Kings of Leon, Great Band or Craptastic (1 Viewer)

[biggamer3]

To me they sound amazing on their latest CD, some of their earlier stuff didnt sound as good though.

what does the FBG say?

 

[Man in the yellow hat]

Great band. Their ealier stuff is a little more raw, but I like it a lot. Saw them live last November. One of the better live shows I've seen. They sounded terrific.

 

[Jutz]

Personally... I don't like them that much... but speaking objectively... I think they are a very good band. I understand why people like them, and I have respect for the music they put out... it just doesn't fit my personal preference.

There is this odd thing I have with them... and it has to do mainly with one of the first videos they put out. The video was made to look like an older 1980's hard rock 'closet classics' type of video. It reminded me of an old Black Sabbath video... where it was just the band playing on a minimal set, with maybe some lo-tech special effects in the background.

The band also played the part looking like old 'heads' with long hair and long beards (I think). Ever since then, I felt they are playing on this 70's metal band esthetic... not only with their looks... but with their musc as well. They come across to me as a band that is somewhat trying to copy an old genere, and appeal to everyone's love of all things 'vintage'. They almost seemed like a tribute band to me.

I do, however, like their latest video, and the song that goes with it. Not sure what song it is, but it is a slower song, and is pretty good. I voted that I think they are OK. I don't seem them as innovaters, or trail blazers in any way, but I think they put out quality music... and are deserving of the career they have earned.

 

[Colin Dowling]

I like them, but I think they take VERY liberally from a wide range of artists. That's ok and completely part of rock music but it keeps me from thinking of them as top-tier when (for example) their biggest recent hit "Sex on Fire" could easily be an Eddie Money song.

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

Somewhere between OK and Awesome for me.

 

[One]

First 2 Albums - AWESOME!

LAst 2 Albums - Just Okay

 

[Fiddles]

love em but thought they were boring live

 

[nelsondogg]

Like their old stuff much more than the new.

 

[D_House]

Listened to a few of their songs based on recommendations here and just can't get into them. My main problem is with the singer.

 

[Man in the yellow hat]

My main problem is with the singer.

Really? I think he has a very unique voice and sound. That's one of the things I like about the band.

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

Saw the live in Philly last winter and the wife went to see them again on draft night. Their two older CDs sound like a completely different band than their two newest CDs. They sound different in almost every way.

 

[Dought Man]

Awesome band...going to see them live isn't much fun unless you love their top 20 songs. They play the songs note for note, just about the same setlist every night. No jamming...just tunage...no talking, just business.

 

[slack]

meh. they're a talented band, no doubt. but i'm not into it that much. better than 99% of the other #### that's out there these days.

 

[Rocky Dennis]

I think they're better than Asher Roth

 

[BigJohn]

I've had "Only by the Night" for 3 months, but haven't had any time to sit and listen to it until Saturday.

GREAT disc. Manhattan, Notion and Closer are my personal faves.

 

[Masked Vigilante]

I hate the lead singers voice. Aside from that they're awesome.

 

[BigJohn]

I hate the lead singers voice. Aside from that they're awesome.

XBest part of their sound.

 

[Masked Vigilante]

I hate the lead singers voice. Aside from that they're awesome.

XBest part of their sound.

XXI find his voice a bit too whiny. Dude sounds like he is crying in "Use Somebody".

We all got different tastes. They just don't do anything for me.

 

[BigJohn]

I hate the lead singers voice. Aside from that they're awesome.

XBest part of their sound.

XXI find his voice a bit too whiny. Dude sounds like he is crying in "Use Somebody".

We all got different tastes. They just don't do anything for me.

Agree to disagree. IMO, if you take his voice out, you have a pretty average band. His voice just clicks for me on the songs I mentioned. I know what you mean in that song, but it definitely is not one of my favorites from the album.

 

[Big Blue Wrecking Crew]

love em but thought they were boring live

 

[Masked Vigilante]

I hate the lead singers voice. Aside from that they're awesome.

XBest part of their sound.

XXI find his voice a bit too whiny. Dude sounds like he is crying in "Use Somebody".

We all got different tastes. They just don't do anything for me.

Agree to disagree. IMO, if you take his voice out, you have a pretty average band. His voice just clicks for me on the songs I mentioned. I know what you mean in that song, but it definitely is not one of my favorites from the album.

I'll admit I haven't heard all their songs. I thought "Sex on Fire" was allright. Did not like "Use Somebody" (which happens to be their most popular song on iTunes).

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

Gonna see 'em shortly, for the first time.

 

[Disco Stu]

To me they sound amazing on their latest CD, some of their earlier stuff didnt sound as good though.

Like this, except the opposite. Old stuff was better. They're still good, but if I had to rank their albums I'd go in order of release date.And "Holy Roller Novocaine" is still their best song.

 

[Desert_Power]

I hate the lead singers voice. Aside from that they're awesome.

XBest part of their sound.

XXI find his voice a bit too whiny. Dude sounds like he is crying in "Use Somebody".

We all got different tastes. They just don't do anything for me.

Wow, I did not realize that they did this song. Sounds completely different and not in a good way.

 

[Postradamus]

Sex on Fire is one catchy jam. I still like their first album the best and they're wearing on me a little bit. I'll still be following their new material, hoping they mix up their sound.

 

[joey]

Love 'em.

Their transition from "Southern Roots Rocker" sound on their first album, with their first single "Molly's Chambers",

to their "Retro New Wave, Strokes'esk sound on their 2nd album "Aha Shake Heartbreak" (my fave of theirs by far),

to their Pixies-esk, more rowdy 3rd album and now their current U2-esk, alt-pop monster sound with their latest album.

You can SEE their change by just doing a Google Image Search for them and the long-haired hippie freaks look nothing

like their current trendy, retro-new-wave spiked-hair look.

Either way, VERY soild band, very good song writers. One of my favorite groups of the last 10 years.

 

[Man in the yellow hat]

To me they sound amazing on their latest CD, some of their earlier stuff didnt sound as good though.

Like this, except the opposite. Old stuff was better. They're still good, but if I had to rank their albums I'd go in order of release date.And "Holy Roller Novocaine" is still their best song.

Personally, Knocked Up remains one of my favorites from Kings of Leon, followed by Closer.

 

[Red Eyed and Blue]

I like some of their songs, but there's a lot of uninspired crap mixed in. The song "Charmer" off "Because of the Times" is one of the most obnoxious releases I've ever heard in the history of music.

 

[Postradamus]

Love 'em.Their transition from "Southern Roots Rocker" sound on their first album, with their first single "Molly's Chambers",to their "Retro New Wave, Strokes'esk sound on their 2nd album "Aha Shake Heartbreak" (my fave of theirs by far),to their Pixies-esk, more rowdy 3rd album and now their current U2-esk, alt-pop monster sound with their latest album.You can SEE their change by just doing a Google Image Search for them and the long-haired hippie freaks look nothinglike their current trendy, retro-new-wave spiked-hair look.Either way, VERY soild band, very good song writers. One of my favorite groups of the last 10 years.

hmm, I suppose I haven't given their non-singles as thorough a listen as their first 2 CDs, but to me they don't sound much different in their newer singles. Maybe it's just the dude's voice that makes me think that.

 

[SimonMoon]

I'll reserve judgment until they've been around for a while. It takes time to strip away the influences and develop a deep catalogue of truly original-sounding material. Right now they're just "better then most because they had a real record collection."

 

[Disco Stu]

To me they sound amazing on their latest CD, some of their earlier stuff didnt sound as good though.

Like this, except the opposite. Old stuff was better. They're still good, but if I had to rank their albums I'd go in order of release date.And "Holy Roller Novocaine" is still their best song.

Personally, Knocked Up remains one of my favorites from Kings of Leon, followed by Closer.

Knocked Up is great. Closer is just ok.The Holy Roller Novocaine EP is 15 minutes of pure awesomeness.

 

[Running with scissors]

To me they sound amazing on their latest CD, some of their earlier stuff didnt sound as good though.

Like this, except the opposite. Old stuff was better. They're still good, but if I had to rank their albums I'd go in order of release date.And "Holy Roller Novocaine" is still their best song.

Personally, Knocked Up remains one of my favorites from Kings of Leon, followed by Closer.

Knocked Up is great. Closer is just ok.The Holy Roller Novocaine EP is 15 minutes of pure awesomeness.

I'm going to have to go ahead and agree with my fellow music nerd here.

 

[Harry Manback]

His voice irritates me.

They aren't bad, but I'd never stop on a station because the song is on, nor would I seek out a concert to see them.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Me likey.

 

[17seconds]

I like them a little more than most.

The guy's voice is the best thing about the band.

Only thing is that riff from Sex on Fire is a total ripoff of

- watch 2:20 - 2:30

 

[Zow]

Meh. They are getting so much play on Sirius 21 I think it's becoming a fad more than anything. I think they are all right, but there songs aren't catchy nor seem innovative. Lead singer sounds like Springsteen.

I get why they get some radio play, but don't think they should get nearly as much as they do. This makes them overrated.

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

The Live in SoHo EP (which is only available on iTunes) is absolutely awesome. The latest album is okay, but not as good as the earlier ones. And I loved them live.

The fact somebody who likes the "Hey there Delilah" band and the Killers, doesn't like Kings of Leon is just confirmation of my good taste.

 

[Red Eyed and Blue]

His voice irritates me.They aren't bad, but I'd never stop on a station because the song is on, nor would I seek out a concert to see them.

In some cases, I'd turn the station because of a particular song. There's a lot more Nickelback to this band than people want to admit.

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

His voice irritates me.

They aren't bad, but I'd never stop on a station because the song is on, nor would I seek out a concert to see them.

In some cases, I'd turn the station because of a particular song. There's a lot more Nickelback to this band than people want to admit.

That's a brutal comparison. I think it is grossly unfair and just plain wrong, but I guess I could see how you might feel that way if you had only listened to their new album.

 

[17seconds]

Just want to mention I heard "Arms Wide Open" by Creed on the radio this morning - haven't heard it in a while.

For crapitude, it did not disappoint. Still the most craptastic band ever.

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

The Live in SoHo EP (which is only available on iTunes) is absolutely awesome. The latest album is okay, but not as good as the earlier ones. And I loved them live.The fact somebody who likes the "Hey there Delilah" band and the Killers, doesn't like Kings of Leon is just confirmation of my good taste.

Cool, was wondering which album to buy before I go see them. Couldn't choose, although the consensus here was favoring earlier, and didn't want to buy all of them. I will pick this up today, unless there is a better rec. Does soho have stuff from all albums (sans the latest)?

 

[Red Eyed and Blue]

His voice irritates me.

They aren't bad, but I'd never stop on a station because the song is on, nor would I seek out a concert to see them.

In some cases, I'd turn the station because of a particular song. There's a lot more Nickelback to this band than people want to admit.

That's a brutal comparison. I think it is grossly unfair and just plain wrong, but I guess I could see how you might feel that way if you had only listened to their new album.

Sex On Fire is every bit as generic and uninspired a rock song as anything Nickelback has produced. There's your comparison. And there's a LOT of songs like that from KOL. I like some of their stuff, I really do. But there's an awful lot of listless tracks that sound the same and bore me to tears. And I defy you to defend the song "Charmer". Oooof. That's worse than My Morning Jacket's "Highly Suspicious". In fact, I put both in the running for most annoying songs of the last half decade from bands that should know better.

 

[3C's]

His voice irritates me.

They aren't bad, but I'd never stop on a station because the song is on, nor would I seek out a concert to see them.

In some cases, I'd turn the station because of a particular song. There's a lot more Nickelback to this band than people want to admit.

That's a brutal comparison. I think it is grossly unfair and just plain wrong, but I guess I could see how you might feel that way if you had only listened to their new album.

Sex On Fire is every bit as generic and uninspired a rock song as anything Nickelback has produced.

Glad to know I'm not alone.

 

[Zow]

Meh. They are getting so much play on Sirius 21 I think it's becoming a fad more than anything. I think they are all right, but there songs aren't catchy nor seem innovative. Lead singer sounds like Springsteen.

I get why they get some radio play, but don't think they should get nearly as much as they do. This makes them overrated.

oops, got them mixed up with Gaslight anthem.

 

[Red Eyed and Blue]

His voice irritates me.

They aren't bad, but I'd never stop on a station because the song is on, nor would I seek out a concert to see them.

In some cases, I'd turn the station because of a particular song. There's a lot more Nickelback to this band than people want to admit.

That's a brutal comparison. I think it is grossly unfair and just plain wrong, but I guess I could see how you might feel that way if you had only listened to their new album.

Sex On Fire is every bit as generic and uninspired a rock song as anything Nickelback has produced.

Glad to know I'm not alone.

:highfive:That song is Nickelback bad.

 

[Disco Stu]

Sex On Fire is every bit as generic and uninspired a rock song as anything Nickelback has produced. There's your comparison.

That's a bold claim GB. Agree to disagree I guess, but Nickelback comparisons shouldn't be thrown around lightly. "Sex on Fire" is far from my favorite KOL song, but there's a lot more going on in there musically than there is in any of the predictable tripe Nickelback cranks out.

 

[Disco Stu]

And I defy you to defend the song "Charmer". Oooof. That's worse than My Morning Jacket's "Highly Suspicious". In fact, I put both in the running for most annoying songs of the last half decade from bands that should know better.

Last year "Charmer" made its way into a discussion of the most ridiculous new song from a normally good band. But it ran a distant third to "Highly Suspicious" and The Drive By Truckers' "Bob".IMO it's "Bob" in a landslide. The other two kinda grew on me in a guilty pleasure sort of way. "Bob" is just embarrassing.

 

[Postradamus]

And I defy you to defend the song "Charmer". Oooof. That's worse than My Morning Jacket's "Highly Suspicious". In fact, I put both in the running for most annoying songs of the last half decade from bands that should know better.

Last year "Charmer" made its way into a discussion of the most ridiculous new song from a normally good band. But it ran a distant third to "Highly Suspicious" and The Drive By Truckers' "Bob".IMO it's "Bob" in a landslide. The other two kinda grew on me in a guilty pleasure sort of way. "Bob" is just embarrassing.

I like Highly Suspicious. Yeah I said it. Peanutbutter pudding surprise.

 

[Red Eyed and Blue]

And I defy you to defend the song "Charmer". Oooof. That's worse than My Morning Jacket's "Highly Suspicious". In fact, I put both in the running for most annoying songs of the last half decade from bands that should know better.

Last year "Charmer" made its way into a discussion of the most ridiculous new song from a normally good band. But it ran a distant third to "Highly Suspicious" and The Drive By Truckers' "Bob".IMO it's "Bob" in a landslide. The other two kinda grew on me in a guilty pleasure sort of way. "Bob" is just embarrassing.

I've never heard of Bob, but it must really REALLY suck to take out "Charmer". That screaming is horrendous. I can't believe a management group allowed that to record.

 

[Red Eyed and Blue]

Sex On Fire is every bit as generic and uninspired a rock song as anything Nickelback has produced. There's your comparison.

That's a bold claim GB. Agree to disagree I guess, but Nickelback comparisons shouldn't be thrown around lightly. "Sex on Fire" is far from my favorite KOL song, but there's a lot more going on in there musically than there is in any of the predictable tripe Nickelback cranks out.

I disagree completely. I'm not going to proclaim that I know more about music than you, but "Sex on Fire" is lazy, generic and incredibly boring. In other words, PERFECT for radio! Which is exactly what Nickelback is. Lazy, generic, incredibly boring and perfect for radio.KOL can and should do better than that.