Kings Of Leon: Ranking Their Albums From Worst To Best
The boys from Tennessee's studio efforts ranked.
Comprised of three brothers and a cousin, all named Followill, Kings Of Leon formed in 2000. When the world heard their first album, Youth And Young Manhood, a solid rock n' roll band was born. Nobody could have expected that five years after the release of their debut, they would be one of the biggest selling rock bands in the world.
An image and pretty big sound change saw the band take over the world with one song: Sex On Fire. Remember in 2008 when it was everywhere? You couldn't touch a radio without it coming on.
Raised in Tennessee by devout Christian parents, the Followill boys were initially devoid of rock music. But a move to Nashville in 1997 saw the band discover music influences in The Clash, Thin Lizzy, The Rolling Stones and Pixies. They picked up their instruments and Kings Of Leon were born. From humble beginnings to super-stardom, they've had one heck of a ride.
With six studio releases it begs the question; how do the albums rank alongside each other? Musically, they're song-writing on Mechanical Bull has evolved and morphed into something entirely different from Youth And Young Manhood.
With these changes, what is there next album going to sound like? Until then, let's look at what Kings Of Leon have given the world so far.
6. Come Around Sundown
Continuing on from where mega album Only By The Night left off, Come Around Sundown saw the band introduce a little bit of country into there sound while still maintaining Only By The Night's core sound. Did the album work that well? Not really, no. Their weakest album, Come Around Sundown sounds like an album of songs that weren't quite strong enough to make it on the previous album.
'Back Down South' is a bit of a lifeless country song that sees the band embrace their Tennessee roots, while lead single 'Radioactive' sounds like the band are trying to make another 'Sex On Fire', with the opening riff of the former played in a very similar style to the latter. The album just doesn't have the bite and attitude of the Kings of Leon of old.
It's not all bad news; 'Pyro', one of the other singles from the album, is a hauntingly beautiful song. Even though it does sound like an reject of the previous album, it's the delicacy of it that makes it stand out as a highlight. However,it can't stop Come Around Sundown being Kings Of Leon's weakest album.
Highlights: 'Pyro', 'Beach Side'