Only By The Night

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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0886973519929 Label: RCA Records Manufacturer: RCA Records Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: RCA Records Release Date: 2008-09-22 Studio: RCA Records
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Editorial Reviews: Already on course to be one of the year's biggest sellers, Only By the Night has sealed Kings of Leon's unlikely position as Britain's favourite American rock band. The Followill brothers (and cousin) have always been tagged as part of a southern rock tradition of family bands such as the Allmans and Lynyrd Skynyrd, a label they vehemently refuted. But the skinny lads certainly looked like a classic rock act, even as they took musical inspiration from indie contemporaries The Strokes and eighties new wave acts such as The Cure and New Order. Only By the Night is effectively a sequel to 2006's terrific Because of the Times, their third record and the first where they nailed their own sound, a striking amalgam of bluesy vocals and post-punk primitivism. In comparison Only By the Night consolidates rather than advances their style. The appropriately incoherent "Sex on Fire", already a chart topping single, is catchy but sounds lightweight next to songs like the fierce "Crawl" and the stadia-ready "Cold Desert" and "Manhattan". The dissonant, almost amateurish "17" is most out of place, though Caleb Followill still bawls it with the same passion he brings to even the clumsiest couplet. More notable are several sparse romantic pleas that often borrow licks from classic Southern soul. The yearning "I Want You" is little more than its title, but it certainly convinces, while "Revelry" and the vulnerable "Use Somebody" show signs of impending maturity. Only By the Night's simplicity certainly has a wide appeal. --Steve Jelbert
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Want the latest iPod? Get it for under 5 pounds Comment: Christmas is coming so save your cash! Why purchase something you can get for free or under 5 pounds. Go to YourIpod.co.cc and sign up. Complete ONE offer - I would recommend Gala Bingo (you know, the one Sharon Osborne advertises for on tv),as this is cheap and fun (and you might win some money in the process!) If you really don't want to spend, there is a free Lovefilm trial. All companies are well known so there is no risk involved- give it a go! I got my iPod and many other things this way, so don't miss out. I was a sceptic once but now I am SO glad I gave it a chance. B8C approved this system on their Newsnight programme a while back. Many items to choose from and they send your gift Free of charge. Customer Rating: Summary: A good album for your first KOL purchase Comment: As a newcomer to KOL, having seen and liked KOL at several festival gigs on television this year (2008), I decided to buy a couple of their albums, this one, and Because of the Times. OBTN is definitely my favourite - a real "grower". There's a sense of atmosphere, and production values recalling at times both U2 and Big Country, whilst very definitely remaining uniquely Kings of Leon. Whilst I like a number of the tracks on BOTT, I find some of the writing on it somewhat clunky and disjointed - great rock anthemy stuff for earlier KOL fans, no doubt - but OBTN is for me a far more mature piece of writing, with great themes, transitions, subtle but insistent riffs that really grow on you, great vocals. For me, what it does is something really important for an album - it makes you want to put it on again, and to listen right through. So, if you're new to KOL and like their more recent sounds, buy this Customer Rating: Summary: Kings Of Modern American Rock Comment: Like a lot of people I bought based on "Sex On Fire" and quite liked "Use Somebody" too. Thing is, when I listened to this in my car after buying, I realised right from the opening "Closer" that there is quite a lot more to it that those songs. I am a music lover and buy a lot of cds based on a whim but this is one of those albums that stands out and I know I will never grow tired of this. The lead singers voice is just outstanding and sounds just as good live from when Ive seen them on TV, they are also all fantastic musicians. Rarely do bass players stand out in bands but here along with the drums and lead guitar it affords the band the credibility few of todays bands have. Far from being a sell-out pop album which some people have said, it is one of the best rock albums ive bought all year, and a lot of people seem to agree with that. Bands do have to evolve and you can be sure that this was a genuine band progression, after all that whole new wave sound ala "The Strokes" is on the way out. Reason they are more popular now is simply because they are better. There are one or two fillers and I do agree that "Use Somebody" is a tad poppy at first listen(still great), but all in all a solid album from a rock solid band. Glad now I bought this instead of the new Razorlight album. Customer Rating: Summary: BIG LET DOWN Comment: Very much looking forward to hearing this album but was very disappointed by the whole thing. I found it really boring with little variation. Customer Rating: Summary: Best yet Comment: I simply believe that this is their most musically accomplished album to date. I haven't been overly keen on their previous efforts, feeling that their sound was a little contrived. I'm a fan of progressive rock and metal, Tool, The Mars Volta, Sigur Ros, Exlosions in the Sky etc...I am not a pop fan and thoroughly disagree that this is some sort of pop/rock 'sellout' album. It is beautifully written, expressive and emotional. Well done KOL, this is the first one I've actually bought! The music also stands out live compared with their old music, this is a really positive progression for the band. More Reviews