Hello All
As promised in my last post I am going to talk about some records we have been listening to while making the new record. I thought I would start off with a band that when I first heard them I didn't like, but grew to not only appreciate but enjoy: Kings of Leon
To be honest the only thing I knew about the Kings of Leon was that I hated their singers voice! haha I think there are lots of people that feel that way, but I'm glad I got past it.
I really owe listening to KOL to Jimi. He has been a big fan of there's for awhile. He made me promise that no matter what I would give them a chance.
He gave me a copy of their first record Youth & Young Manhood to listen to. At first listen I liked the rock n roll sound and the style of music. The lyrics and melodies to the music, or lack of melody depending on your back ground, were quite different to most of the music I listen to. I'll have to say it took me several listen throughs before I started to understand why so many like this band.
I think it was the raw nature of their music that caught my attention. It's simple but well put together. The song that really got me interested was a song called 'Trani'. If you have never heard the song it is a slow building jam/ballad style song that ends in pure rock n roll bliss. I think the ability to create such a tune really earned my respect for them as musicians.
It wasn't long before I was asking for more of their records to listen to. Each one seemed to really develop far past the former and take full steps forward in songwriting and musicianship.
Their latest release 'Only By the Night' really grabbed me. The use of thier instruments as tools more then anything caught my ear. Be it a simple bassline with only a snare to accompany a vocal line or a collage of sounds, the thought they put into everything they do and how it is played is very inspiring.
I think that's what I have taken away from KOL more then anything, the simplicity in which they use everything they do to help mold & shape a tune into a great song.
Since discovering them it has made me think a lot about how we use all of the instruments we use and their placement in songs. Do we really need a crazy bassline or brutal guitar attack to get a point across? Could we just use a kick drum and shaker along with a vocal line to do it better.
All in all the Kings of Leon have made me approach music creation with a different view. A much more defined view. I hesitate to call it simplistic. Their music is anything but that. Maybe a more natural way of listening to music without all of the baggage so many bands try to throw in.
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Had to comment on this one:) Kings Of Leon, still not sure how I feel about them yet! They've definitely got something but I haven't listened to enough of their music to hear anything I just fall in love with yet. I'm with you on the singers voice....it does grow on you after awhile. Their song "Use Somebody" almost drove me over the edge:) I liked it pretty good at first but then the more it played and played and played on every local station we have I grew tired of it. The new single they are just starting to play here is alot better to me! I don't remember the name of it but it will stay around for awhile too. I like to be able to feel the passion coming from a band and I'm waiting to see if KOL's passion spills over on me:)I love alot of different bands for different reasons but I have to feel something when I listen to them or I get bored with their music! Some people feel the vocalist has to be the one with the most passion but that's not true for me.....it is the drummer sometimes for me like in MUTEMATH or like the guitarist in Shinedown, I can feel his passion when I watch him perform.....it's so amazing! I love fun songs too but I think my biggest problem with music is I'm too much of a romantic so I put too much thought into what I feel like listening too. Although sometimes I just want loud crazy rock so I don't have to think at all:D I enjoy that too!! That's what AC/DC music is for. All music has a purpose! Even Country!!! lol I'm not through with KOL's just yet....I've only heard 2 of their songs so far.
ReplyDeleteI think you guys will do great if you stay true to yourselves and play what you feel and just remember one thing, you will probably never be able to please every single fan all the time:) I get sooooo upset when I see where a fan is giving bad feedback to a band I love. Then I realize that is just their opinion!!! I hope everyone loves your new record(s)! Can't wait to hear something! Good luck Andy:D You've worked hard so you deserve a real break:D Much Love, Tammy