Because of the Times - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
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

Album Description
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.

Album Details
Their third full length album.

Customer Reviews: Read 85 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

FOUR KINGS - FOUR STARS April 3, 2007
20 out of 28 found this review helpful

It takes balls to start out your third album, which is anticipated to become your true commercial breakout, with a seven minute meditation on impending fatherhood with the delightfully tacky title "Knocked Up." So much for anyone daring to think Kings Of Leon have sold out for commercial success. They may get it anyway.

The band can play and the arrangements show off their strengths despite some fairly oridinary songwriting. The basslines on "Knocked Up" and "On Call," the wall of sound buzzing guitars on the distinctive "McFearless," "Black Thumbnail" which rocks out on the edge of chaos but holds it together, the mix of electric and acoustic guitar on "Fans" and the chiming guitars on the ska-influenced "Ragoo" all show Kings Of Leon at their best. But "True Love Way" and "Trunk" go nowhere and "Camaro" is a rocker any band could have done.

Still it's nice to find a band that is as hard to pigeonhole as Kings Of Leon. They are edging towards stardom on the strength of the things they do best and not because some tastemaker has declared them flavor of the week. Just like bands used to have to do before MTV. When it comes, they can say "We earned it."

4 out of 5 stars

Darker and less accessible than KoL's previous albums April 16, 2007
17 out of 21 found this review helpful

I don't know how Kings of Leon at one time was (mis)labeled "the Strokes of the South". Maybe it was due to the short length of their first 2 albums (clocking in at about 30-35 min.). Yes, the band relied on quick guitar hooks and riffs, but there is a sea of difference with the KoL sound and the Strokes. Kings of Leon's 2005 album "Aha Shake Heartbreak" was a breakthrough album for the band in many ways (among others, bringing it mainstream success in the UK). It was one of my favorite albums of 2005. Now comes the highly anticipated new album.

"Because of the Times" (13 tracks, 51 min.) is a curious affair. It is immediately clear that the sound is darker and less accessible than on KoL's previous albums. I cannot make heads or tails of the first 2 songs, and generaly skip straight to track 3, "On Call" (first single), which starts an incredible string of no-miss tracks, all the way through track 9. "McFearless" is complex yet draws you in (it somehow reminded me of the Twilight Singers' searing sound, as it dis on "On Call"). "Ragoo" mizes it up with some reggae undertones. "Fans" is a tribute to the band's fanbase in the UK (with a great line like "These raining days aren't so bad when you're the king"). I rate the tracks 3 through 9 sequence 5 stars. After that, it drops off again, with "Camaro" as the lone remaining highlight. There are just a few too many mediocre spots to rate this album more than 4 stars. I just LOVE that middle sequence of 7 songs that form the heart of the album, but the rest is not up to that same level.

Kings of Leon are much bigger outside the US than they are here. This album crashed in at No. 1 on the British charts, and KoL are HUGE there. I don't think this album will do the same for them in the US, but then again stranger things have happened. I certainly would love to see them achieve greater success here--the album entered the Billboard 200 at 25, a career-best. Live the band is a force to be reckoned with (reminding me of My Morning Jacket's steady climb to one of the best live bands out there), and I can't wait to see them when they come here to Cincinnati next month.

5 out of 5 stars

Good "Times" once again March 23, 2007
15 out of 21 found this review helpful

Following up the punchy and raw Aha Shake Heartbreak LP with a 7 minute dirge about commitment, Knocked Up, is a serious leap of faith most bands would not expect their fan base to take. But KOL keeps on throwing their fans challenging music which we just lap up like thirsty hyenas. Track 2, Charmer, smacks you with a fantastic vocal cadence and inter meshing guitar parts that leave your head swirling in delight. Other standouts include the straight ahead rock swagger of Black Thumbnail, sounding like a Let it Bleed era Stones track; the eerie Trunk replete with echo effect vocals and muted guitar picking; and the album closer Arizona with an expansive, sustained sound and laid back mood akin to a stroll in the wilds of the songs name.
With only one track clocking in at less than 3 minutes, KOL have taken their time to stretch and expand their craft here. It is a more challenging listen than previous efforts, but anything I ever did that was worth a damn never came that easy.

1 out of 5 stars

What the hell happened? April 19, 2007
7 out of 12 found this review helpful

After falling in love with their first two albums and praising them among all my friends and family and taking the time to learn their songs by ear on my guitar, I couldn't have been more excited to listen to buy their third album. However, once I did, I couldn't have been more disappointed. The great bands find a way to naturally evolve their sound and conquer new ground without losing their identity or their "soul," so to speak. But where Kings of Leon went to and why is a mystery. Their grit, simplicity, and soul is gone. No more driving beats or bluesy riffs or plain old rock 'n roll passion. The music seems more processed and belaboured and washed out. There's nothing to tap my feet to, and certainly no great riffs that'll make me learn these tracks on my guitar. If this is the way Kings of Leon is headed, I certainly won't be following them. What a shame.

1 out of 5 stars

Wow, just wow May 25, 2007
7 out of 15 found this review helpful

This is a completely unapolegetically terrible album.

How people are even comparing this to KoL's previous albums is beyond me. I had to play this for friends just to show them how terrible it is. Everything from the uninspired music, lyrics, to the painfully annoying recurring scream in "Charmer" serve to make this one of the single most dissapointing, badly executed excuses for music I have ever heard.

What were they thinking? It's sad to see the band is depending on their established following to blindly love any album they produce. I hope they can recover from this and I shudder at the thought of the music collection and taste of anyone who gave this album more than two stars.

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