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I should probably let this roll off my feathers, but...c'mon "no-talent"? I realize you were quoting office space, but I hear this sentiment every time someone doesn't like a particular artist and in most cases, it's just plain ludicrous. [/quote,
This is interesting because I find KoL to be completely talentless in comparison to the talent of numerous other Bonnaroo performers past and presrent.
Maybe you could highlight some of KoL's talents which I may have overlooked amidst the shameless marketing to undiscerning, per-pubescent teens, the sell-high approach to profit since their first record(see FIFA '04), and greater attention to wardrobe than songwriting. Maybe the fans at Reading found KoL boring(or worse) due to the fact that they were sold a talented ROCK act, and just got actors instead....
Anyway, I loved Youth... , but each record has plotted a downward progression in rock, originality, production and songwriting, while profits have soared in the opposite direction.
So, please, what am I missing?
Jared is a pretty ridiculous bass player, by any standard. (See Charmer and McFearless)
I would also say that crafting melodic songs would be a talent of theirs. From YAYM to OBTN, their songs are very catchy and stay in your head, which is usually indicative of melody.
And, although this may be a downfall because it's not 100% of the time, when they want to bring it on stage, they can put on a hell of a performance (though that's more subjective). See below.
Jared is a pretty ridiculous bass player, by any standard. (See Charmer and McFearless)
I would also say that crafting melodic songs would be a talent of theirs. From YAYM to OBTN, their songs are very catchy and stay in your head, which is usually indicative of melody.
And, although this may be a downfall because it's not 100% of the time, when they want to bring it on stage, they can put on a hell of a performance (though that's more subjective). See below.
Oh, dto, your unique brand of dry humour gets me every time.
Post by CensoredColors on Feb 5, 2010 12:45:43 GMT -5
First, anyone that says the Kings suck due to their recent popularity, does not know what they are talking about. After their first album, Kings lit up the UK and europe. As their music PROGRESSED and more albums were made; their popularity in europe has skyrocketted. It wasn't until their most recent album that they have seen fame in the US. Before Sex on Fire became a hit, nobody knew who they were. As the band started playing for larger audiences, they needed their music to fit to the venue. Their earlier stuff is the way it is because of where they were playing. They weren't playing in front of thousands of people. To say that their music has declined over the past 3 albums is a farce. Granted, I will say that I prefer the earlier work; but to put down the past 2 albums just because it has become more polished and less gritty DOES NOT make them suck. I'm just sick of seeing people saying they suck just cuz they're popular. Anyone that doesn't like something just because its popular, is an idiot. If you don't like they're music, I can respect your opinion. I've seen them 6 times and every time they've put on a good show. Plus the fact they are from TN, I see no reason why they wouldn't headline this year. Thanks to anyone that read the whole thing. Let's hope for a lineup that makes ALL of us happy. Cheers
Post by Knox Animal on Feb 5, 2010 13:14:05 GMT -5
there are plenty of other acts at bonnaroo for those that are so against KOL. I just don't see the need to bash a band if you do not like them. Chances are there are people there that do like them and want to see them. I don't see the need to focus all your attention on something that you don't like when there are so many great things about Bonnaroo.
there are plenty of other acts at bonnaroo for those that are so against KOL. I just don't see the need to bash a band if you do not like them. Chances are there are people there that do like them and want to see them. I don't see the need to focus all your attention on something that you don't like when there are so many great things about Bonnaroo.
I dont care if they play, but I will be irritated if they are a unopposed headliner.
there are plenty of other acts at bonnaroo for those that are so against KOL. I just don't see the need to bash a band if you do not like them. Chances are there are people there that do like them and want to see them. I don't see the need to focus all your attention on something that you don't like when there are so many great things about Bonnaroo.
I echo wolfman jess's sentiments. I don't think everyone is upset because one band might be on the Farm. I think the bashing is rooted in the fact that these guys might play unopposed in a time slot that many feel could be put to better use. I do agree with you, KA, in that outside of that debate the rhetoric is a bit harsh.
there are plenty of other acts at bonnaroo for those that are so against KOL. I just don't see the need to bash a band if you do not like them. Chances are there are people there that do like them and want to see them. I don't see the need to focus all your attention on something that you don't like when there are so many great things about Bonnaroo.
there are plenty of other acts at bonnaroo for those that are so against KOL. I just don't see the need to bash a band if you do not like them. Chances are there are people there that do like them and want to see them. I don't see the need to focus all your attention on something that you don't like when there are so many great things about Bonnaroo.
there are plenty of other acts at bonnaroo for those that are so against KOL. I just don't see the need to bash a band if you do not like them. Chances are there are people there that do like them and want to see them. I don't see the need to focus all your attention on something that you don't like when there are so many great things about Bonnaroo.
Did you read the thread title?
This. It's obvious that the OP wanted people's opinions. That's what we're all here for, to express our opinions.
A Thieve's Parade 2/24 Conspirator 2/26 Kevin Smith 3/11 Keller 3/17 Papadosio 3/18 JJ Grey 3/25 Bela Fleck/Edgar Meyer 3/26 Toubab Krewe 3/27 O'Death 4/11 Budos Band 4/22 EOTO 4/28 Summer Camp 5/6-29 All Good
Anyway, I loved Youth... , but each record has plotted a downward progression in rock, originality, production and songwriting, while profits have soared in the opposite direction.
So, please, what am I missing?
Playing electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums, bass, etc. at a level that successfully entertains arenas full of people comprises musical performance talent at its basic level. Add in songwriting (Nathan & Caleb write the majority) & no matter if you like the lyrics, riffs & melodies or not, that's talent in itself -- i've never written a song. Have you?
How can you call them "talentless" if you loved their first album? Do you not know what the word means?
As the band started playing for larger audiences, they needed their music to fit to the venue. Their earlier stuff is the way it is because of where they were playing. They weren't playing in front of thousands of people.
What? If they were getting invited to play large venues on their original sound, then why change it up?
Depeche Mode headlined that night. Kings of Leon closed out the Lolla equivalent of the Which Stage.
WOW. ok. they co-headlined with depeche mode. there were 2 stages (exactly the same size, on oppositte sides of grant park) and i must say there was a good amount of people there to see Kings. but honestly, who would go see depeche mode? certainly not I. Kings and the Killers were the reason I went to Lolla instead of that embrassment of a lineup last year... I understand some people are into the whole 20 minute songs and "The BOSS" I can respect that, but just not for me.
side note - Lollapalooza was good, but not nearly as crazy as 'roo. Live and Learn
As the band started playing for larger audiences, they needed their music to fit to the venue. Their earlier stuff is the way it is because of where they were playing. They weren't playing in front of thousands of people.
What? If they were getting invited to play large venues on their original sound, then why change it up?
I honestly don't know, but that was the best thing I could think of. Idk why they changed. Maybe its just the direction they decided to go, i dont know. but what i do know is that I'll continue to support them. If there new album is complete shit, I wont listen to it, but thats no reason for me to put them down.
Post by itrainmonkeys on Feb 5, 2010 20:18:58 GMT -5
Q: You’ve put an even greater emphasis on atmosphere and texture this time, rather than just letting it rip. What was behind that decision?
CALEB FOLLOWILL: Whether or not our fans are ready, we just felt like if we don’t record it now, we’re never going to, so let’s go ahead and try it. Then, when we put the new stuff up to the other songs, they fit and it didn’t feel forced. There are a few people getting scared and thinkin’ that our sound is going into something different. I think it always will go into something different from album to album. If people get scared and think that they don’t like something about what we’re doing right now, it’s not like this is gonna to be the way we make music forever.
NATHAN FOLLOWILL: I think on the first listen it just seems like a slower record in the sense that people are used to us comin’ out of the gate and knockin’ your front teeth out. “Boom, here’s the Kings of Leon with a new record. Let’s go quack nuts up.”
Q: This is the first time Ethan Johns hasn’t been in the studio with you. What was behind that decision?
NF: We knew this record was definitely gonna be our bold attempt at trying to make a record that wasn’t necessarily obviously Kings of Leon. And with the first two records with Ethan, as soon as you heard the first note of any song, you could tell it was a definitely Kings of Leon song, just based on the sound that Ethan got. So, going into this record, we knew that we wanted to step away from that sound. We just realized that not very many bands ever get the chance to make the fourth record, so we might as well have fun with this one. And man, we had a blast making the record – got all the sounds we wanted, and the songs were recorded exactly the way we wanted them. So we really feel confident about this record, because it’s the first one we had our hands in beginning to end.
Q: What were you going for here compared to previous albums?
NF: Each record you wanna make not only better than the last but different enough to where it doesn’t feel like people are buying the same record over again. We could have easily picked one great thing about those first three records and made four songs with each of those in mind and basically release a record that we knew would please any fan of Kings of Leon. But Because of the Times pushed us in the direction we were headed as a band.
Q: On “Use Somebody,” it sounds like you’re entering Arcade Fire territory…
CF: I’m glad you said Arcade Fire and not Coldplay [laughs]. The meat of song was written on tour. When I came up with “I could use somebody,” I didn’t know if I was talking about a person or home or God. I felt immediately that it was a big song, and it scared me away. Then, when we were writin’ the record, Matthew kept sayin’, “What’s that song, man?”, and I acted like I didn’t know what he was talking about. Then, finally, I went, “All right, we’ll do it,” and as soon as we started playin’ it, the producers looked up and said, “Whoa, that’s a good song.” I was like, “OK.”
NF: I could hear some Arcade Fire-esque stuff on there, but this is just us spreading our wings. All these new sounds and this new direction that it might feel like we’re going in, this is where we’re going naturally.
Q: “Crawl” is your first overtly political song. Who are you addressing?
CF: I think that just came from us bein’ a band that pretty much grew up in Europe, and we couldn’t really enjoy the success that we had because every time we went to a restaurant, everyone looked at us like we were these people that came from a country that supported war and supported all the terrible, terrible decisions and mistakes that were goin’ on in America. Everyone in smurfing country music and Green Day and all these other people were writing songs about America, so we refused to write anything political. But I always knew if I wanted to ever do it, I was going to do it like Rage Against the Machine—it wasn’t going to be some ballad. If you really believe in something, you should be able to scream it from a mountain. But all of my songs are about five different things, usually. It’s just talking about how someone can just come in and quack everything up and then they’re gone, and everyone else has to deal with the consequences.
Q: What current band impresses you the most?
CF: Definitely Radiohead. They get it right every time, and they do it different every time. That’s something we’ve always tried to do – mix things up a little bit.
Q: How have you grown from album to album?
NF: When we made Youth & Young Manhood, Jared was 15 years old. That was the first music we’d ever made in our lives, and that was the only kind of music we knew how to make. And then, Aha Shake Heartbreak came along and we were a little more comfortable with our instruments and ourselves, so we upped the ante a little bit. Then, with Because of the Times, we had toured with U2 and Pearl Jam and Bob Dylan and got to play in these huge arenas, we started thinkin’, “Man we need to start making music that’s gonna sound good in a sweaty club for 300 kids but will also sound great in Madison Square Garden,” or wherever. That became a factor in the music we were making, and this record is just us not being scared to try anything—any sound, any tempos, any vocal effects. We really felt like if we never make another record, out of the four records we’ve made, this will be the one that either gets the job done or it doesn’t. [/b]
