Kings of Leon

Week 11: Kings of Leon- When You See Yourself

~ honestopinions19 ~ 1 Comment

My first introduction to the band from America was in 2009 when “Sex on Fire” was heard in pretty much every nightlife establishment you went into. Indeed, my friends and I sang it at the top of our voices and even changed the words to go with an ex-Newcastle United footballer. I’m sure others sang it that way before us. The old “Yourrrr Temuri Ketsbaia”. Now, Kings of Leon are very much like Bush. Why? Because they are popular everywhere else except in their native land. Bush is from London, but their Grunge sound never stood a chance when Oasis and all the other Indie bands came along. Because people over here were not so much into listening to Soundgarden and Nirvana at that point, the same could be said of Kings of Leon. When they came along, America wasn’t interested in listening to a band whose sound was more attractive to the European market. Unlike the Killers, whose sound was very much inspired by Oasis and the Smiths when they first started to make inroads and gradually started to win over fans from their homeland, America never took to Kings of Leon, and as far as I know, that is still the case. I am in the minority regarding the band in Europe because I am not a fan. I liked “Sex on Fire”, but that’s it for me. 

I am going to quote my friend Tommy about Kings of Leon. I told him I listened to the new album and told him to listen because he would be surprised by some of the songs. He told me he would make a conscious effort to listen to it because the band are no longer kids anymore and is more mature. Now, I concur. When you listen to the lyrics, you can hear their maturity. They’re no longer singing about getting drunk and living that wild life.

The opening track is the title track, but the title is slightly different from the name of the record. It’s called “When You See Yourself, Are You Far Away.” immediately upon listening, the track got my attention because of the Jaws-like sound to it (Jaws the band, by the way.), you can also hear an electric guitar plucked throughout, which sits nicely rhythmically, and a xylophone, which I would never have associated with the band using. I then highlighted “100,000 People” to Tommy because it’s a slow plodder with a dreamy chorus that sounded Indie, and then a synthesiser that you would associate with the Killers, so you can imagine Brandon Flowers being all over it. Then, there is the “Golden Restless Age” because it sounds like the War on Drugs. Apart from that, the rest of the album sounds like Kings of Leon with more grown-up subjects. However, those three tracks I mentioned to Tommy caught my attention, and for those fleeting moments, I enjoyed listening to the band.

Because of those three tracks and the departure from talking about sex and whiskey all the time, there is something to look forward to in the future from the band. They have shown that they are ready to tackle more sobering issues and are willing to dabble with the sound. If the band makes something entirely out of the ordinary next time, they show they aim to be around for another decade. Who knows, they might get America on board and remove the stigma of “They’re a band for the Europeans with their Indie Rock.

Song recommendations: “Golden Restless Age”, “When You See Yourself, Are You Far Away”, “100,000 People”

8/10

Week Three: the XX- I See You

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Well, I couldn’t write a review during week two because Little Mix’s “Glory Days” was still strong at the album charts’ peak. There was a change, however, in week three, and here is my review of the XX’s “I See You”:

Dangerous:

The introduction is a message to let listeners know that the band is back with a bang (fanfare can be heard). The first thing I noticed about the opening track to “I See You” is that it has a UK Garage feel. There is even a break in it that includes the classic UK Garage sub-low bass that So Solid Crew used quite a bit, among others. The fanfare also makes a return during the chorus and the break.

Say Something Loving:

The pulse at the beginning will fool the listener because it fooled Me. The CD stopped working and was stuck rather than this being the intro to the song in what is the second single off the album. This song has a very laid-back melody, and Ollie’s vocals have remained strong. The song also has the classic signature feel, which has been present since the self-titled debut album.

Lips:

Singing that can be heard in the intro sounds choral (is that the word I am looking for to describe a Church choir?) The African continent certainly inspired the drumming used in the track. Also, there is a handclap that is deployed during the verses. The track ends before you get into it.

A Violent Noise: 

I found this track to be very chilled out. During the verse, you can hear a quiet, steady drum beat that compliments the song well. Despite the track’s name, the song is anything but ferocious.

Performance: 

The light plucking of the electric guitar and the soft bass compliment Romy Madley Croft’s voice superbly. The passion and the emotion is also perfectly executed for the song. Again, as I found on most of the album, it has a very light, delicate and artistic touch included in the song. Violins can be heard towards the end and at the outro.

Replica:

Now, we are at the business end of the album (which, despite remaining chilled out, I have enjoyed listening to). The break with the pulsing keyboard seems like a build-up, but when the song kicks in during the break, there is still only a steady guitar riff and the keyboard is accompanied by a piano before there are more vocals and the track ends.

Broken For You:

The guitar solo before the mini-break is very subtle and calm. I listened to the crash of a gentle wave during this song; it is that relaxed.

On Hold:

This track was the teaser late last year for the forthcoming album and was released as the first single off the album. I enjoyed the riff of the electric and the bass guitar. The repetitive lyrics of the chorus always meant that this track was destined to be released as a single. During the intro and after the chorus, a sampled quote is repeated.

I Dare You:

Again, the XX have stuck to their guns and carried on the theme that has so far featured on the album (steady, calm and very chilled out, albeit the opening track). In the chorus, that classic hook is evident, and I couldn’t help but feel that the harmony used was inspired by Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody”. Once again, the track is short and sweet, which also points towards a radio-friendly single.

Test Me:

The album’s conclusion has a very oceanic vibe as if you are deep-sea diving and exploring the wonders of the belly of the ocean and what it has to offer.

Overall Review:

I have been a fan of the XX since hearing “Islands”, and I thought the review would be quite elementary, but I must confess that I struggled somewhat as the album after the opening track doesn’t seem to deviate much. It is a good thing because, on the whole, it is yet again another good album by the band and fully deserving of its number-one placing, but it didn’t challenge me to write a longer review on each track. They say the XX is classed as Indie/Alternative, but I would say that “I See You” (albeit track one) sits comfortably in the chill-out genre. The vocals supplied by Ollie and Romy are again exemplary, and I can see the band continuing despite Jamie XX recently working on his solo material and DJing. I sensed that I was stranded on a desert island listening to the sound of the waves gently crashing onto the island’s shore, or I was exploring the wonders of the ocean whilst deep-sea diving. The album was short and sweet, with the play time lasting just 40 minutes. It also has plenty of radio-friendly tracks that can be used as future singles, for example, “I Dare You” and “Lips”. If you’re a fan of the XX, you will like this album regardless, but if you are not, you might feel that the album should have more go in it. 7/10