty cool.
There is so much religious righteousness in the lead singers voice that even Jesus would quickly hit the skip button. That lazy mumbling he does at the beginning of Revelry is the epitome of everything that I despise about vocalists of that time. It just sounds like an attempt to cover up the fact that his voice simply sucks. Sonically and songwriting-wise, these songs are fine, even good. I don’t fault the rest of the band here at all. I could’ve potentially come back to this had the singers voice been anything less than overwrought and unbearable. Even still, I just “can’t even” with Christian themed music and its intentions. It gives off the eternal “If you’d just accept Jesus into your life…” vibes. Piss off!
Eh, I was hoping to like this more. I’ve always really liked Sex is on Fire, but the rest just feels kind of average and gets samesy.
„Only by the Night“ erschien 2008 und wurde im Blackbird Studio in Nashville aufgenommen. Die US-amerikanische Band Kings of Leon – bestehend aus den Brüdern Caleb, Nathan und Jared Followill sowie ihrem Cousin Matthew Followill – fand hier den Weg vom kantigen Southern-Garage-Rock früherer Jahre zu einem zugänglicheren, atmosphärischen Sound. Die Mischung aus eingängigen Gitarrenflächen, hallgetränkten Vocals und stadiontauglichen Refrains trug Songs wie „Sex on Fire“ und „Use Somebody“ weit über den Indie-Rahmen hinaus. Auch Titel wie „Closer“ und „Revelry“ zeigen die neue, melancholisch-düstere Klangfarbe, die das Album prägt. Der Gesang wirkt kontrollierter, die Produktion glatter, aber die emotionale Intensität bleibt spürbar. „Only by the Night“ markiert den endgültigen Durchbruch der Band, zugleich aber auch einen Bruch mit ihren roheren Wurzeln – ein Schritt hin zu größerer Reife und Massentauglichkeit, den man mögen oder vermissen kann.
It's okay, nothing stood out.
Didn’t realize how many Kings of Leon songs I’d heard before
I cannot decide if it’s a good or a bald album. For me It’s a mixed album. Half of it are catchy songs including the singles. Others are pretty forgettable songs. In general a regular album that can catch you at some moments.
So good loved it
If you’re going to denigrate your albums list by putting a Kings of Leon album on it then this is the one to choose
People really don't like this, huh. I get it, I suppose I can see why people think it's so bland. But compared to some of the shit out there that's *actually* bland, this may as well be the most experimental thing you've ever heard. I get that it can be a bit generic at times, but go and listen to an Ed Sheeran album in full, that will give you a new perspective on the meaning of "bland." Then you will see how much there actually is to appreciate on this album.
Adding Use Somebody to the list of songs I recognize but have no clue who made them, overall album was good most of the songs are filler but the good songs are very good
It’s okay, I don’t hate it but I don’t love it either. Low 3, maybe a 2
I am looking through my excel sheet (I am a nerd) and I am just now realizing that there are 3 Kings Of Leon albums on this list. Not sure who made that happen. This album sounds like ever song on the "Rock" station in the 2000's, nothing is bad, but nothing really stands out. His voice also reminds me of someone that I find annoying, but can't place it. Maybe Mumford and Sons or something IDK. Never realized Use Somebody was by them, but I could go with never hearing that song again. Mid 3.
I admit, the singles are catchy and I can enjoy them. The rest is standard "rock" music of it's time.
3 1/2: Listen, Sex on Fire and Use Somebody are soaring rock bangers carried by the crackly cry of lead singer Caleb Followill. I had this album back in the day and I never really dug deeper than those 2 tracks. But I was glad to revisit this record as this week's assignment. The rest of the album is pretty middling, but their are a few other standout tracks including Notion. I've lost track of the band. Are they still even making music anymore?!
This was pleasant enough while listening but nothing jumped out at me as something I need to hear again. I'll call that a 3.
I’m slightly ashamed that I’ve never listened to this album, considering they are a local band. When I first started listening to this one, my first thought was “this feels a little dated“ and then I realized the album is almost 18 years old. So I apologize to them for that thought. Having said that, this album is kind of mediocre. There are a few big hits on it, but most of the deep tracks are pretty repetitive. They rely heavily on the same tinny sound, repetitive guitar chords, and are banking on the lead singers soulful vocals to carry them through. I picked up another two or three songs that I had not heard before and will listen to again. The rest, not so much. And can we please stop writing nostalgic love songs about minors?
Ah yes, the Kings of Leon. I remember when they were the Next Big Thing. I bought one of their albums but I don't think it was this one. (According to Google it was two albums before this one) and enjoyed it for about a year. I saw them at Bonnaroo one year and they were fine but it was memorable mainly for the power going out mid-song and they continued playing acoustically and finished the song. Of course I couldn't hear it from the roughly a mile away I was. As these guys got bigger (and then enormous) I was less interested in their sound. By the time this album came out I had moved on entirely. Anyway, let's see how I feel about this one in 2025... I remember hearing ABOUT "Sex On Fire" a lot back then but this song doesn't sound familiar to me. I guess I was really tuned out of popular music in 2008-09. "Use Somebody," however, did make its way to my ears quite a bit. (Funnily, though, I could have sworn the name of the song and what was sung in it was "Be Somebody," which is obviously incorrect but is the name of ANOTHER song on this album.) This is... OK, I guess. I liked "Notion." Some of these lyrics are creepy for a band of dudes in their late 20s, particularly "I Want You." I guess they were singing to their audience but it still sounds creepy to me.
agreed, wtf is that song 17
better than i thought it was going to be given the trash headling song sex on fire
Decent enough but nowhere near what came before it. Closer is a belter though
Thought that each song had its own creativity behind it and that the songwriting and lyrical content was on par with the feeling that they were trying to get across. The drive of the upbeat drums along with the guitar tones and vocals was excellent. I would say they stand out amongst themselves in the rock genre and reminds me of those youthful days. Many of the songs have an emotional impact along its them as well which ties into those days when I was a kid.
čobančad uzvraća udarac! ovog puta polazi im za rukom da zvuče još lošije nego na prvom albumu. dosta bi ovoga bilo...
Trallvänliga hitar men blir irriterande efter ett tag
Önskar att jag hade sluppit spendera tid på det här albumet.
Inte riktigt fattat grejen med detta gäng.
I enjoyed it more than I expected but it’s a little one noted
his voice is kinda whiny idk
For the first couple tracks I was thinking “this may not be as bad as I expected” given how much I loathe the singles, but as the record went on I realized it really is just as terrible as I had thought. Like Coldplay, what makes it even worse is that there’s occasionally a cool riff or something that makes you realize they could have done something much better but instead chose to make this.
PRETTY SICK
i can't believe these nerds have three albums in the book. imagine picking any of the three over bloc party's debut album or any new pornographers album from the same time. jesus christ. this is pisses me off.
offensively insipid, meaningless stadium anthem shite
Yeah, just kinda bland. Like a piece of bread with nothing on it: it kills the hunger, but meh. It started kinda strong, but quickly faded into a mush of songs that you can't really tell when they end or begin. Even the hits are (now) overplayed and not very good, imo. You listen to it, but there are so many alternatives for "soft rock", why Kings of Leon?
Really warm voice and enjoyable singing but that’s about as deep as this project goes
I like this album more now then when it initially came out. Wouldn't necessarily be one I run to to listen to again, but enjoyable.
I didn’t think I’d dig this album because the band is so mainstream, but it was really good! I’ll be listening to it again.
Better than I expected. I thought their slower songs were surprisingly good
I really like Use Somebody but the rest was bland and, at some points, icky
I found it quite boring and safe
Sex on Fire Use Somebody Notion
It's ok. Which is bad for music. It doesn't stand out. The hits are recognizable, but the rest of it is rather bland. Two songs does not an album make. My Rating: 2/5
Not even the band's mothers have listened to all three KOL albums, you don't need to either.
I haven't listened to Kings of Leon a whole lot before, but this is pretty straight-ahead rocknroll, not unpleasant. "Sex on Fire" is maybe the most ridiculous song title I've ever heard.
Kings of Mehsville, more like. While this album is by no means unlistenable (well, the vocals do come dangerously close at times); I struggled to identify what makes it must hearworthy. I gave it a few playthroughs throughout the day, and even then, I don't think I'd be able to hum back nor positively ID any of it by tomorrow. In a word: forgettable.
I liked this more than I thought I would. I Rolled my eyes when I saw this pop up. It didn’t really feel as it went anywhere and I dont feel compelled to listen to it again. I will consider it a passing neutral score.
I listened to this twice and I didn’t mind it the second time through. College rock is what this sounds like to me.
This one gets bumped up marginally since it has the only two songs I've heard from them previously. I still can't understand the author's fixation with this group.
I wanted to like this but it was so god awful boring that I had trouble. Not specifically bad, but just so so so generic that it wasn't good. Is Frat Rock a thing? Because I'm just thinking cheap beer and preppy clothes abound. Rounding up to a 3.
Geros dainos, gražūs tekstai. Žinojau tik pora, įdomu buvo pasiklausyti.
To find out there are THREE Kings of Leon albums on this list?? Sure won’t think about all of the albums missing from this list whose spots are being filled by KINGS OF LEON
Really solid record - compressed production but the songs are solid. Didn’t listen all of the way thru. Singer is very solid.
Fine. Obviously Sex on Fire and Use Somebody have remained the enduring tracks and to be fair they are bangers. But the rest blended together a bit for me and it borders on the ‘herm yarl’ (that sound which bands like Nickelback and Nirvana have) so that makes me tire of it after a while. But yeah some of it is pretty cool.
Perfectly inoffensive background music, perhaps because this was all that was played in the Coles and Woolies of the early 2000s.
A staple of my 2000 Impala’s CD rack - doesn’t hold up great, but first half still rocks
Lings of Keon. 3/10
this shit is so ass. If you listen to Sex on Fire in your free time, I'm judging u rn Will I listen to again: 0%
Only By The Night is easily Kings of Leon's most popular release as it has 2 tracks with over 1 billion streams each. Now with that being said, even with this album's extremely high merits that does not mean this album is good by any means. I think Sex On Fire and Use Somebody will go down as the only Kings of Leon songs I can genuinely get down with as they both have this catchy aura to them and some really fun Rock moments in them that really hit with myself and millions of others. Everything else on Only By The Night is very forgettable and bland, but still better than whatever the fuck the band was doing on their debut album. I really tried again to give Kings of Leon a shot here but they are just so mediocre and uninspired that I can't help but nearly fall asleep listening to the slop this band puts out. This is once again nowhere near a "must hear before you die" status in my eyes.
This is a solid southern rock record circa 2008 and has a very good first half and then drops way off in the second half. I love "Crawl," "Sex on Fire," an "Use Somebody" but the rest is too much in the same vein and more forgettable. It is ridiculous that these guys are on here and My Morning Jacket, a much more creative and dynamic southern rock band, isn't. But, then again, where are bands like Vanpire Weekend and The National on this list? Very odd
The hatred for these guys is overblown. Are they kind of a discount My Morning Jacket? Sure, but they're decent at making really atmospheric, catchy rock songs. Haven't listened to this in a long time and it's about how I remember it. The vocals do start to wear, and lyrics arent always great, but there are enjoyable songs here, thanks mostly to their ear for melody. A good-not-great record that's very 2008. But why the hell KOL is on the list three times and My Morning Jacket not at all, when MMJ is a much better Southern rock band of the same era, thats a real head-scratcher
By 2008 the indie rock boom had largely settled down and the forces that determined what was and wasn't hitting the airwaves had gathered full force. Kings of Leon, by virtue of being in the right place at the right time, were ready for that ride. Only by the Night takes what the familial band had mastered on prior albums and made it sleek and polished, therefore taking the route of their predecessors and gathering up a whiff of being at the top of the mountain. There are, of course, some gems within the record that serves as reminders of what remained at the band's core. But the page had been flipped and Kings of Leon's next chapter was already being written. Favorites: Closer, Crawl, Sex on Fire, Use Somebody, Revelry, 17, I Want You.
Ugh
My favourite album from the band
No need to rehash what’s already been said... this is boring, generic, and painfully bland. Hard to believe these ass clowns managed to have three albums on this list.
Mid level radio rock.
3 Kings of Leon records? As good as the rest of them.
This was my favorite of the Kings of Leon albums and I would listen to this one again over the others. Bonus that my daughter liked it.
nice album that nearly destroyed the band with the fluke hit of the century
Stay away from children. 2.
A few good songs. The rest is uninspiring drivel. I remember finding this album disappointing when it first came out. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5
A typical modern rock record. It's good but not groundbreaking.
pretty dece
Kings of leon is on this list multiple times?! This is the one album of theirs I can conceive of being here. Very overplayed in its time, his voice was really grating to me. It's ok but kind of generic rock when I hear it now, still enjoyed more tracks than I thought I would. 4* Highlights: use somebody, sex on fire (it's just nostalgic at this point), notion, cold desert
I don't love Kings of Leon because any time I listen to them they remind me of bands that see better than Kings of Leon. They do have some unbelievably popular songs on this album though. I mean look at the number streams of Sex on Fire and Use Somebody. Some people really just let their 2010 sex playlist run on repeat after they fall asleep I guess?
The album that catapulted them into the mainstream. Their debut was a raw superb collection of songs and this (4th album I think) was as good as they were going to get from this point onwards. Unbelievable to me that this came out 17 years ago.
Overall I liked this more than I'd have expected. Songs: Use Somebody
I'd forgotten how much I liked this album when it came out.
tbh i think Kings Of Leon have mostly aged pretty well. obvs disclaimer i'm a teenager of the noughties, i have a soft spot for all the indie slop of that time but i never really spent much time with KOL and i don't know why (was probably too busy crying over the Libertines or something). a lot of these songs still sound fresh to me and i really enjoyed this. my favourite KOL songs are the big emotional lump-in-your-throat stadium songs, i think they were really good at that - The Notion is the best example of this on this album and is the best song on the album imo.
Most commercially successful KOL album, partly down to the 2 big singles, Sex On Fire and Use Somebody. The recording came hard on the heels of Because Of The Times which was more garage rock as this had more of an arena rock tone, like U2 at times. Still enjoyable and probably one of the band's best outings
Really enjoyed listening to this album.
3.5
3.5
Strong throughout. The key to one's ears is the conviction and distress in the vocals which sounds like authenticity and passion. The driving playing and slight, minor-key plaintiveness add depth and richness. One missed these guys in real time – or didn't fully appreciate anyway – but one likes more with every hearing.
I have great memories of 2008 when this album released. There hadn't been a good "rock" album that really spoke to me released in a good bit. Then out of nowhere, this hit and it absolutely slapped. 17 years later, it still slaps. Just straight up, unapologetic rock. I wish I could hear it for the first time again.
The first two songs were great. I was hoping this would be better than their radio hits. I was let down. It turned into a vanilla, boring, unimaginative record that I’ve already forgotten. 2.5/5
Track 1: Closer - fine, but boring, slow start to album, grew on me by the second listen Track 2: Crawl - forgettable, pretty generic Track 3: Sex on fire - overplayed but great stadium song Track 4: Use somebody - ^ Track 5: Manhattan - again, grew on me on second listen but sounds like all the early tracks of this album, i like the baseline Track 6: Revelry - slightly stronger, more vulnerable Track 7: 17 - boring, not many opinions on this track Track 8: Notion - Track 9: I want you - slightly different to the other tracks, breaks it up a bit Track 10: Be somebody - starts picking up the tempo Track 11: Cold desert - fairly boring, very lyrically simple, weak end to an album Not very lyrically impressive, fairly solid album, most of the tracks are super similar, hard to comment on each track as they sound so similar. although 'Sex on fire' and 'use somebody' break it up, good stadium songs. Album starts picking up at the end slightly in tempo with 'I want you' and 'Be somebody' gave up commenting on each song halfway through as they all end up merging into one. would describe this album as safe and accessible. Quite hard to decide on a stand out track from this album, obviously Tracks 3 and 4 have been massive hits, Favourite song: 'Revelry' or 'I want you' After 2 listens, would rate 4.5/10 Album cover: more of a fan of the fractured green/owl cover than the red and back ink spot version. Both covers very evocative of 2008.
Love this album
Closer is awesome. Like it as an intro Crawl is cool asf Sex on Fire is the hit song of the album, but I like use somebody more I want you and Be Somebody are really vibey and cool Cold Desert is an awesome closing track
Je n’ai jamais accroché à Kings of Leon, parce que je trouve que le chanteur chante avec affectation. Par contre je dois reconnaître que c’est un groupe innovateur et que plusieurs de leurs pièces sont irrésistibles
Encore du country rock, mais beaucoup plus récent cette fois-ci. Un peu plus alternative rock, moins folk, pas de slide guitare. Ça s’écoute, c’est pas mauvais, mais pas pour moi.
uniquely insufferable, initially I would have been tempted to call it grocery store music but that's way too unkind to grocery store music. Caleb folowill's horrible, histrionic vocal performance at least lets the album substitute for ipecac. vocals aside, all the music is limp and uninspired, but the exact right blend of inoffensive and generic rock subgenres to guarantee success in the dire 2008 radio landscape while instantly vanishing from the minds of anyone who hears it. Use Somebody is a grating, saccharine slog only made worse by how overplayed it is, which is proof that we are in fact in hell. the absolutely superfluous and eyerolling fade in/out on Cold Desert is the final nail in the coffin for an album that's already been rightfully forgotten by the general public
I wish I could rate this lower
Well, it's an average pop rock record with the exception of a couple of catchy rockers. But for those, I'd give it a 2.
the hits are good but they're already overplayed for me, the rest is hard to listen to
Catchy songs, have heard a few singles from this album before. Strong vocals, really love the bass playing on this album.
I like this. I favored 4 songs and all the others I'd listen to again.
Not super interesting? But maybe I missed the point. Or maybe I'm just not helped by the hits from this album playing at the local Border's Books and Music back in the day.
We've all heard Sex On Fire and Use Somebody, but this isn't even this band's best album, let alone one I need to listen to before I die.
originally i didn't seem to recognize this album but some of the songs i ended up listening to suddenly unlocked memories from the past. soft, alternative, or maybe indie rock pop music. kings of leon is the kind of band that u2 tries to be, i feel. it's very simple in structure and instrumentation, but it's meaningful in a lot of different ways. u2 sounds like a cliché but these guys actually sound really nice... nothing spectacular, and some songs really blend in, but it's pretty great i think.
3.5/5
I knew the two songs from this album that were everywhere at the time. The back half of the album was a chore to get through.
The first Kings of Leon album I heard in full and in my opinion their magnum opus, Only by the Night is an absolute achievement from which they learned the wrong lessons. This is unfortunately also their last good album. The pitch shifting pedal use on the bass in Closer to start the album already tells you this is different than before. Sex on Fire is a great lead single and nobody saw Use Somebody blowing up the way it did. Just a great rock album.
his voice makes me want to cut 6 lanes without signaling
Ok, so this one is steeped in nostalgia for me. Well, its steeped in cheap pints and idiotic dancing but you know what i mean. My uni years and early 20's, spent in the leadmill (rip) being a drunken idiot singing along to this. It brought back happy memories and good friends. Trying to look past this, its not a great album, but its not bad. The tunes are fine, the vibe is dated but good and there is nothing wrong with it. A strong three
The opening track made my hope go up: Electronica mixed with rock with a southern raw voice? But then it went downhill. The songs make use of building up emotions without any actual idea. It’s paint by numbers. I never got Sex on Fire. Use Somebody is good. In Switzerland we say Göschenen-Airolo for something you hear but doesn’t stick - it’s a tunnel: The car goes in one end and comes out on the other and is happy to be out.
Solid album by Kings of Leon. I do like some of their other albums more hence the rating.
As a fan, this was their album that sprung them into fame and acclaim. It was a well rounded, well composed album
Okay so, unlike many hits from when I was a kid, I don’t hate “Sex on Fire” or “Use Somebody” (the latter of which I quite like). I also think they have solid songwriting skills and I love Caleb’s voice. However, their albums as a whole tend to bleed together, one song into another. Also like 85% of the lyrics are kinda impossible to understand because Caleb never annunciates at all. I do think it’s a really solid album, but not an incredible album.
great listen. enjoyed the driving guitar, melodies, and vocals.
Good album
An homage to my angst filled teen years
I have normally given them short shrift but I really enjoyed it. Must be the beard alliance
Bra! Gillade speciellt 17
Nice little album, favorite songs are obvious their greatest hits on the album
Enjoyable, but I will likely not return to it. ★★★
Overall album was surprisingly good
Went in skepitcal- this album confirmed my feelings. Not a big fan- the songs were a mish-mash of over emotional sappy ballads, but also musicially boring songs that seemed to go nowhere. Plus- the singer is often unintellible. Overall- not for me
I have a copy of this album on CD and used to listen to it all the time when it came out. The songs are super catchy and the vocals are great. I subtracted one point as the album did not have a huge influence on music in general
ok
Ok.
Nice chill vibes with some passion. Good stuff from KOL
4/5
It's a fine album, but far from life-changing. I'm a bit confused by it's inclusion.
This was a pretty alright album, I knew two of the songs and it seems that quite a lot of people like them because of all the listens they had. Overall, a bit meh but these two songs made it a bit more than alright. I don't know if it's 4-star worthy, but 3,5 for sure.
I hope you all realize the effort it takes me not to make a snarky comment about this being the third Kings of Leon album I've encountered so far on this list, but if one truly belongs here, it's this one.
5 star on nostalgia alone. Listened to this album so much when I worked at a record store in college.
Solid. Few more good songs on it than I remember.
There is 0 fucking chance that this band needed 3 goddamn albums on the list. This is the best one of the three but god do I loathe this band.
That's some good 2000s indie that's aged super well. That was a great listen
Well, this is garbage.
Decent.
Really good
Not my favorite Kings album but still solid
Late aughts rocker.
It feels very directed by a record company rather than the genuine direction of the band compared to the earlier albums - I guess that's born out in the commercial success but just not quite as fun as the early stuff.
Cover 7 Great album.
I really like their sound and "Sex On Fire" is a banger. But on the other hand this is the only remarkable song for me on this album. Strong three stars. 3,5
Does it sound like a 30 year old fell in love with an underrage girl? yes. Is the music good? somehow also yes. 7/10
3. Solid
A generous 4, but I do enjoy it.
Catchy indie rock. A step up from their debut, but still room for growth.
This was middle of the road for me.
Another band who are perfectly fine. I can see why they’re popular but they don’t really do it for me.
I’ve heard of Kings of Leon before, but never really dove into their music. I think listening to this album has convinced me to do so. It was really great to listen to with some recognizable tunes and some things that should’ve definitely come up in my algorithm before.
There's some nice guitarwork, but the singer is still a bit whiney. I remember when a few of these songs were hits, a radio dj claimed that the next year we'd know these guys' names. I just saw their names for the first time in their spotify bio and they're all related and have the same last name. Should have been achievable, right?
Good album, good music, but why does his voice wear on me so badly after that many songs? Maybe I need to listen to their other stuff to hear more registers from him and not be worn down.
As a fan of Kings of Leon's earlier work prior to the release of this album, I have to admit this was a bit of a change in direction...at least in my opinion. I like Aha Shake Heartbreak the most and even their latest albums are pretty good. This is the album where they refine (okay, probably make their sound more pop-y) their sound to get played on the radio. I can see future editions of this book leaving Only by the Night out. Mid-review I was just notified this is the 3rd Kings of Leon album in this book. Guys, that's just way too many. Who do Kings of Leon think they are, the White Stripes? I do like Kings of Leon, yet three albums in this book seem a bit much to me. Even if this one is different from the other two albums in this book, I am not sure there are three KoL albums that I am like, "MY GOD, you have to hear this!" It's possible to really enjoy an album and still mark it down a star or two because I'm not sure it should be in here.
Estuvo bien, pero no sé si es necesario otro disco de Kings of Leon en esta lista.
I feel like if a record sounds like it would have been played over the final scene of a Grey’s Anatomy episode it should be disqualified from the list.
This was decent with a few stand out hits.
3.5/5. These cunts are so insufferable, it’s really nothing special besides the two big singles.
If beige paint had a sound this would be it. That 17 song is disgusting.
Before listening to this album, I had definitely overlooked the amount of good songs that Kings of Leon had. This is the most 2008-sounding album of it's time.
Ahhh, I remember this album, when it was released. And how in all the bars "Sex on Fire" was blasted.
Wow. This album is just perfect and i remember how groundbreaking it was when it came out. Always a treat to listen to.
I used to love kings of Leon. Not to sound like that guy that wants to be cool, but I remember not being able to buy their first album, because it hadn’t been released in the US. I heard them on 97x and thought they were cool. This album is good, but it’s a lot of filler. Very top heavy. The singles are great. But it gets very “samey” at the end. It’s good, but not great. Give me “Youth and Young Manhood” instead. Who knows, it might still be on here.
9/10…blues rock / indie
this gets a low 3, sounds like RHCP and lin manuel miranda
Pre-listening thoughts: YEEEOOOOOOOHHHHHH THIS SAX IS ON FYYYAAAA Post/during listening thoughts: Kings of Leon is so overrated. Sorry. Sometimes the lead singers voice is like cool and sometimes it’s a little too Pearl Jam accenty for me if ya catch my vibe. I bet I could do a really good impression of this guy. This subgenre of rock is also lame as hell. Idk. So safe and white bread. 5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: YEEEEEOOOOHHHH THIS SAX IS ON FYYYAAAA, use somebody Least fav tracks: 17, Notion
Liked the music, didn’t like the singer- like axl rose doing a Bruce Springsteen impression. Catchy but ultimately meaningless anthems.
Surprised I’ve never really given Kings Of Leon more time. Like the staccato beats and general fulsome sound and vox. Yeh, this is pretty fierce. Think it would sound great live. Big sound, original and a lot of heart. Second half drops off a fair bit. First half 4/5 - Second half 3/5 = 3.5
I did not want to like this album. I still think Kings of Leon are overrated, but I can understand some of the hype. Their music is good! (Life-changing, no.) I don't know how many times I listened to this album, but there's something so catchy and smooth about Only by the Night that I didn't hear on their debut album. This is the kind of rock music that was popular in the aughts, yet Kings of Leon still sound unique. I didn't love there was a song named "17," with lyrics mentioning a girl's age--because I've heard too many songs about how unfortunate it is for sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girls are off limits. KOL didn't say that exactly, but I was left with an uneasy feeling. I guess that was the aughts for you. Whatever, just take the 4.
I don't know if I completely agree with two Kings of Leon entries on this project, but I guess I can sort of get behind it, because these guys have been a part of some significant moments in recent music. The previous Kings of Leon album I reviewed on this project, their debut, "Youth and Young Manhood", I described as being a significant part of a garage rock revival that would cascade across the 2000s. Then, the band kind of faded away for a bit, their next few albums not performing very well. And then towards the end of the 2000s, this album popped up, the band REALLY broke through, and they once again were part of paving a movement, this time around what would become the 2010s alternative rock scene. Look no further than the absolute critical acclaim of "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody" for evidence of this. All that said, the rest of this album is mostly just okay. It's good, but it's not great. But this is probably still their most popular album and the album that people think of when they imagine this band.
I like the lead singer’s raspy voice and a few of the southern rock songs were big hits.
This really is the baseline for mediocrity. Even the top two tracks have reached the level of just annoying...
Horse shit. They toured with U2 and thought 'we could make lots of money.' This is not music made with creativity or connection in mind. It is concerned with making money. The worst thing about it, is that it worked. People bought this shit in their millions. Cheers, people.
I just don’t like this
So so.
That was so good for a 2000's pop rock album, wow. Yes, it did have the pop rock sound but it also managed to mix it with some post riffs and general post-ish vibes, which was very pleasant to hear. The album also fit well to my sleepy mood I had at the moment of listening. I would actually recommend.
Great recording. I have this on my Playlist.
Excellent
The band itself isn't bad... but his voice. Woof. Nails on a chalkboard.
Sure he kinda sounds like John Conner from Terminator 2 when his voice squeaks, but the music really isn’t so bad!
Singles are alright but otherwise this feels derivative and boring.
Never really clicked with these guys
just a whole lot of meh
Classic 00s rock album. Very distinctive sound - especially the vocals. Combined with the guitar, can tell a KoL song in like 2 seconds. I sometimes find that all of their songs tend to sound very similar. I like this but I can't come back to it that much.
I guess I get the appeal, but not my thing.
It started quite well, and I thought that the lesser known songs ware as good as the hits. After having listened to the entire album, I'd say that's probably true but they're all not for me. What can I say, it's not BAD, but it's all a bit cliché American Rock Band. Very predictable. I don't like the voice and singing style (Use Some-bodeeaaa). So a harsh 2 it will be.
Rock actually made it into the 21st century and was able to be a success without being shit. 4 Stars
Nostalgia choice only but I never revisit
Rigtig 00’er rock, lidt splittet, er både lidt generisk og med et par bangers
“Indie” rock bought and paid for by record label executives. Technically sound musicianship, well written songs and well produced. But not an ounce of soul anywhere on this album. I don’t look forward to hearing again the next time I visit a dentist’s waiting room.
Awesome live saw them last year.
good sound. Never listened to them before.
Much preferred KoL when (I think it was a Q magazine review) described Caleb's vocals as like "gargling" with rocks. Yes, this is of course, super polished, super popular and not a "bad" album. But the long-haired, double-denim clad era of Molly's Chambers was better
some songs were ok, some weren’t that great.
Man, I just don’t care for this band.
Could’ve gone my whole life without listening to this tbh
Ha! Very surprised to see this on here...As much as I used to love this album, it certainly hasn't stood the test of time, nor does it stand out above the rest of really great music that came out around that time. He's got a right grating voice too doesn't he, that was quite a typical vocal quality circa 2010s. I still enjoy it, I'll happily listen to it, it's worth more than 2* but just not on this list.
A yawn in album form. Weird lyrics that sound like a youth pastor having a breakdown.
This is not the worst album i heard on this list so far... but certainly the worst listening experience. Man, i can hear the guys saying "Okay but how do we get our listeners to think this is EMOTIONAL and IMPORTANT music?". I guess one way is to make the lead singer sound like he's on the verge of a mental breakdown throughout the whole album. This is proto-Imagine Dragons, this tries to be Coldplay-stadium music without even trying to impress any real vulnerability or meaning into the music. Maybe this IS the worst album I heard on this list so far...
It’s fine!
Someone like you is amazing. Impressive drums throughout.
Being a musician ruins this album. Kings of Leon use every trick in the book to try and build tension. Everything goes quiet, tom-toms are hit, guitar and bass are picked with staccato, but every time it either leads to a flaccid guitar 'solo' drenched in reverb or the song just decides to end abruptly. Caleb's vocals constantly sounding like he's on the edge of crying or orgasming (maybe both) doesn't help. I'm not the target audience, but the music isn't sexy enough to pull it off. Kings of Leon are not Deftones.
Yawn. Stadium indie slop. Makes me a little embarrassed that I quite liked their first album when it was released.
Bloody awful. Silly old rock racket. Songs about Sex on Fire and shagging 17 year-olds make for painful listening.
I was the peak audience for the Sex on Fire craze (and I LOVED that song at the time), but never thought to listen to the whole album. Well, here we are. A few standouts there outside of Sex on Fire, but nothing groundbreaking. Good, not great.
Standout Songs: Closer Sex on Fire Use Somebody Manhattan Notion Be Somebody Absolutely beautiful album by one of my favourite bands. I have this album on CD and I absolyely love it.
I just about like it enough to give five stars, although the album does seem to lose it's way a bit after the first four tracks.
There's enough in here to make it worthwhile, and it's hugely successful. The first 2 tracks are classic KoL, but it then gets a bit run-of-the-mill.
Pretty good
Ah, the halcyon days when Kings of Leon, Wolfmother, and the like were going to save rock n roll. Didn't quite happen, but that doesn't mean there weren't some really solid releases, with this being one of them.
yeah no
Best Song: Sex on Fire. I like the desperation and intensity that this track has. Worst Song: 17. The lilting vocal inflections were so extreme on this song it felt like I couldn't understand the majority of what was said. But, since what I did understand included the kickoff of "Oh, she's only 17", I probably don't need to hear the rest. Overall: A decent album that got massively overplayed for a while. The particular vocal schtick, which can best be described as "whiny crooning" really loses its lustre after the first few tracks.
A good, consistent rock album with some great songs and no pretences of trying to do anything different.
Este grupo tiene todo para entusiasmarme, pero siempre se queda un poco por debajo de mis expectativas en sus discos. Tenía guardados Sex on fire y Use somebody y en general está bien. Veo que es su disco más escuchado, así que puestos a escuchar algo de ellos es la opción correcta.
This rocks. One of my favorite bands and my favorite album from them. If you don't like this you have a big ol' dump in your pants. Get off your pretentious high horse, nerd. Best Song: Revelry Rating: 9.5/10 (Near-Perfect) Stars: 5/5
LOVEEEEEEEE THIS ALBUM. Such a chill vibe I love it
Ok listen. Nothing mind blowing.
wydm this band has two songs with over a billion streams. theres no fucking way. ok i recognize one of the songs, but i've never heard sex on fire its just more mid alt rock get this bs outta here. can we ban rock artists from singing about 16-17 years olds. idc about the context im just sick of hearing it
Quite good! I like their style and sound.
Love the Kings - good instrumentation, good vocals, good writing - there are at keast 3 very good tracks on this one.
Disco mediano. Transita entre o som de U2 e Coldplay, distinguindo-se principalmente pelo vocal personalizado de Caleb Followill que não me agrada tanto neste disco. As composições são um tanto quanto irregulares. As peças mais enérgicas são mais atraentes.
bopity-boop
This album was huge when I was first venturing into music, so some of the songs are very familiar to me. 17 years later, I can't say this is a "must listen" album.
Honestly feels pretty generic to me. Whether this is because they were early than some others, I don't know.
Incredibly mid car commercial music. Though I'll admit I am not immune to Use Somebody.
Maybe it’s just my nostalgia but this album came out when I was in high school and it’s just as good now as it was back then. It was so fun revisiting this
Not my style, but a decent one.
Jump scared by Use Somebody, which I was absolutely not expecting. Who knew that was this band? (Apparently everyone alive in 2008, no idea what I was doing at the time) Just really, really not my scene
same review as i gave the first one, really. the 2010s alt rock sound is built here, and it's pretty good yet subsequently utterly ruined by caleb followill (about 17 year olds this time for some reason)
as someone who lived through the Use Somebody era of radio play, it's nice that he goes on to Be Somebody later in the album. i feel like i need to chase this with that one mumford and sons song, tbh. 1.5
this was whatever, and then also there were the two songs that took over Fuse for like a year
1001?
when they were good
The one where the edges were sanded off completely, and Sex On Fire lit the way to superstardom through lame and uninspiring stadium-rock mediocrity. Give me 'Aha Shake Heartbreak' anyday.
3.75
Затеряется среди сотен подобных. Плюс ещё голос противный
DID NOT NEED TO HEAR BEFORE I DIE
Cant decide if i like these guys
Only By the Night starts off kinda OK – Closer is a decent opener (yes, I know… haha). But what follows is… the rest of the album. One mediocre tune follows another until it’s finally over. The production seems to be aiming for the sweeping, echo-drenched grandeur of U2, while the whole musical/lyrical approach is apparently meant to be elusive, maybe even seductive. But especially with lyrics this clumsy (frankly, bad), the result sounds equivalent to browsing for lingerie in the clearance bin at Walmart.
Finally, an album from the 2000's that people actually listened to. The experimental nonsense was getting tiresome.
boring music for wedding bands
When it was first released, for some reason the Tennesseans' fourth album found more critical acclaim in the UK than in America. I guess that's not exactly a surprise, since Kings of Leon harbor a sound that an American deems pseudo-national whereas British yearning for some USA flavor would extract some genuineness: 'The reds and the whites and abused / The crucified USA.' But Caleb Followill is a talented soul-barer, even if he isn't all that interesting, and the band does know how to put together pop-rock singles. The best tracks are 'Manhattan' and 'I Want You,' the song I hate to like is 'Use Somebody,' while the worst are 'Sex on Fire' and '17.' If you want stellar southern rock tho, go dig some Alabama Shakes. 2.5/5.
Pleasantly surprised
Generic rock
I preferred this on second listen and there are some cracking tracks on here but overall there is something lacklustre and bland about this. It was ubiquitous at the time too. 3.5 rounding down to 3
Another album I’ve not listened to since it came out. Enjoyable as a whole, there aren’t any songs that absolutely wow me individually. It was very pleasant to listen to on my drive to work. For that, it gets 3 1/2 stars that’ll bump up to 4.
Suburban mall rock.
Solid band from the aughts.
Quite good
Really nice!
Otherwise known as the one with Sex on Fire and Use Somebody. The rest of it is a dashed good listen too though. For me it's close between this and Aha Shake Heartbreak for their best one.
I enjoy the soft rock vibe and would listen to some of the songs again. Just seems kinda basic tho
Comes across as generic. I’m sure live they could put on a quality show. But just listening to this it feels like background music you hear at a dentist. 2/5
Rating: 5/10 Meh. Choice cut: Closer
No están mal del todo, aunque no logran entusiasmarme como quisiera. Ruidos y el uso de ecos se suman a una voz no precisamente que canta, grita
Evocative of its era probably because you couldn’t escape it back in the day. Not listened to the whole album since then…says a lot I think. It’s the rock equivalent of empty calories. It’s not bad, but it just leaves me a bit cold. Something is missing…. Then of course you get to the hit singles. Its impossible to be objective about these tracks any more… I’ll happily leave it another 15 years before listening again!
Not into it.
Kings of Leon get the dubiously distinction of being the band with the most albums *removed* from this list. All three additions were taken off of subsequent editions. We know that post-2000 albums are pretty much the only ones that end up on the chopping block here but maybe Robert Dimery also got a bit tired of them. What does this tell us, if anything? "Only by Night" was the band's best selling release (I believe) and produced some of their best songs. It's extremely overplayed but "Sex on Fire" is still an amazing song. There's plenty here to earn their distinction as the "Southern Strokes", though maybe they also border a bit on standard stadium dad rock. Some of the second half is a bit more interesting, albeit less radio-friendly. "17" is close to being a stand out song for me... but it's very hard to get past the creepy lyrics. While that's the most obvious one, there are quite a few mentions of sex with teenagers that are uncomfortable here. If Kings of Leon wanted to channel the spirit of rock stars past, that's one thing they could have done without. The music is good and you can see why they skyrocketed to fame (for a while at least). But it's definitely not a perfect album.
generic "rock." I wouldn't really enjoy shopping to this.
The songs I’ve heard from this album I’ve heard way too many times …. And like it’s good but idk if I’d choose to listen to it?
Definitely at a loss. This has it's moments but but it wears off quickly.
Ok I suppose. I think I prefer old school KoL better. 2.5/5