Another year brings the fourth album from the so called 'southern Strokes'. This album still contains everything Kings Of Leon- dirty southern surf-rock, quirky vocals and laid back instruments however, it apparently has an extra ingredient this time, of commercialisation. Well this is the theory anyway. It doesn't contain the rawness of Youth & Young Manhood or Aha Shake Heartbreak but still has that Kinks with solicitude tone going on.
Yes, Sex on Fire has become a very popular song and yes they have had a make over but does this mean we must shun them because they have become cool? This English theology on 'cool' will always baffle me. It's like the fashion world "well I was wearing Spring/Summer 09 collections on Autumn/Winter 06!" That's good for you, but seeing as it was before its heyday did anyone appreciate it? In the same way glorifying the fact you listened to Kings of Leon 'before they were cool' will not justify anything other than that you are a bit of a idiot for dropping a band as soon as they are 'recognised' and for thinking the fact you 'recognised' one band before others may have makes you any higher than the rest of us. Should we not applaud KOL for finally getting the recognition they deserve after years of work? Apparently not, apparently we should rebel against anything Radio 1 plays and curse them for ruthlessly taking 'our music'.
'Only By The Night' seems like a natural progression for KOL rather than anything else, they have toned down the anger but even 'Use Somebody'- the slowest track of the album, still manages to create that unique uncomfortable mix of laidback surf rock and teenage angst. It's true the first four tracks are definitely the best of the album and maybe even minus Sex on Fire due to over exposure but still it is not quite the commercial glory people are making it seem.
All in all it seems to me that the new breed of half-hearted indie bands have opened the gateway to alternative music in Britain's ears (which may be a good thing or just as likely a bad one). Therefore rather than Kings of Leon purposely adapting their nature to become England's great sell-outs, maybe this time we are just more accepting of new music.
Theory's welcome...
Yes, Sex on Fire has become a very popular song and yes they have had a make over but does this mean we must shun them because they have become cool? This English theology on 'cool' will always baffle me. It's like the fashion world "well I was wearing Spring/Summer 09 collections on Autumn/Winter 06!" That's good for you, but seeing as it was before its heyday did anyone appreciate it? In the same way glorifying the fact you listened to Kings of Leon 'before they were cool' will not justify anything other than that you are a bit of a idiot for dropping a band as soon as they are 'recognised' and for thinking the fact you 'recognised' one band before others may have makes you any higher than the rest of us. Should we not applaud KOL for finally getting the recognition they deserve after years of work? Apparently not, apparently we should rebel against anything Radio 1 plays and curse them for ruthlessly taking 'our music'.
'Only By The Night' seems like a natural progression for KOL rather than anything else, they have toned down the anger but even 'Use Somebody'- the slowest track of the album, still manages to create that unique uncomfortable mix of laidback surf rock and teenage angst. It's true the first four tracks are definitely the best of the album and maybe even minus Sex on Fire due to over exposure but still it is not quite the commercial glory people are making it seem.
All in all it seems to me that the new breed of half-hearted indie bands have opened the gateway to alternative music in Britain's ears (which may be a good thing or just as likely a bad one). Therefore rather than Kings of Leon purposely adapting their nature to become England's great sell-outs, maybe this time we are just more accepting of new music.
Theory's welcome...
