How the hell did Kings of Leon get so big?

2

Comments

  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    viagra
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • Indifference71Indifference71 Chicago Posts: 14,874
    Because Of The Times is a brilliant album, can't beat songs like Knocked Up, Black Thumbnail, Ragoo, Fans and especially Arizona - that song is a stone cold classic.

    +1.
  • nigelnigel Posts: 267
    By being fricking amazing live!

    I saw them in late 2008 in Bournemouth and they totally blew me away - they were fantastic. Their sound was incredible. Incidentally a few weeks before I saw Oasis at the same venue and they sucked big time, they couldn't be arsed (apart from Liam). I was a MASSIVE Oasis fan - again a huge band with a following built on the foundation of brilliant live shows - but I guess it had just become routine for them.

    KOL rock!
  • craigbcraigb Posts: 806

    How and why did these guys blow up?

    The answer is simple:

    "Use Somebody"
    "Speak clearly if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall"

    Los Angeles 10.7.2009
  • kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
    dunkman wrote:
    viagra


    :lol:


    I never understood the appeal of this band. Am I the only one who thinks the singer sounds phony? Their music sounds overly calculated and false. I like my rock and roll to be raw and real, not some prettied-up bullshit.
  • Kenny Olav wrote:
    I like my rock and roll to be raw and real, not some prettied-up bullshit.

    Have you even heard their early stuff?! Pretty much the epitome of 'raw and real'.

    Case in point:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8xP4BFvA8I

    And then there is the song Arizona, I mentioned it before, but it bears repeating, this song is a stone cold classic. Hang up your preconceived notions for a few minutes and give it a listen:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PzRpe36Qls
  • vedder_soupvedder_soup Posts: 5,861
    they have been big in the UK for a while, even when i was there a few years back.

    globally it took 3 words for them to get HUGE

    SEX ON FIRE

    Ah Ha Shake Heartbreak is still there best album imo
    2003 - Sydney x3,
    2006 - Reading Festival,
    2007 - Katowice, London, Nijmegen, Rock Werchter,
    2008 - MSG x2, Hartford, Mansfield x2, Beacon Theater,
    2009 - Melbourne, Sydney,
    2010 - I watched it go to fire!
    2011 - EV Brisbane x3, Newcastle, Sydney x3,
    2012 - Manchester x 2, Amsterdam x2, Prague, Berlin x2, Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen,
    2014 - Sydney, EV Sydney x3

    I wave to all my Friends... Yeah!
  • kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
    Kenny Olav wrote:
    I like my rock and roll to be raw and real, not some prettied-up bullshit.

    Have you even heard their early stuff?! Pretty much the epitome of 'raw and real'.

    Case in point:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8xP4BFvA8I

    And then there is the song Arizona, I mentioned it before, but it bears repeating, this song is a stone cold classic. Hang up your preconceived notions for a few minutes and give it a listen:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PzRpe36Qls

    Okay, I'll admit I'm not that familiar with the older Kings of Leon. I did know Bucket and Molly's Chambers and a few others I can't name off hand, and some of them are kinda cool, but the dude's voice has never been compelling to me. Yeah, the sound was more raw back then, but it's not something I haven't heard from a thousand other bands. Sorry. I gave both tracks and a few more all an honest listen, and they weren't as bad back then, but I'm not convinced. I understand a little better why so many people like them... they have a good sense of melody, the rhythm section is pretty damn good, and they know how to capture the right mood, but I personally can't find the point to their music.

    They've copied the sound of a lot of good bands, and they've done it very well, but listening to KOL makes me want to listen to their influences, not them. Sure, Pearl Jam has copied a lot of bands too, but they are their own thing. If that makes sense. I barely care if it does. :mrgreen:
  • RicsardRicsard Posts: 1,943
    Personally I like their music. But I'd never call it love. For me they are nothing but a decent band that got big somehow although their albums don't sound poppy at all. ... but I always thought they were a bit overrated. Until their Nijmegen show in 2007 (supporting PJ) because there they were UTTER SHITE, the only forgettable performance of the night! Their songs sounded very alike and sorry but they were boring, predictable in spite of the fact that even Eddie came out and was singing with them :x
    I was really disappointed.

    I am with The Hives and The Strokes instead!
    Budapest.Budapest.Arnhem.Antwerpen.Vienna.Madrid.Katowice.Nova_rock.Nijmegen.Rotterdam.Berlin.Dublin.Belfast.London.Venice.Prague.Stockholm.Copenhagen.Vienna.Leeds.Milton_keynes.Padova.Prague.Seattle1.Seattle2.Chicago1.Budapest.Cracow.Vienna..>>>LONDON.BERLIN1.BERLIN2
    Eddie: Dublin & London
  • Cliffy6745Cliffy6745 Posts: 33,952
    nigel wrote:
    By being fricking amazing live!

    I saw them in late 2008 in Bournemouth and they totally blew me away - they were fantastic. Their sound was incredible. Incidentally a few weeks before I saw Oasis at the same venue and they sucked big time, they couldn't be arsed (apart from Liam). I was a MASSIVE Oasis fan - again a huge band with a following built on the foundation of brilliant live shows - but I guess it had just become routine for them.

    KOL rock!

    Really? I thought they were fucking horrible live at ACL, absolutely horribe. Not other way to explain it. Had liked them until I saw them live.
  • tcaporaletcaporale Posts: 1,577
    For all the complaining about "Sex on Fire," I find it to be a good song, while "Use Somebody" is rather annoying.

    Their last album had some good material. "Closer," "Crawl," "Sex on Fire," "Manhattan," and "Cold Desert" are all strong songs.
  • Jearlpam0925Jearlpam0925 Deep South Philly Posts: 17,277
    Because they sold out and made a terrible song like, "Use Somebody." Ugh.....my GOD.
  • 8181 Needing a ride to Forest Hills and a ounce of weed. Please inquire within. Thanks. Or not. Posts: 58,276
    tight jeans sell records.
    81 is now off the air

    Off_Air.jpg
  • lockedlocked Boston Posts: 4,039
    81 wrote:
    tight jeans sell records.

    it didn't work for Chris Cornell???
    :roll:
    explain?
    "This here's a REQUEST!"
    EV intro to Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns
    10/25/13 Hartford
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    Great band. I love their last two albums.
  • lockedlocked Boston Posts: 4,039
    Byrnzie wrote:
    Great band. I love their last two albums.

    finally a sane comment!
    "This here's a REQUEST!"
    EV intro to Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns
    10/25/13 Hartford
  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Southwest Burbs of Chicago Posts: 4,902
    I just can't get into them, can;t tell you why they just don't click for me
  • nuffingmannuffingman Posts: 3,014
    nigel wrote:
    By being fricking amazing live!

    I saw them in late 2008 in Bournemouth and they totally blew me away - they were fantastic. Their sound was incredible. Incidentally a few weeks before I saw Oasis at the same venue and they sucked big time, they couldn't be arsed (apart from Liam). I was a MASSIVE Oasis fan - again a huge band with a following built on the foundation of brilliant live shows - but I guess it had just become routine for them.

    KOL rock!
    I was there - stunning!!!!!!!
  • yield2meyield2me Posts: 1,291
    I think they suck, just my opinion
    “May you live to be 100 and may the last voice you hear be mine.” - Frank Sinatra
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    For all those who think they suck, play 'Black Thumbnail' from the album 'Because of These Times'. Play it loud. Then get back to me.
  • Byrnzie wrote:
    For all those who think they suck, play 'Black Thumbnail' from the album 'Because of These Times'. Play it loud. Then get back to me.
    word to yo mutha
    All I have to do is revel in the everyday....then do it again tomorrow

    They say every sin is deadly but I believe they may be wrong...I'm guilty of all seven and I don't feel too bad at all
  • eeriepadaveeeriepadave West Chester, PA Posts: 42,422
    Byrnzie wrote:
    For all those who think they suck, play 'Black Thumbnail' from the album 'Because of These Times'. Play it loud. Then get back to me.


    :thumbup: fav song by them :D
    8/28/98- Camden, NJ
    10/31/09- Philly
    5/21/10- NYC
    9/2/12- Philly, PA
    7/19/13- Wrigley
    10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
    10/21/13- Philly, PA
    10/22/13- Philly, PA
    10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
    4/28/16- Philly, PA
    4/29/16- Philly, PA
    5/1/16- NYC
    5/2/16- NYC
    9/2/18- Boston, MA
    9/4/18- Boston, MA
    9/14/22- Camden, NJ
    9/7/24- Philly, PA
    9/9/24- Philly, PA
    Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
    Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
    RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
  • Byrnzie wrote:
    For all those who think they suck, play 'Black Thumbnail' from the album 'Because of These Times'. Play it loud. Then get back to me.

    amazing song. that whole album is insane.
    2006: Hartford
    2008: MSG 1, Hartford, Mansfield 2, Ed Solo NYC 1
    2009: London (O2), Philly 1, 2, 3, & 4
    2010: Hartford, Boston, MSG 1 & 2
    2011: Ed Solo Hartford
    2012: Philly (MIA Fest)
    2013: Worcester 2, Brooklyn 1 & 2, Hartford
  • Byrnzie wrote:
    For all those who think they suck, play 'Black Thumbnail' from the album 'Because of These Times'. Play it loud. Then get back to me.

    amazing song. that whole album is insane.

    Yep, my favourite for sure. I love how varied it is, yet it all fits together so well.
  • vedder_soupvedder_soup Posts: 5,861
    i am not as much of a fan of their 2nd 2 albums as i am of their first 2. This has nothing to do with them getting HUGE! i just prefer the first 2.

    Cold Desert is an amazing song 8-)
    2003 - Sydney x3,
    2006 - Reading Festival,
    2007 - Katowice, London, Nijmegen, Rock Werchter,
    2008 - MSG x2, Hartford, Mansfield x2, Beacon Theater,
    2009 - Melbourne, Sydney,
    2010 - I watched it go to fire!
    2011 - EV Brisbane x3, Newcastle, Sydney x3,
    2012 - Manchester x 2, Amsterdam x2, Prague, Berlin x2, Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen,
    2014 - Sydney, EV Sydney x3

    I wave to all my Friends... Yeah!
  • TDMize15TDMize15 Posts: 166
    Either they sold out or they started writing better songs...

    Ya... the answer is the 2nd one.

    I bought Only By The Night the day it came out and though it was brilliant, especially "Use Somebody", "Crawl", "Sex on Fire", "Crawl", and "Cold Desert". Funny. Two of those blew up.

    Now lots of people hate them because they are popular. "Alive" was popular. "Even Flow" was popular. They are still great fucking songs, by a great fucking band.
    All the rusted signs, we ignore throughout our lives, choosing the shiny ones instead...

    And he who forgets, will be destined to remember...
  • lockedlocked Boston Posts: 4,039
    some people remotely associated with Pearl Jam even think they're great!

    imagine that!


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4ZG4_fO ... re=related

    :shock:
    "This here's a REQUEST!"
    EV intro to Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns
    10/25/13 Hartford
  • iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
    locked wrote:
    some people remotely associated with Pearl Jam even think they're great!

    imagine that!


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4ZG4_fO ... re=related

    :shock:

    Thank you :) It was just what I needed to wake up today! And then there is this one as well:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxuvZRQy ... re=related
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • lockedlocked Boston Posts: 4,039
    iluvcats wrote:
    locked wrote:
    some people remotely associated with Pearl Jam even think they're great!

    imagine that!


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4ZG4_fO ... re=related

    :shock:

    Thank you :) It was just what I needed to wake up today! And then there is this one as well:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxuvZRQy ... re=related

    how many energy drinks did Ed have before that????!
    :shock:

    His tamborines were DE - stroyed!
    "This here's a REQUEST!"
    EV intro to Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns
    10/25/13 Hartford
  • South of SeattleSouth of Seattle West Seattle Posts: 10,724
    No Coder wrote:
    They cop a lot of flak from some of their early fans for their change of style, but I happen to love all their albums. Got into Aha when it was released, then got Youth pretty much straight away and loved that as well. couldn't wait for BOTT and it was brilliant- My fave album of theirs. Liked the new one, and happened to love Sex on fire. I think it is a great album, but it is their first with a song I can't stand - 17. also skip Use somebody now, but that's only because of overkill. Think that Closer, Crawl and Cold desert are 3 of their best songs from any album. Have seen them 3 times live in Oz and they were great, the only downfall of the latest tour was the crowd, but that's what happens when you have hit singles

    That's pretty much word for word what I would've have said.

    Also they're live show in uninspiring IMO.
    NERDS!
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