Kings of Leon’s newest album, “Walls,” will be released on Oct. 10. Last Friday, Sept. 8, they released the first single off the album, “Waste A Moment.” Being the fan that I am, I patiently waited until midnight to have my first listen on Spotify. The single is undeniably Kings of Leon with strong bass and quick rhythm. In preparation for the new album, I am listening religiously to the band’s previous albums and I have compiled a list of the best and most underappreciated Kings of Leon songs.
1) “Revelry”: Off the album “Only By The Night,” this song is a perfect example of the band’s ability to flawlessly combine lyrics and music. The lead singer, Caleb Followill, has a voice that expresses emotions more clearly than lyrics. In this song, Caleb reminisces over a woman that he lost because he was distracted by the partying lifestyle. He realizes that she meant more to him than he knew at the time: “The time we shared it was precious to me/All the while I was dreaming of revelry.” Followill tells a story in this song and the guitar chords follow along. The guitar sounds like another voice singing along with him.
2) “Comeback Story”: The first few notes define this song. The instrumental opening separates this song from the others. The opening guitar chords lead into the lyrics, “It’s a comeback story of a lifetime.” The lyrics touch on the belief that despite any shortcomings or mistakes, you can comeback. At the end of the song, the violins come in. The different instruments and voices come together to create a perfect melody. “Comeback Story” shows King of Leon’s ability to relate the band to their audience through their lyrics.
3) “The Immortals”: In a video interview about their album “Come Around Sundown,” Caleb Followill explains that this song is a letter to his future children. While Kings of Leon songs seem to focus on Caleb’s inability to have a healthy relationship, “The Immortals” provides insight into what Caleb finds important. Through the lyrics, Caleb tells his kids to explore and find themselves, but the most important thing is to have loved. This song is a love letter from Caleb to his kids, and he does not write many of those.
4)”Back Down South”: The album “Come Around Sundown” has more of a country vibe than others despite being recorded in New York. The band is from Nashville, Tennessee and “Back Down South” best represents their southern roots. In an interview, Caleb explained that the song started with the lyrics “Come on out and dance/If you get the chance.” From there, the band added a fiddle and a slide guitar and created a southern sound that is uniquely their own. It’s a country song in that it revolves around the band’s love for the south, minus the twang.
5) “Knocked Up”: The first song on the album “Because of the Times,” “Knocked Up” is a story that only Kings of Leon would tell. The song is seven minutes long and follows the narrator, presumably Caleb, and his pregnant girlfriend. No one believes that the two will be able to live a content life including their parents and friends. Caleb does not care what anyone says – he wants to have this baby and he thinks that he loves the woman enough to make it work. The epic tale told through “Knocked Up” touches on Caleb’s fears of commitment. He is more fearful of a relationship than having a child. Having a baby is the last step that Caleb is willing to take in a relationship. “Knocked Up” reveals Caleb’s struggles with relationships; Caleb’s ability to convey his emotions in this song helps the listener connect similar emotions that they have felt.
