Because of the Times

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Categories Sony Music Store General CD Album Main Albums Time Clocks

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Description

Third album from the rockin' American quartet whose previous albums (2003's Youth And Young Manhood and Aha Shake Heartbreak from '05) have earned them a large worldwide following. Consisting of three brothers and a cousin, the Kings Of Leon mix their own brand of Southern Rock together with touches of Garage, Punk and Substitute swagger. RCA.

Aha Shake Heartbreak may have blown open the doors of fame for Kings of Leon, but their third full-length album (named for a United Pentecostal Church ministers' conference) could well usher the Nashville foursome directly to rock and roll's zenith. There's hardly a modify in plans for the three Followill brothers and their cousin, and this means producer Ethan Johns, a smorgasbord of musical influences, and a cacophonous ensemble of guitar, bass, and drums. A trio of relentless rockers--"My Party," "Camaro," and the sarcastic "Charmer"--are sure to pacify those familiar together with the Kings' blueprint, yet there is ripening in the band's approach heard, in several of the record's 13 songs. Reverb guitar and vocals and a "woo woo" chorus add a sinister aspect to "Trunk," and "Knocked Up" features a laissez-faire Caleb Followill crooning "She don't care what her mama said/She's gonna have my baby." The seven-minute revelation of fatherhood this opens the album leads into the U2-influenced "McFearless," a reggae-splashed "Ragoo," and the rambling English blues of "Black Thumbnail." It's a rogue element this has always left each record fresh, and this time it has Kings of Leon teetering on the edge of rock renown. --Scott Holter

Customer Reviews

Greatest Purchase Ever! 2010-08-15

By L. MARTINEZ

Seller is the best experience I've had ever from Amazon! Definitely would recommend and will be coming back:)

Because of the times 2010-08-08

By Jerry Romero

I really used to like this album but had lost track of my cd. I then got this one as a gift (after a few hints) I think it is still great music today. This is my favorite album again. It's a huge step up for a band that isnt all that well known. There really isn't any filler on this album at all. Incredible songwriting with deep felt lyrics. The Kings are an authentic band and not just posers.

A Very Good KOL Album, But... 2010-08-06

By Bob Terry (Tiffin, Ohio)

Lots of comments about the CD version here, though this is supposed to be for the vinyl version. Reviews about the content of the material and performance of this album can be readily found elsewhere. Suffice it to say that if you're new to KOL, Because Of The Times is probably a great place to get introduced to them. Being their 3rd album, they've developed and honed their unique style without yet crossing over into deep commercial (cliche'd) territory. These accessible songs have the grit and character that's at the heart of what makes KOL who they are and it's a very good choice if you're interested in getting to know them better. With that in mind, I'd rather take this space to comment more about the sound of this LP. The recording itself is fine, but unfortunately the pressing has much to be desired. The excess surface noise is a huge disappointment and not common with most of the LP's I buy whether new or old.

Rolling Stone magazine recently stated that record sales have tripled since 2006. I was in a local music store (in the heart of a college town founded in 1971) and a sales assosiate asserted that over 60% of their business today is in vinyl, especially since they've restocked it 3-4 years ago. Now, with these points in mind and other similar trend-tracking statistics, there's no denying we're well into a renaissance of the vinyl medium. Turntable sales are way up and continuing to climb. In addition to old-school LP stalwarts and audiophiles that have never abandoned their albums, there's also a new legion of followers coming into the fold, learning of the virtues of this old plastic throwback. Well, many of these young listeners want to hear the newer artists of their time (not just Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young) and have been accustomed to the silence of CD's. Till now they've never had to deal with audible noise overshadowing their music (only some of the crappy compressed mp3's but that's another discussion). The point is, I fear this rebirth could be in jeopardy and compromised by poorly crafted products that sound flawed. I bought this LP for my son, as well as KOL's double 180 gram LP Only By The Night (also on the TCG/RCA label). Only By The Night is much quieter and absent of much of the surface noise that's on this LP. A good cleaning on a VPI HW-16.5 was unable to reduce much of it because it's in the pressing. It's difficult to defend the superior benefits that LP's have to offer when confronted with this kind of poor quality control, and it's not because it isn't 180 gram "super vinyl". Case in point, I have records I bought 35 years ago from typical
department stores that are quieter still today than this is. The industry not only does a disservice to the customers when they put out poor quality pressings but also to themselves. If LP's are to thrive, as they deserve to, then the quality needs to be consistent. As it stands, I fear an album of this quality only fortifies the myth for prospective young buyers that the CD is the superior format. Remember the Time/Life infomercial where they put together a collection of 60's/70's music that has been digitally remastered? They proceed to play an example of a song with the crackles from old vinyl, they then play the song in "glorious CD quality", completely vibrant and absent of any noise. Well, it's hard to make a case for noise and even more aggravating especially when it's completely unnecessary and avoidable in the first place. A real shame. BTW, I don't have a problem with CD's. A quality recording on LP is my preference, but I also have good examples of CD's that are enjoyable as well.

That said, I do recommend this album to anyone interested in it because I, personally, can subtract the difference between the sonic quality of the music and the noise, which is listenable but atypical for what a record should have on it. It's just embarassing and hard to defend the virtues of vinyl to a younger audience when these sonic gremlins are needlessly exposed. Most records I've bought at used record stores for $1.00 are quieter than my copy of this release. I can only hope mine is a fluke, which makes the hit and miss of it all even more annoying. C'mon, there's a vinyl revival going on, let's not spoil it. I would have thought the industry would be drooling to the idea that LP's are not nearly as easy to clone, therefore creating a more desirable product and encouraging more sales. The customers and artists not only deserve better, the quality has been demonstrated on many LP's old and new, so let's not blow a good thing here.

This is a Great CD!! 2010-06-01

By T. Rosser (Denver,Co)

I'm pretty new to KOL and I really enjoyed this CD. I have to admit more than I enjoyed Only by the Night. Arizona, Knocked Up,Fans and The Runner some of the best songs on there. I looked forward to seeing them in August, I only hope they do alot of songs of this cd.

???Regression...sounds like they're going backward 2010-04-25

By John Larsen (Los Angeles, CA)

I felt a progression of solid music up until this album. I don't get it. Yes darker but boring. This sounds like it could have been any band in any bar on any given night. I don't hear maturity or complexity. I hear stripped down uninteresting background guitars over a unique voice. Feels more like filler, forced not inviting or heartfelt. I listened to the preview before I purchased. I think the short clips sounded great. But that's as good as ever gets. Some clips sounded like the were leading up to something. But they do not, that's it. Hey, I am disappointed. This album actually killed me wanting to go see them. Hey different strokes right.
To me music is emotion. I felt nothing.

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