Reviews (page 6 of 8)
cool to listen to and i can enjoy it though it still shows that a couple hits doesn't make an album worth listening first and last tracks are cool too
Love early Kings of Leon, but this record started their sellout era. Still some decent song, but if I never hear sex on fire or use somebody again I’ll be cool with that.
Competent.
I like it! Second half dips though
This band was EVERYWHERE for this album when it dropped. And I do not really know why? Like its...fine. Is it because its like the most middle of the road rock? Like I don't hate it, its fine, but why is this an album I should hear before I die?
Me gusta pero a veces es demasiado popero o "people pleasing". "Sex on Fire" es 10/10 y también me gustó "Crawler". Le pondría 3.5, pero la realidad es que es un 3 que tiene cositas que lo suben a 3.5.
Back when this came out, I thought it was hella cool. Nowadays it’s borderline cringe - but I still like it.
The guitars are very juicy, but I never much liked their sound over all. The singer's voice I find particularly off-putting. The songwriting... mostly goes by. Oh, and the hits on here have been played absolutely to death in my early twenties. They are DEAD. All in all, not much here for me except for the guitar sound.
Ah Kings of Leon. This album took over the radio when I was in high school, primarily Sex on Fire amd Use Somebody. It's seriously hard to think of a place where these songs weren't playing at the time. I've listened to the rest of the album maybe once before this return and I got to say, it's a nostalgic trip and I really enjoyed the sound that this group brings. My new favorite from here is Revelry but I liked Closer too. It's a very clean and polished alt rock sound that isn't overly synthy like today's alt rock.
Only By The Night is super bland soft rock, isn't it? Two massive singles, one good but overplayed to death, one alright but nothing special, and the rest feels like a lot of stuff better artists would've left off their record or rejected out of hand entirely. Also, 17 is pretty creepy. It gets a 2/5 and should probably be grateful it gets that, it gives 'Southern Rock' a bad name.
A million percent sick of Sex On Fire (and at least 1000% sick of Use Somebody), but this is not a bad album as far as commercial popified 00s rock goes. I like the second half of the album more than the first half - Revelry and Notion are probably my favourite tracks from it - but almost all of it stands up beside the two tracks that are way more poppy. I had purged 17 from my mind (or maybe it didn't sound quite so weird to 18 year old me!), but that has not aged particularly well given they would've been in their late twenties by the time they wrote this. There are definitely better KoL albums. 3/5.
The singles are so over-exposed that I felt like giving it a one, but on the whole it's a bland two. Coldplay can't fill every playlist.
Very solid modern rock. Use Somebody was a big deal for me back when it was a single. This album overall has a lot to offer, even if it doesn't have a huge range.
Sounds like what an alpha male wolf couple would listen to. 2/5
2.5- Kind of boring indie-alternative-southern rock, but there are some good songs. Although my family loves early KOL, so I may be being too harsh, based on my upbringing.
Love king of Leon. This is their best
Third KoL on the list, a little pointless
'Because of the Times' was the last Kings of Leon album that I checked out, before losing interest in the band. Hearing this one confirmed my feeling. It is not terrible, but not really worth my attention either. Three stars, just about.
Similar development as with Coldplay. After the first couple of 'smaller' records, they go full stadium rock and I lose attention.
this sucks ass
Better than Youth and Young Manhood, but still not all that appealing.
I'm just going to say it. This album fucks. Am I right?! 5/5
I love the singer's very soulful voice, full of fieriness, sometimes reverence, sometimes endearing and compassionate. A good mix of some easy riffs with soft vocals and some hard hitting cacaphonies of emotion. A truly remarkable balance across the album as well. I always felt they were kind of one-hit wonders with sex on fire, but they really earned a spot in my heart with this album.
Music isn't bad, but almost everything about this band is hard to connect to. From the weird name to the unnatural vocals it's almost like it was produced by AI. Same goes for the lyrics. The whole album feels artificial as all hell to me.
Hit track after hit track, takes me back to an amazing summer in 2008!
This music is so self-indulgent and vapid. It's marketed towards people who want to fit in with everyone else, but also feel unique.
Absolutely cannot stand dude's voice. Might be specific to this album's production because the other two albums didn't grate like this.
two too many Kings of Leon albums if you ask me.
(reads my highly rated comment on Aha Shake Heartbreak) uh...I apologize Kings of Leon, I was unfamiliar with your game. Favorite track: Crawl
Aside from the big hits from this record, there's not much here that sets it apart from other rock bands from this era. I did dig the drum sound a lot on a few tracks, but that's one of the few things that stand out for me. Notable Tracks: - Sex on Fire - Use Somebody - Manhattan - Revelry - love the drum groove 5/10
Kings of Leon have such a unique bluesy sound but with a classic garage rock feel. It makes sense that their best album is on this list. The dichotomy between the US and UK critical ratings of this album are a bit of a head-scratcher.
Closer // Use Somebody // Revelry //
A good album that could improve with more plays. 4 stars or B- for me.
Up until this record Kings of Leon were a sunny American wheat field, southern rock kind of band - with two fun record under their belt - and they were destined to stay there in that space.. until this record came out… I remember it quite clearly - and this is even before ‘Sex ion Fire’ exploded. Suddenly from sunny they went too moody with gritty bone crunching bass lines - and while rhythmically they always had a flair for the off beat memorable patterns - this one was on the heavier side. But then Sex on Fire is everywhere and they became that band - and this record specifically got eclipsed - destined to never be appreciated as an album again in the same way. However with these listens I appreciated it again - it’s a solid record - even that darned single is actually a good fit in the listing - and it’s a shame to dismiss it. Bar a little baby fat at the end of the record - it’s solid tight and fun.
Surprisingly decent. I absolutely hate his vocal style, but honestly not a bad way to spend 40 minutes.
Ça aurait du être le seul album de Kings of Leon et même là il ne mérite aucunement sa place ici. Deux singles qui ont vraiment marché à la radio ne veut pas dire que l'album vaut la peine de figurer parmi tellement de classiques. Le début de l'album est correct, mais après les quatre premières chansons ça dégringole sans arrêt. Aussi, la chanson 17, wtf ? 4/10
Fine! Innovative to me at 13, less so now
This is almost unlistenable. I don’t know why anyone would include it in this list.
Listen to this!
really good. two iconic songs and a very very solid album overall. 8/10
Essential early 2000's pop-rock. Same sonic space as Imagine Dragon's early works. Solid 7/10.
Vähän tasapaksua. Sex On Fire selkeä huippukohta ja sitten Use Somebodyn jälkeen taas tasottuu. Parhaat: Sex On Fire, Use Somebody, Cold Desert
Not my cup of tea. I don't feel much listening to this, although Sex on Fire is a banger.
I've only walked out on 2 bands' performances in my life. One was Modest Mouse starting late and being so loud it hurt, and the other is Kings of Leon... cause they suck.
Alternative rock with soul-esq vocals. Pretty good.
The first 3 Kings Of Leon albums are really interesting/full of energy/surprising I think Aha Shake Heartbreak in particular is a brilliant album This was their commercial apex but see’s a lot of what made them unusual worn away. Crawl has a great start but becomes really plodding which pretty much sums up a lot of the album Sex on Fire is a great song no matter how over played it is though Not bad but really not great either
Kings of Leon is a name I've heard around. Kings of Leon will continue to be a name I hear around. Favourite track: Crawl.
Some good tunes but the cracks were starting to show compared to their first two albums.
so so, a bit pedestrian, pleasant enough but a bit boring
Their best album. Yeah it's been overplayed but the songs are strong. (Closer in particular is a banger.) The playing is solid and the vibes just feel right. I do understand the negative reviews but I can't deny that this album deserves to be in the book. Also brings back good memories which helps its cause.
I was not too knowledgeable about this project prior to this listen. I was previously aware of the critical acclaim of this album. I was also aware of their songs Use Somebody and Sex on Fire, both fantastic songs. Overall, I throughly enjoyed this project, however, a lot of it sounded a bit repetitive but I think it worked. The only lowlight was 17, which while isn't a completely awful song like most people on this would have you think, it's pretty bad.
The nickelback of a new generation.
5- klasyk
Solid Dad Rock. 3.75
When an album has hits on it as big as “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody,” I like to judge it based on the question, “If someone bought this album because they loved the singles, would they be satisfied with the rest of the album?” The answer here has got to be yes. This is an easy album to listen to and the album cuts fit right alongside the singles. It’s an enjoyable album of summertime rock. I can’t find anything to complain about here.
I've spent the last ten or fifteen years or so moving away from standard "rock" music. I grew up listening to the amazing songwriting talent of bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, I then spent years listening to heavy / death metal because it offered me more interesting elements, and then after and since then I've been more of an indie rock listener. I've thought for years, "why would I listen to "rock" or "radio rock", with all of it's standardized song structures, typical and uninspired timbres, and been-done-before performances and production when I could listen to indie rock, which has offered me so much more in terms of fresh ideas and boundary pushing moments? Indie rock gives me standout acts like The Decemberists, Japanese Breakfast, Mitski, Father John Misty; bands that are grounded in rock but also experimented, blended other genres, and often attempted new composition conventions. When I see a dude pick up a regular looking electric guitar, plug it into his regular looking guitar amp, and start playing some regular old power chords in some regular old chord progression, I'm immediately unimpressed and I need something else to make me want to listen more. Rock isn't the new thing or the rebellious thing that it once was; it's so much a staple that it's arguably the most popular genre of music. Kings of Leon for me have been a band that exemplified that straightforward and boring rock music connotation. I thought for years that everything was so standardized within their sound, even their drums were the same rehashed beats over and over. A few years ago though I started to listen them in a new light, just listening without any kind of prejudice involved, and I really enjoyed hearing their songs in a randomized playlist. Yes, they were / are "just" rock, but the music sounds good. It's so easy for me to get in my own head with music and the taxonomies in defining genres and all of that crap but really these songs just simply sound good. I'm partial to the non-radio ones because I've heard the radio ones so much, but I don't groan as often anymore when they come on. Rock is timeless and these sounds have been done so many times because it's a formula that is pleasing to human ears. Sort of like how there is some genuine half science half magic understanding of how humans love the pentatonic scale, there is something in rock that is equally as enjoyable for unknown reasons. It's rock, it's done before and they are doing it again, but I can't say it sounds bad. I think Kings of Leon are a band that will be remembered as a solid rock band, but not soaring to the heights of a timeless one like the Foo Fighters. This album has two of their massive hits and is a reason why they will be remembered.
Appreciate that this album always felt like it was going at full speed, but that also really emphasizes the negatives of their sound
Goed veel klappers
I am trying to be kind and generous but this is really obnoxious. I did NOT have to listen to this before dying.
This is the epitome of empty, soulless pop rock. I know this was full of hits when it came out, but it does not really hold up. Best songs: Sex on Fire, Revel Worst Songs: Use Somebody, 17, Crawl
I really don't like KOL .. it's just so boring and generic and their influence just lead to more boring and generic rock. BUT I do get why others love it and it's leagues better than the other KOL I had to hear recently
I was always a defender of Sex on Fire amongst its controversy and dumb lyrical hook, but I can see why this album was both their most successful record commercially, as well as the final nail in their musical coffin. It's a massive step down from their prior albums, and just puts me to sleep with It's attempts at being something more, when at the end of the day I only really liked Kings of Leon for scratching that garage rock revival but in the South itch. This is just pop rock you would've heard on the radio in the 2000s, and while it's mostly technically quality, it can be pretty hit or miss, and nothing really is as good as Sex on Fire, so if you already don't like that song, I can't imagine sitting through this album. It's fine, but it could stand to be much better, and you can really see the band slipping here.
Surprisingly listenable.
Better than their other album, but still pretty generic rock. Had some cool climaxes in some songs. Stand-out: 17(Seventeen)
I’ve give this one a 3.5. I think there is some potential here but overall I don’t think it has enough for me to enjoy it fully or to want to listen to it regularly. Use somebody and sex on fire are the hit songs they everyone knows and they are my two favorites.
This is such a fun album. I've always liked Kings of Leon but had never listened to a full album but them before, so this was a treat.
Sångaren har en något nasal röst och de ser riktigt oinspirerande ut när de spelar live. Dock är det här en ganska bra platta.
Just kind of meh!!
I was really surprised to see Kings of Leon on here. Not because they don’t deserve it (which after listening, I’d say they do), but because they’re recent enough and were kind of a flash in the pan (at least in the popular music scene) that I didn’t think they’d garnered enough notoriety to be here. But here, they are. I actually really enjoyed this. Felt like a great mix of pop rock, U2, a teeny-tiny bit of Vampire Weekend (it’s hard to explain…), and lots of hard guitar. Caleb Followill’s voice is the obvious star here. It has such a unique tone. Strong, expressive, but with this affectation to it that really grabs and holds your attention. The rest of the band kills it. Such a tight group. Wasn’t surprised when I read they’re all brothers. Not much to dislike here. Very listenable, very fun, keeps your attention. Didn’t blow me away though. 3 stars. Also, “17” felt like a creepy song. I have done no digging into the lyrics or their meaning but on the surface it felt like a creep show and I wanted no part of it. Standout Tracks: Closer, Crawl, Sex on Fire, Use Somebody, Revelry
I can't believe how much of this album I knew. Apparently I used the vibe with it. And it does have a single mood extending across the album. I'm not sure that it holds up but in its niche it's solid
The only thing I knew about Kings of Leon before this listen were ‘Use Somebody’ and ‘Sex on Fire.’ I still like both of those songs, and I think the band is good, but I feel like I’ve got their technique figured out: crunchy rhythm guitar with reverb, a crisp piano or lead guitar with a simple lick, and then a kind of whimpering wail. Like I said, I think they’re a good band, but I enjoy singing along with rock music, and I felt like that would be hard to do with a lot of their songs. I’ve always liked the way he sort of squeals ‘Use Somebody.’ I always exaggerate that part. Just from hearing it on the radio so much, this album is always gonna bring back memories of 2008.
If this band had a different lead singer, I'd easily be giving this album at least 4 stars. But I just can't get past this dude's voice. It's very annoying. The songs are good, but they can't outweigh his whiney, scratchy voice.
All together solid album. The last three tracks at the end drag it down to four star territory. Nothing exactly innovating going on here.
Great album! The only thing stopping it from being a 5 is that there are two trakcs I wasn't super into. The rest are all bangers with an amazing combination of the guitars, bass and drums. I especially enjoy their use of empty space in their songs. Standout Track: Closer
I don't get why it is such a popular band. Never really liked anything. I thought maybe Sex On Fire became a hit because it was accesible, and the other songs were more interesting, but it wasn't the case. Also, his voice is screeching my eardrum.
Not their best album but still love it. Soundtrack to my college years.
Such a time and place album of theirs. Not their best but it is crazy how their lead singer cut his hair shorter for this album and everyone was like when did this guy get hot? And then they became the biggest band in the world
Not a bad album. First Kings of Leon album where the vocals didn't bother me. Use Somebody, Crawl, Closer, and Sex On Fire are solid hits, though. 3/5!
Not only is this the third Kings of Leon album that I've gotten on this list, it's the third one I've gotten in the last fucking month. I don't understand why you're doing this to me, but I beg you to stop. There are so many great musicians out there, and yet all I'm allowed to listen to is Kings of Leon. It makes my tummy sad. 2/5
Good fun
Only by the Night showcases Kings of Leon's signature sound but lacks the raw energy that defined their earlier albums. While it features some catchy tracks, it doesn’t quite capture the fire of Youth and Young Manhood or Aha Shake Heartbreak. The production is polished, and the band’s maturation is evident, but this also feels like a double-edged sword. There are standout singles like Use Somebody that hint at their commercial appeal, suggesting they may be on the path to becoming a singles band. Compared to their third album, Because of the Times, this release feels more cohesive, even if it’s not as compelling overall. Fans will appreciate the melodic hooks, but the deeper, grittier sound is noticeably absent. It’s a solid effort that showcases growth, but one can't help but long for the fire of their earlier days. Overall, Only by the Night is decent, striking a balance between accessibility and artistry, but leaves you wanting more. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 4 STAND OUT TRACK - Manhattan
I kinda disliked this one, feels very one note, and I'm not a fan of the vocalist's style.
This is the Kings of Leon I'm more familiar with, and not really a huge fan of. The singles Sex on Fire and Use Somebody were very overplayed on the radio when this album came out; listening now after at least a decade of not hearing them, they aren't bad songs, just not ones I'm every going to seek out. I like a lot of the bass playing on this, but overall I don't think it's as interesting as previous albums. 2.5/5
I found this sleepier than Aha Shake Heartbreak, but it's still ok. There's a few songs I liked but overall, this one was a lot less for me. I don't really see any reason to revisit it. 2.75/5
Oh? Your decks are on hire?
a very pentasyllabic offering
Toothless.
frekar einhæft og leiðinlegt.
I cannot believe this is the third album from this band on this list. This band seems about as middle of the road, check as many mass appeal boxes as possible, to just be a meh band that basic people love. There's nothing wrong with it, but nothing inherently interesting either. Why is this band on this list so much?
I was pleasantly surprised that I sort of liked this album. Can't really say why, but they were certainly better than what I consider to be their contemporaries. Worth a 3 in my book.
I refer the rougher edgier early albums. This was much more polished and the resulting singles suffered from complete radio overplay. Still a solid album with the standout tracks being ‘Crawl’ and ‘Notion’
I hated 'Sex on Fire' when it came out. A truly overblown anthem of the sort I'm not predisposed to appreciate. So I ignored this album for a long time.A year or so later, while I was watching an episode of Casualty, they played an awesome song, which I Shazzamed, and it was 'Closer'. That was the turning point for me, which overcame my bias and led me to begrudging respect for this band. I've listened to this a few times since, and I'd say the album tracks are better than the singles, probably due to the fact they are less familiar to my brain. 'Crawl' with it's fuzz bass is immense and the last song evoked a feeling of 'Faith' by the Cure for some reason (This lot are not in the same league) which is always a good thing. Even with SOF it's getting a 5 star rating.
Been a favorite since long before, sentimental
use somebody, sex on fire, closer indie nice
Album was everywhere when it came out and I didn’t care for it, still don’t.
I always found 'Sex is on fire' rather irksome and the rest of the album doesn't do much for me either. And labelling the music indie-rock is a misnomer, as it was released on a major label. (RCA).
This sex is on fiiiiiiiirreeeeee bored as atumbke driieeerr
If you want something 'rockier' than Coldplay...
A bit annoying.
Yet another ex-1001 album!™ http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex I've always been indifferent about Kings of Leon... even when everyone in the pub is roaring to Sex on Fire, meh! A question about audio production, everything felt dampened down, was it recorded under a wet blanket?
In the matter of taste, the human brain thrives on familiarity. Often, the only thing standing in the way of you liking something is that you haven't been exposed to it enough times. When it comes to Kings of Leon, my brain works the opposite. At first they're okay, but the more I hear them, the more I dislike them. And I hate "Sex on Fire."
Some classics on here which are classic for a reason. We enjoyed this but were not overcome with joy.
I just don't like this band. The voice, the energy, the sound. Not for me.
Three! Three entries! All gone from the book but no excuse for keep including them in the first place. This one sounds not like the shit Strokes, and instead sounds like Lenny Kravitz, but shit. I have to begrudgingly admit that Sex on Fire is a well crafted rock/pop song, as is Use Somebody, but it won't stop me hating it. Fuck me, his voice is annoying.
Very nice. Hard to imagine where these guys would be without U2.
Good album - I'd categorize as 'modern rock' of the 2000's.
Very good album. I like it.
The instrumentation is so mediocre, they’re relying on the singer’s “interesting” voice to do a lot of the heavy lifting, but it’s more annoying than it is interesting by a long shot.
You know what? I'm in a good mood this morning; coffee is hitting just right, weather is playing nice. I was ready to trash this sellout record as insufferable garbage, spouting off something about how KoL's only good record was their debut, yada yada...but then I did something I've NEVER done in the entire time of listening to albums on this list...I skipped a track. That track? Sex on Fire. Now please, don't think ill of me; I truly give every song a listen on every album, and I'm not in the business of disrespecting artists by giving up on them. But I've heard Sex on Fire a million and seven god damn times, and if I die and go to hell, that will be the song they have for me on the loudspeakers. So, what happened when I skipped Sex on Fire? Well, as you could imagine, we went on to Use Somebody, another song I've heard a lot, but is a bit more manageable for me. And it worked! We went on as if nothing happened, and the rest of the album played out. And you know what, it's not half bad. It's safe, overall a bit uninspired, and contains almost no energy the band had when they were crafting their first album, but it's got enough bits of musicianship that make for a fun arena rock listen. Seriously though, go back and listen to that debut. Album fucking rules.
I gave this a whirl when it first came out—I won't deny it—but nowadays it'll take much more than night falling for me to return to the whirl well.
I absolutely, utterly hate Sex Is On Fire. If it is mate, go to the chemist, get some ointment for it. Fucksake. Anyway. This album apparently starts with Closer. Which has perhaps the most irritating drumming one could imagines. Couldn't finish it. We skip on to Crawl. Now this started on a way that irritated me, but the noise factor is compelling. It's almost enough to get me pass the drumming, which continues appalling. Then the vocals start and I'm turned off again. Is this another skip? Yes. I'm not even going to play SIOF on general principle, but going straight to Use Somebody gives me hideous Elbow vibes, and the drum still makes me want punch someone. The vocals start and is this Adele? Balls to this. Three skips in the first four tracks - and one I won't play on general principle. Manhattan - oh my god, this drummer might actually be the most talented drummer in history - if that talent is to piss me off OK, I'm 100% done with this album, I don't need to subject myself to any more. This is terrible.
It's decent enough. From past KoL albums I think they're at their best when they are irreverent and blunt and crude, which pops up every once in a while here but really gets soft by the end of the album, as if they were trying to gentrify their sound. 7/10
Better then the other album they have on the list but still not good
One of those bands I knew by name but never actively listened to. Sounded pretty good, nice music. But not ground-breaking and kind of faded into the background after a couple tracks.
I had fun! An unusual selection.
I find the lead singer's voice insufferable. The singles are good, "Use Somebody" is my favourite. "Closer" is a good opener. When the second half of the album comes on, the quality drops significantly. So I have mixed feelings towards this album. 3 stars for "Only By the Night".
Hits me right in my millennial feels. Hard for me not to love this album as it was playing everywhere during a fun time in my life, all of these songs take me back to riding around on dirt roads smoking weed and trying to get my older brother to buy us beer. Hard to looked beyond that and give an honest review of the quality of music. So, five star based solely on nostalgia.
The most three star album of all time. It's entirely serviceable, it's precision engineered to be used on emotional bits on the X Factor, and its boring as hell. They were a band once!
Hot garbage.
Fine background music but not particularly interesting or exciting
Awesome album
3.5
Ass, ass and more ass
Two radio hits Recycled arena rock And catchy headaches
#316. This album is way better than it has any right to be. I couldn't tell you why it's so good, because in reality no part of it is particularly any better than any thing else out there, but it somehow manages to be greater than the sum of its parts. All of the rest of their albums are more or less exactly what you'd expect from them, but somehow this one manages to be something more. 5/5: fantastic. *this is the thirty second album I purchased from this list Song added to playlist: Sex On Fire I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
Yk that controversial brand of '00s rock reminiscent of Nickelback and Creed? That, and topped with delicious production. Unironically enjoyed it.
more than 3 less than 4
I’m usually quite selective with the rating feature on this website and have only given a few five stars. This means that I usually know an album really well before rating it so highly. I’ve heard of kings of Leon before but I’ve never enjoyed an album so much on a first listen. I genuinely had to stop what I was doing as not to miss a second of it. Amazing.
finally, at long last, after so many people refusing, we finally have a band that asks "if u2 is so good how come theres no u3???" okay tbh still quite enjoyable for me...songs feel very static and kinda glompy, but picking a Sound and a Melody to ride out cozily in the shape of an alt rock song isnt something that eludes my tastes. given a different context where id be coming back to this more (or if this was one of the albums i picked up from walmart when i was 15/16 and trying out this Music thing) i could probably even get rly attached, its comfy! but certainly not among my most significant discoveries from this project either way
Very nice mix of vocals and instruments. Felt good
Pretty good!
Apresenta potencial para se firmar como opção memorável de rock bem feito, mas se perde como sem alma e pegada mais forte.
Not bad. Kings of Leon are like the okayest band.
Why in the hell in this trash an album I should listen to before I die? Kings of Leon sucks. It is super generic. Who cares.
- really enjoy that #3-6 run
It was alright.
This was okay but maybe not really my cup of tea. The strained vocal style got on my nerves by the end.
I think that I can enjoy Kings of Leon only in bitesize servings. The full meal of an album leaves me feeling a bit bloated.
This is ok but there's a lot of music that sounds like this but that I like much more. If I had nothing else to listen to, I wouldn't be too upset but if given a choice I wouldn't choose this.
I noted that there are three Kings of Leon albums that once were on the 1001 list but none are now. This one and Youth and Young Manhood I found very good… and think maybe one of those could remain. I guess of those two this one was a little bit better. It was the album where I became aware of this band so maybe that’s part of it.
Not my favorite KoL album, but it was my first
2.3 1x in LAX going to LAS then ATL
Good overall, one song was flat, can’t recall which one.
Definitely a bit more strung out and laid back but still good. SOF and Use Somebody I'd be OK never hearing again. They certainly know how to write songs.
Better than I expected
Ew
I love this album, It's SO good. The smoky, husky voice, the mellow, yet complex melodies, the sad relatability of the lyrics, it's amazing. If I'm being uber critical, I'll say that it does sound a *little* dated. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could.
Plenty of enjoyable tracks on here, though 17 is not one of them.
I find the Kings of Leon annoying.
A rock/pop powerhouse but oversaturation takes its toll.
Ok
This just is a great album, from the first to the last track.
Partly heard before Saved 4/11 Top track: Closer
These guys were big…a friend lives by one of them in Nashville & says “great neighbor”. That’s all.
Listened to this album a lot when I was a teenager. I absolutely loved it. Now? Wtf? Over half the songs seem to repeat themselves over and over. And nearly none of them make sense. They all bleed into each other. And 17??? What the double actual fuck is that song? Idk what the hell was going through my teenage brain enjoying this album.
Standout
Closer is great! Enjoyed it all
Great album
There is no universe where this pandering, underwhelming, sack of shit of an album should be in the top 1001. Kings of Leon clearly intended for Sex on Fire and Use Somebody to be the singles (both of which are not interesting nor good), with the rest of the album padded by bad songs with repetitive lyrics, grating vocals and basic song structures. This is an all time low on this list so far, and I sincerely hope the author removed this album to make room for other albums. 0/5 -> 1/5
amazing album. liked every song, but one. its edgy, melodic and has a sexiness to it.
Mediocre at best
Guter Mix, angenehme Stimme, atmosphärischer aber nicht dichter Sound
First time listening to Kings of Leon but I have been familiar with the name for a long time. I enjoyed it. Was really easy listening
The stuff guilty pleasures are made of, but if it's a pleasure, what's there to complain about?
Always tried but never really liked this stadium oriented rock outfit
Elska svona 90% af þessari plötu. Hjálpar mikið að hafa séð þá læv.
Have always found Kings of Leon irritating
I totally like their sound, even if there is nothing to special to it. the couple of mega hits at the beginning of the album really peak it so it drags a bit. maybe with a different track listing. I did not remember that 17 song... bruh
This was on REPEAT in the late 00s, but it really is kind of bland. The opening 4 tracks are stellar, but it quickly turns quite uninspired. Only exception being the vocals and somewhat inventive drums/percussion work by two of the Followills.
One of the major releases of the late 00’s. The Followills really nailed what everybody seemed to long for at exactly the right time. Caleb’s vocals are extremely emotional and powerful, Jared’s bass playing is playful and Nathan’s drumming is always a breath of fresh air. There’s a chance this might be dated - I might still be too much in love to notice it. And when you close an album on “Cold Desert” (a go-to late night favorite of mine) I have nothing bad to say.
Sex on Fire suffers from the Somebody I Used to Know curse of being a great song that got overplayed until bloody and unrecognisable. This is a massive album.
снова планирую продолжать их слушать. хороший альбом, не перестаю удивляться как секс он фаер отличается от того с чем меня знакомили в караоке)
3.5 stars I do hella enjoy the vocals on this album When this album came out this dude at work listened to it quietly on repeat in his cube for months. And often one song at a time. I've heard My Sex is on Fire no less than 700 times. WHO FUCKING DOES THAT?
Great
4 - solid album, but you really start to get the more commercial vibes in this one
I can’t believe that I don’t dislike this. A very consistent set of tracks. Fave Tracks: Notion, Be Somebody 3.9/5
This one had me singing in Revelry.
There are many sins on this album, but the most egregious is that this band is just lame as hell. Their songs are all about swagger and sex appeal but I just flat out don't buy it. This is rock music for people who's biggest adversity is being passed over for district manager at PetSmart. Use Somebody is a hell of a song though and Sex on Fire would be too if the lyrics weren't so dumb. So I have to give them that at least.
This kind of monotonous arena rock is not really my thing. Kinda catchy, but also, every song feels like the background music to a guy in a romcom going back to get the girl. That being said, listening to this album made me look the band up and even listen to their earliest albums, which groove way harder, like a mix of CCR, Dylan, and the Allman Brothers. Good stuff! Shame they shifted into U2 - Coldplay territory. 2.5/5 ... I'll round up.
Perhaps it’s silly, but had the line been ANYthing other than “your sex is on fire” I would probably feel very differently about this band. This album wasn’t terrible, and they have some earlier stuff that I enjoyed, but they are so, so gross to me, mostly because that lyric.
Yeah not bad
This album doesn’t belong to the list. At all. A study in bland and mediocre.
too happy, too boring and jangly, a real jarring listen actually. not good stoned music
The music is pleasant in a generic "U2 discovered emo" kind of way, but why does he sing like that? I can tolerate a lot when it comes to the "unique" voices in rock music, but this just seems like some kind of cruel joke on the listener.
Sooo basiic
I typically have little patience for indie/alt/pop rock (unless it's so bad it's good...like in the 80's), and maybe they caught me on a good day, but I liked this album.
yeah i can't say i'm a fan of this. i don't know if i can say it's bad but it's pretty uninspiring. there's really nothing interesting here going on. i remember them being a big band but with music as, at best, middle of the road as this, i can't imagine the bland type of person who this resonates with. not for me.
OKish Rock album. 3/5
Die einzelnen Hits kennt man ja, aber so geballt nervts schnell. Keine Abwechslung.
Album has stood the test of time, and is now a classic. Unique vocal style. Great festival material.
I liked Crawl. The rest of the album was fine but not that great. I think the two hits off this album are the worst songs on it. Maybe it’s because of them being overplayed, or it’s the woah-oh chorus on use somebody. That was overused for a long time, it’s such a lazy choice. Otherwise, it’s an inoffensive pop rock album, not sure it deserves to be on this list. Just ok.
True story - this album is so forgettable that I had to check my listening history to realize that I did in fact listen to it a couple of weeks ago and just had forgotten to rate it.
There are multiple hits on this album but it just doesn’t appeal to me. Some of their songs I found frankly a bit creepy which pushed it down to a 2. Fave Track: Closer Rating: 2
Like it!
Too much rocknroll
Honestly I loved their 1st album at the time, even seeing them live twice when they toured four 2004 Big Day Out. They were rough and raw, coming across as a hillbilly answer to the Strokes (who Kings of Leon Supported one night). Fast forward half a dozen years and the had evolved in the a very safe and radio friendly ballad band. I know people who eats this stuff up but to me they were had become bland and about as dangerous as a fluffy bunny.
I liked this more than I thought I would
Finally got the sex on fire album and as I suspected it’s my favorite kings of Leon album I’ve gotten out of the 3 or 4. Sex on fire is an all timer plus use somebody and closer are also great. The whole thing is just great for having on at a campfire that’s winding down for the night.
I think this band is talented, but they stalled creatively
A good listen
Geht so....
4 rocking stars.
loved!
This is the equivalent of eating oatmeal, and I mean plain oatmeal. While, yes, there are times where you're craving some oatmeal, that's a very rare scenario that typically doesn't last longer than the five to ten minutes it takes to make it. Most of the album just didn't land with me and the few songs that did land just didn't stick. Ah well, at least it was over relatively quickly.
I'unno. On my first listen, I just didn't care for it all too much. Very "boring late 2000's rock" vibes. Like, it honestly had my wondering why this album was a hit—if it even was a hit at all and wasn't just being carried by its two singles. Really, it was only on my re-listen to the first half where I began to enjoy it, and only because I saw someone compare this album to U2. Specifically, JOSHUA TREE-era U2, and, like, I'unno. I can hear it, certainly, but nothing here soars for me in the same way THE JOSHUA TREE could. Of course, that U2 comparison is the thing alone that's raising this to an "it's fine" 3, 'cuz otherwise I really could not care.
Not that much to say besides that is some decent alternative and that Use Somebody is an A-tier track. Shame they became NFT shills later down the line.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’m gonna begrudgingly bump up to a 5, because I think it’s not a 4, but it just doesn’t feel like a 5. Make no mistake; I think this album’s fucking great. This is incredibly cool to me – I only knew Use Somebody, which I still think is an all-timer of a track, but I’ve never really heard any of the other songs surrounding it, and up until Track 6, everything was blazing hot, all cylinders firing, all engines go, felt like one of the easiest 5s I might give. And yet, of those final 5 tracks, I was only really digging the last 2; something about Tracks 7 through 9 sounded really good, but they never really put the full package together in the same way that the first 6 tracks did. Who knows? I might just be overreacting to an underwhelming finish; those first 6 tracks hit like crack, man. Absolute bliss for me. Even those last 5 tracks are still good listens; the soundscape never lets up a single time during this album, and you can’t say that Caleb Followill can’t sing his ass off, because he was belting like a motherfucker on this. I’m sure someone will get more enjoyment out of Notion or I Want You than I did (17 is an actively mediocre track), and they don’t take away from the rest of the album at all. It’s a great listen, and it deserves to be on the list; kind of conflicted about bumping it up to a 5, but I really do think it's just too good to only give it a 4.
I enjoyed the album, many of the songs i had never heard still matched the quality of the ones i knew already. I do somewhat understand why the popular ones became popular, mostly based on structure of songs, overall quite liked it and was fun to go back to.
I had heard of the artist but was not sure if I knew any songs. It's rock with indie flair. I enjoyed this and would listen again.
I mean... not as good as their early stuff. But as an indie cunt I still resonate with Kings of Leon. Sorry. I am sorry.
No thank you.
You can just about spot the exact moment they decided to launch themselves head first down the water slide of commercial sell out shite, belly flopping right into the pool of irritating music. A pool ladened with coldplays piss! Feels like such a sell out album. Average almost post rock drums to try to create some sort of anthemic sound, gravely vocals with bang average, middle of the road lyrics. A recipe to get idiots to love your music. I’m a little bit of one of those idiots though! Would be better if sex on fire and that other god awful single wasn’t on this at all. 2.2
Este podría haber sido el disco que hubieran publicado U2 si en 2008 aún siguieran sacando discos decentes. Esto no es una crítica, sino un piropo. Arrasó en ventas, aunque la crítica los puso a parir. Con el tiempo se ha demostrado que fue un disco acertado, que sigue sonando bien y es bienvenido en cualquier momento. Con Closer, Sex On Fire y Use Somebody como mejores temas. otros discos de 2008: Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes , Portishead – Third, ELI "PAPERBOY" REED - Roll with you,Sigur Rós – Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust, Deerhunter – Microcastle, MGMT – Oracular Spectacular, TV On The Radio – Dear Science, The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age Of The Understatement, Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend, Calexico – Carried To Dust, The Magnetic Fields- Distortion, Lightspeed Champion - Falling Off the Lavender Bridge, Adele-19 , Hot Chip- made in the dark, Beach house- Devotion, M83- Saturdays = Youth, TV on the Radio -Dear Science, Mogwai-The Hawk Is Howling, Coldplay- Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends...
The first two songs are decent, then it starts to fall apart. The singles aren’t bad, but they were so overplayed on the radio that I’m still kind of sick of them. The singer’s voice has grown on me a bit with this album. It can still be too whiny and annoying, but it’s not as egregious as the other album on this list. Musically it’s catchy, and it’s kind of different from what else was out at the time. The drumming is generally cool, and the guitar has sort of a post-punk revival vibe combined with the Southern rock. But after a while, the songs start to blend together. They sound like they’re trying to blend Interpol with Southern rock. Lyrically, the first couple of songs are pretty good, but there are still too many vapid rock star lyrics. The songs “17” and “I Want You” are pretty gross. The verses to “Be Somebody” are pretty epic — it’s a great post punk song, and the drums are great. But the chorus is kind of meh, like a generic Coldplay song. It still might be my favorite song on the album. Closer, Crawl, and Be Somebody are the highlights of this album. It’s an alright album. I’m still not sure what makes this album worthy of being on a must-listen list, let alone why they have TWO albums on here when so many great artists are left off completely. 3/5 (but probably closer to 2.5)
Meh. Didn't hate it. Probably 2.5
Some good songs, but def full of burger and car commercial music
I have to say I sighed when I got another Kings of Leon album. But boy was I wrong. I loved it, and I loved the music the infinity playlist offered up afterwards.
always really liked some of these songs but all together they don't seem so different and special.
Song by song I just kept turning the volume down until it wasn't on anymore and that was a nice change.
While i do like the instrumentals, i really can't stand this voice!
Favourite songs: Sex on Fire, Use Somebody, Notion, Closer, Manhattan, Crawl Least favourite songs: 17, I Want You 4/5
Agradable y Guay.
6/10 Knowing the big singles, and not liking them much, meant that I went into this with low expectations. But it was a bit more interesting than them, competent stadium rock with blues and country influence. Released the same year as Viva La Vida, certainly playing in the same waters, so comparison is inevitable. I have a strong preference for the Coldplay one. Why? All comes down to the lyrics and vocals - Chris Martin’s click with me much more, found this album a little “faux heartfelt” and occasionally annoying Melodies good, rhythm section excellent. Best: Crawl
Ako je morgan wallen drake with the twang onda je ovaj album u2 with the twang. Ipak skroz solidne pjesme
I enjoyed listening to it, but it gets a bit same-y after a while, and his voice starts to get a little annoying. He sings with almost no enunciation and does the same vocal tricks in every song, so I wish there was more variation. The hits are great, of course.
"Only by the Night" by Kings of Leon is a great alt rock album. Although the slow tracks are a little lackluster, the hit singles, "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody," are widely known and made enormous waves toping charts across the globe.
Really liked this album when it came out. Enjoyed hearing again
Awesome album
It's really not a good album. They had so much potential after the first three.
jeg synes den var meget fed 🫣 sangene passede meget bedre til hans stemme på den her end den sidste vi havde
Bedre end den anden KoL plade vi hørte! Den starter jo med en hel serie af (relativt) bangers. Men ja, generisk, hans stemme er tit ret træls, og den her plade behøver virkelig ikke være i den her bog! Altid et 🚩🚩🚩 når en sanger med den her stemme starter en sang med "ooooh she was only 17"
Lidt flere gode sange på den her plade, men jeg kan virkelig ikke snuppe hans stemme...
Not as good as I remembered
Not a bad album. There were a couple good songs on it. I wouldn't go to it for a regular listen, but if it was playing I wouldn't object.
Serviceable rock. Heard a lot of sex on fire and its a decent track. I like the one with the bells.
Their best selling but least soulful. It's the death rattle of the garage rock revival, unfortunately.
This album doesn’t really pull me in. It’s at a time where rock and roll was waning, and so it stood out as counter that trend, but I don’t find it that appealing of a listen.
Quite fun.
I can’t decide which of these reviews to publish, so I’m leaving it up to you, faithful reader, to decide which of these you think is the most fitting. Consider it a “Choose Your Own Adventure” style review: A.) Alt-Rock for people who find My Morning Jacket “too aggressive”. B.) Move over Fleetwood Mac, the middle of the road has a new King. C.)_STOP_CALLING_MAJOR_LABEL_BANDS_INDIE_ROCK_
Cool, soulful voice. Neat arrangements on some tracks. Some of the songs fall flat, but some of them light you up. Playlist choice: manhattan
Rock , 2008 ->4
I don’t want to be all “every song sounds the same,” It’s more like the emotional register of all the songs is very similar, like those heavy, emotional ballad with the stretched-out “oooooooooooooo-ooooooo-ooooooooo” dramorama all over the place. I get some real three doors down, I want to call it “faux“ heaviness vibes. I don’t know, just 11 songs seems like a lot for one sitting. Best song on the album is “I Want You.”
Their first fully realized mainstream album, a great rocker with unique sound for today.
Listened Before? N Pretty good. Not necessarily as good as THEY think is is but pretty good nonetheless. I dig the groove and the mood. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Notion
Proper good 00s throwback. Sex on Fire was all the rage on the airwaves at the time (ca. 2007-08 I think) but this album has some other great tracks too
it was olkay, good music, but not something I would listen to again
Back in 2008 you couldn’t walk outside without hearing a song from this album and boy did that get annoying. Now over 10 years from it being released it’s actually a pretty enjoyable album when you only listen to it once in a while. Notion is probably my favorite on this album although there are several good hits on it that hold up. Biggest drawback is the singers unintelligible voice from time to time but still a decent album. 6.9/10 (nice)
Bängeriä laskematta kohtuullisen keskinkertaista musiikkia johon kyllästyy kohtuullisen nopeasti. Superhitti nostaa niukasti kolmoseen.
Ehjä kokonaisuus. Hyviä biisejä. Valovuosi eteenpäin edellisestä
It was okay - nothing special to me.
Gets better each listen. Standouts: Sex on Fire, Use Somebody, Be Somebody, Crawl, Notion, Revelry, Closer, 17, I Want You.
mid
Four of these songs were massive in the late 2000s. Some of them were so overplayed that you end up getting sick of them and forgetting how good they are, but doing a revisit many years later serves as a great reminder that hey, these are solid mainstream rock tracks. I sure miss the days when rock easily crossed over to pop and Top 40 radio! Standouts are Revelry, Sex on Fire, Crawl, and I Want You.
GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE!
I feel like someone should show Kings of Leon some ways to make their songs interesting. Every song feels like it has the same structure: start really strong, and never really go anywhere. Like they came up with one riff and decided that's a whole song. Props to the bass player for trying to be interesting. Top tracks: Use Somebody, Revelry
I was interested in earlier albums of Kings of Leon. This one is alright but it kind of laid out while they became a bit boring
Really good, solid album. It's got some really catchy tunes, and majority seem well written. Very enjoyable.
One heck of an impressive album. I like the lead singer's voice, it has a lot of passion/emotion and successfully navigates that gravelly voice without being overused. The first 6 songs on this album are among the best, Closer is an energetic, a bit aggressive sound (that strangely reminds me another song with an understated background siren, Ebow the Letter). The back is still pretty good though loses some of the catchiness of the early tracks. Really enjoyed.
It’s fine I guess
3+
Great rock album from the 2000s.
KoL's big commercial breakthrough. Still not very good. Rating: 1.5/5 Playlist track: Use Somebody Date listened: 11/04/24
I was hoping for a massive modern classic but it disappointed a little. It’s does have some big tunes on there but is all got pretty one note quite quickly. I don’t think I can go less than 4 stars with those singles though.
I like the first Kings of Leon album on the list. On this fourth album the transformation to boring MOR, daddy rock is completed. The songs are fine, but the performance is uninspired and the album does not add anything interesting to music history. Like a MacDonalds burger.
This was the album that introduced everyone to Kings of Leon, but it is most definitely not their best album.
Wholly unremarkable
Except for “Sex on Fire,” I don’t think there’s anything worth listening to here
Who did Kings of Leon pay to get 2 albums on this list (praying there isn't a 3rd). Not as bad as the earlier album and first 2 tracks are pretty impressive. Down hill from there... but they seem to have improved the musical side of their work, the lyrics still are terrible.
Ça a pas pris de temps pour returner sur le indie rock insipide de dépanneur et autres centres dentaires. C’est vraiment juste moyen, ya pas d’autre terme plus approprié
Only by the Night - Kings of Leon This is one of the best rock albums of 2008. So many hits off of this album, but some of the deep cuts are even better. I hope their onstage and offstage antics have gotten better. We don't need "The American Oasis" band. I think my favorite song on this album is "Manhattan." Caleb Followil has such an aching in his voice as he sings, "I said who are you? Don't matter who you are. So we dance all night and dance all day. I say." and this minimalistic guitar comes in and it's the most beautiful transition and melody. So much emotion in this song, from the vocals to the melodic guitar. This album was right before their fame took off and they got distracted. It's a tight rock album that exudes sex and shows just how good this band is. 5/5
These guys get a lot of hate for some reason, but they're not that bad. A little same-y and I didn't really like any of the songs that I hadn't heard before, but it's not terrible.
Couple really great tracks. 3.5 Standouts: Sex on Fire, Use Somebody, Revelry, Notion.
Was burned out on the Kings when this came out, never gave it a good listen and was tired of hearing the hits on the radio. Overall a good album, enjoyed it.
This is quite nice. KOL has a unique vocal style that is very provocative even on the remainder of the album that was not a radio hit. This is a lot better than I remember it. Seems like a classic.
If your sex is on fire, you should consult your doctor or call the fire department. We finally hit Kings of Leon. I kept thinking how weird it was that we were nearly 800 albums in and had yet to encounter this band with three albums on the list. Well, not really on the list. Formerly on the list. Because the other weird thing is that while three different KoL records have appeared on the 1001, none remain. “Only By The Night” is the latest of the KoL albums to make the list. Did it replace the other two, but then fell victim to the 20th century bias of the list and eventually fall off itself? How does a band worthy of making the list with three different albums wind up totally shut out? I do think KoL deserves representation on the list. But which album? I listened to KoL a bunch when these albums first came out, but not so much in the last decade. But a quick look back had me feeling that it may actually be “Because of the Times,” KoL’s third album and the odd one out in this early stretch of their career not to appear on the 1001, that I liked the best. As for “Only By The Night,” it starts majestically. The wah/reverb/whatever-that’s-called intro of “Closer” is a great way to open an album. They build momentum through “Closer” and “Crawl” before squandering it with “Sex on Fire.” Not that “Sex on Fire” isn’t a great sounding song. As long as you don’t listen to the lyrics. Apparently that didn’t dissuade people though. That song was a huge hit. It won a Grammy. “Use Somebody” won a Grammy too. Somehow not the same year, though? How do two singles from the same album win awards in different years? Regardless, this was peak Kings of Leon. (Peak popularity at least.) They’ve fallen off since then, but they were on a pretty hot run. Sometimes his vocals veer into overwrought twanginess, but I love the way Caleb Followill lets his voice break and crack. It sets the tone for a band that feels always just on the edge of losing control, only to rein it in and keep roaring.
Solid
I liked this more than I thought I might.
"Sex on fire" y "Use somebody" son las canciones famosas del grupo, que se encuentran en este disco. Muy buena canción de rock. Las primeras dos canciones del disco me parecieron un poco aburridas y monótonas. No todas me terminaron de gustar, especialmente las primeras dos que me parecieron algo aburridas.
Lots of latter teenage years nostalgia with this one. At the time felt like more than just pop rock, but it is a bit bland on the re-listen more than a decade later. Still enjoy it, catchy tunes and memorable hooks. No bad tracks, but the hits don't really hit in the same way they did back in the day. Still humorous that "Sex on Fire" was supposed to be Set's Us on Fire until a sound mixer made the joke.
I had to sigh when this album popped up, entirely too soon after their other album on this list (aka at any point at all.) This one is more polished sounding, but still sort of grimy and dirty feeling...lyrics are overtly sexual in a retro (and somehow still unsexy, to me at least) way. It feels like they've chosen to embrace the messiness of the vocal stylings while cleaning up the other aspects of the music on this record. I remember this being their breakout album. The singles were truly inescapable in 2008-2010. In retrospect, maybe I should have appreciated them more then, because they really came at the end of rock on the pop charts for...a while. Is that why they're on the list? Commercial success and the marker of an end of an era where indie rock went mainstream, thanks, in no small part, because of the Twilight soundtrack? I have no other theories. Overall, it's fine. I don't think I'll return to this album anytime soon, but thanks to the magic of drugstore soundtracks, I'm sure I'll remember it exists.
Wouldn’t put in in albums to listen to in life
OK, nothing groundbreaking.
The first two songs weren't bad and I thought this would be a big step up from Aha Shake Heartbreak (what a terrible album name), but then it hit the two awful singles and it never really recovered.
The opening track, Closer, is very good. I honestly hate Sex on Fire. It just gives me the impression of a bad STD. Blech. The other single I knew, Use Somebody, was ok. Fun to sing along with. 17 fell flat - can grown men stop singing about teenage girls? The rest of the album was bland, generic and sounded a lot of the same. If only the album had remained as strong as its opening. This is a 2 for me.
It's probably a fine album. I didn't find anything offputting but I didn't connect with it. The sound is all very similar. Very few dynamics. Not very exciting for me. No chills. Nothing moved me. I probably wouldn't have put it on the list, but I'm glad I've heard it and can now move on.
I forgot how much I enjoyed this album.
I don’t find it bad, but not my type I find it a little generic. I’m sure when it can out it was more unique 2,5
A couple good songs on here, Notion especially. 17 felt fairly creepy, I Want You felt weird as well. I'm not trying to be anti-sex but when the songs are about an underage woman and make a point to identify in their lyrics they're talking specifically about a black guy with a big dick, I dunno... Not for me.
Better than I thought / remember from the singles
Don't hate on this just because you hate someone else who likes it.
In one ear and straight out the other, yawn.
A classic of the early-2000s indie scene
not impressed. It was just OK. I’d give it 2.5 stars.
A great album with a big sound.
pre listening notes: i know two songs off this album, sex on fire and use somebody. and i like these songs! so i’m excited Closer - off the top this is a funny name for a first track on an album bc closer as in proximity but also closer like finisher. music wise, i am a complete sucker for a laid back trippy beat and a whiny man/guitar. i like the vibe of this song but there isn’t much substance here Crawl - gritty fuzzy baseline with gritty lyrics. again i like the sound & vibe but the actual substance seems lacking, could be me tho Sex on Fire - i already know this one as i said & i like it!! Use Somebody - same as before, i know this one and like it already. teenage me was listening to this Manhattan - hey that’s where i am! lol. i guess this one is about having fun and doing what you want? guess you don’t need a real message when you sound good. which this song does! big fan of the musicality Revelry - feels like a response to the last song. most lyric heavy song so far. i like the verses more than the chorus tbh, but i do like the verses. this is probably my fav one i didn’t know before so far. we love a song abt regret lol 17 - sorry to do this to this song but i’ve been kinda saying it the whole time. there’s a type of music i really like that sounds good but is less meaningful, and i think this whole album does this. i like the way this song sounds but i can’t imagine this standing on its own Notion - sounds good man. Kings of Leon have worn me down lol I Want You - woah, this one sounds.. different?? Leon i didn’t know you had it in you! it’s a hookup song?? this brought me back. new fav. Be Somebody - at least it sounds different still, but idk how i feel about it. i like that we’re trying to be instead of use lol. but kinda meh, i like the baseline tho Cold Desert - i like this one! it’s different, slow and sad. i think the singer’s voice is good and it’s nice to hear it do upbeat as well as sad, although his range is virtually the same in every song i will not hold that against him. annnddd there’s a bit of a fake ending! bring it back leon! overall, i can’t rate this album super favorably because of the amount of stuff that sounded super same-y. i did find a new song i like (I Want You) but i wouldn’t revisit this album. 3/5
Closer - I was so excited by the into music and then the dude’s weird voice made me take several steps back Sex is on fire - such a man song smh Use somebody - a bop Revelry - I like the bass guitar in this. Would 10/10 listen to this in a boat I want you - I groove with this song. Then I looked up the lyrics and I groove less. Be somebody - I like this one a lot
Having heard and liked both singles on this album, I expected a four star. Sadly those are the best tracks in the album. Nothing else stands out a whole lot, which the exception of Cold Desert. 3/5
Decent Rock. I like it.
This album makes me sad. There was time, before this album, when Kings of Leon were genuinely good. This was when that stopped being the case.
Neat