Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
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CD Details
Artist: Kings of LeonBrand: RCA
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
CD Release Date: 2007-04-03
Model: 00886970377621
Music Label: RCA
Product features:
- KINGS OF LEON BECAUSE OF THE TIMES
- Knocked Up
- Charmer
- On Call
- McFearless
- Black Thumbnail
- My Party
- True Love Way
- Ragoo
- Fans
- The Runner
- Trunk
- Camaro
- Arizona
Music reviews of Because of the Times
Music Review: What happened?
Rating: 2 Stars
Let me start by saying:I'm a pretty big Kings Of Leon fan. I heard about them when the "Molly's Chambers" video came out, around 2003. I think these guys are absolutly wonderful at what they do, whether it's a blast from the past (Youth and Young Manhood) or adding current styles to their rough rock sound (Aha Shake Heartbreak).
But I'm pretty dissapointed with this album. I don't know what happened in between this album and Heartbreak, but it seems as though KOL have almost completly lost interest in writing good material. I heard that they toured with U2 and were listening to albums beyond the 70's (Joy Division comes to mind), and were wanting a more "gothic" approach to their music. While I don't mind U2 (at least, I don't mind anything before Joshua Tree) and I do dig Joy Division, I just don't see Kings Of Leon successfuly combining both the late 60's/early 70's boogie rock and atmospheric 80's goth-rock into their sound.
And this album is a good example. Not that any of the songs are bad, they're just...bland. Uninspiring. They don't pump me up like the earlier material. In fact, it's a rare case when a 7-minute song like "Knocked Up" just doesn't do anything to me. At all. The song just rambles along with some uninspired singing and a guitar solo that just doesn't click. Caleb's vocals really do not fit the material either. With U2 and Joy Division, they had a singer that sang with a little more darkness in their timbre. Here, Caleb continues singing in the "old-time-rocker" voice that he employed to good use on earlier material. Here...it just sounds weird.
And then the material just gets worse. Charmer sounds like 3 bands playing different songs at the same time with a singer who's being electroshocked every 3-5 seconds. Not cool. My Party is really bland funk, True Love Way has too much of a Foreigner and Journey sound to it, and other tracks like Ragoo and Camaro once again have that "4 seperate ideas" feel to it that just leaves me confused.
There are a few good songs though. On Call, while not the Kings Of Leon of old, is pretty dang catchy and a good single. Fans is the best song on the album, it just feels radio-friendly. While I'm not too fond of radio-friendly singles, it's just so catchy and so irrestible that I can't help but sing along every time I hear it. A real keeper. Black Thumbnail is also a good one, though I wish the bass wasn't so schizophrenic on it. Also, McFearless has a very uplifting chorus and interesting interplay between the guitar and drums.
But, on the whole, it's a very dissapointing album. Hopefully, KOL will see the errors of their way and deliver another perfect rocking album like they did with Youth and Young Manhood, or Aha Shake Heartbreak. One can only pray.
Description of Because of the Times
Third album from the rockin' American quartet whose previous albums (2003's Youth And Young Manhood and Aha Shake Heartbreak from '05) have earned them a large worldwide following. Consisting of three brothers and a cousin, the Kings Of Leon mix their own brand of Southern Rock with touches of Garage, Punk and Alternative swagger. RCA.Aha Shake Heartbreak may have blown open the doors of fame for Kings of Leon, but their third full-length album (named for a United Pentecostal Church ministers' conference) could well usher the Nashville foursome directly to rock and roll's zenith. There's hardly a change in plans for the three Followill brothers and their cousin, and that means producer Ethan Johns, a smorgasbord of musical influences, and a cacophonous ensemble of guitar, bass, and drums. A trio of relentless rockers--"My Party," "Camaro," and the sarcastic "Charmer"--are sure to pacify those familiar with the Kings' blueprint, yet there is ripening in the band's approach heard, in several of the record's 13 songs. Reverb guitar and vocals and a "woo woo" chorus add a sinister aspect to "Trunk," and "Knocked Up" features a laissez-faire Caleb Followill crooning "She don't care what her mama said/She's gonna have my baby." The seven-minute revelation of fatherhood that opens the album leads into the U2-influenced "McFearless," a reggae-splashed "Ragoo," and the rambling English blues of "Black Thumbnail." It's a rogue element that has always left every record fresh, and this time it has Kings of Leon teetering on the edge of rock renown. --Scott Holter
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