Kings of Leon podcast

Kings of Leon arrived on the rock scene in 2003 with a raw, garagy full-length debut, "Youth and Young Manhood," and a fabulous backstory. Comprising three brothers and their cousin, the band was named after Leon Followill, the brothers' father and a defrocked Pentecostal preacher who introduced the boys to rock 'n' roll while driving around the South from community to community.

The group's sound started evolving on its second album, 2004's "Aha Shake Heartbreak," a transitionary set that helped set up Kings of Leon's latest. "Because of the Times" is a powerful record, built on fierce, seething grooves and explosive blasts of guitar to break the tension.

It's also the subject of our fifth podcast, which introduces a new voice for your listening enjoyment: Babe Zero, a pseudonymous DJ at WHUS-FM (and photo editor at The Courant) who knows music like the Beatles knew pop hooks. She joins Courant editor/CD reviewer Stephen Busemeyer, reporter/occasional music writer Eric Gershon and me to talk about Kings of Leon and "Because of the Times."

(Also, today is the first day you can find all our podcasts grouped together here, complete with a logo and everything. Thanks, Gary and Mel!)

Download:
Podcast No. 5 — "Because of the Times" by Kings of Leon

Comments

[Dave]

Eric,
Thanks again for another great podcast.

Kings of Leon seem to get a mixed review in the press: you either like their garage-revival sound & buy the folk/mythic beginnings that follows them everywhere or you just can't stand their 2nd rate ripoffs and phony image.

I've been listening to them since their debut album and have seen them once (Fall 2004 in Burlington, VT -- excellent show -- too bad they will never come to CT!), and find that they write some damn catchy songs. At times the lyrics are a little weak ("you caught me with my pants down") but tracks like "Ragoo" have interesting guitar work that make me come back for repeated listens.

I, too, would like to see a production scheme that matches the whiskey-soaked vocals. Perhaps hook up with Lanois and bring in some "Time Out of Mind" Americana elements and rawness?

Thanks again.

Dave

Eric replies: Thanks for the kind words. They did play New Haven in 2005, so maybe we'll get 'em again sometime ...