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Our look at the closing lines of the biggest and most important new-music reviews continues with a roundup of reactions to rock revivalists Kings Of Leon’s Only By The Night, which hits stores in the U.S. tomorrow:
• “…no one ever demanded a refund at a Coldplay gig because the songs were too calculating and the words to ‘Fix You’ rang a little trite. They want big, streamlined tunes, which is what Only By The Night provides. Occasionally, it provides them in a way that suggests the Kings of Leon could be a more intriguing and characterful band if they wanted, but perhaps they don’t want. They’re putting plenty of bums on seats as they are.” [Guardian]
• “Surely, we can do better for the platonic ideal of a rock band than four guys gunning for a spot rightfully inhabited by My Morning Jacket but instead coming up with the best songs 3 Doors Down never wrote.” [Pitchfork]
• “Anyone waiting for a more invigorating–or better–rock record to come along this year should try another planet. This throne’s taken.” [The Mirror]
• “But when the Kings find a gussied-up groove with teeth — like the effects-laden Zeppelin stomp of ‘Crawl’ or the pulsating, New Wave ‘Sex on Fire’–they sound like rock heroes experiencing the joy of well-manicured sound.” [Rolling Stone]
Okay, I like the idea implied by Dan that in fact these guys have gone Fun Lovin’ Criminals one step further and actually *become* British.
Feel free to use this thread to also talk about how stinky they were on Saturday Night Live. Hoo boy.
Hey Maura, I can’t access the site using Firefox. I can only get through with IExplorer. Apologies if someone else has already reported this.
That last line in the Pitchfork review is absolutely whacked out. And what is it I’m missing with My Morning Jacket? And what have they got to do with Kings Of Leon (a.k.a. 3 Doors Down, apparently).
@Maura Johnston: Other than the “My sex is on fire” lyric, I didn’t mind the first performance, but when they came back on with “Generic Rock Template #1,” I was severely less enthused.
I should’ve stuck to my guns and just skipped right over the pitchfork review knowing full-well I would both disagree with it and find it inherently negative and complaintive.
@BigRicks: The Pitchfork review is almost identical for their review of Because of the Times(an album I loved). I think the scores were almost the same…off by maybe a couple tenths of a point.
If they say it sucks, it must be good.
Wow, other people who hate KOL. I thought I was the only one.
I love you guys.
… or it sucks. because kings of leon… suck!
oh snap.
im serious though.