On Call With The Kings Of Leon

I try not to miss the opening act of any concert I attend. Back in 2005, I saw U2 at the Staples Center here in Los Angeles. Opening for them were "Kings Of Leon," a band that at the time was described as Lynyrd Skynyrd meets the Strokes. (Side note: Everything back in 2005 was compared to The Strokes.) I was already familiar with the band from their single "Molly's Chambers" and the accompanying car commercial it was featured in, but once I saw their live show, I was hooked. It smoked, and even as U2 fans were piling in to Staples, and the house lights were still up, the band played ferociously and demanded the audience to take notice.

Well claimers, after opening for such acts as Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan, and the aforementioned U2, it's time to take notice again. The Kings Of Leon have released their first single entitled "On Call" from their upcoming release "Because Of The Times." The follow-up release to 2005’s Aha Shake Heartbreak, is not all that you would expect from the Nashville-based quartet. “I think people tend to expect a certain sound from us,” says Kings of Leon’s drummer Nathan Followill, “but on this record, we tried to throw them for a loop.”


The new album, their third major label release, finds the band exploring their musical talents; a feat often found in a group that has established a steady footing in the band's identity, the security of fan loyalty, and their record label's confidence. “We took the limitations off of ourselves,” says frontman/rhythm guitarist Caleb. “We went into the studio with an open mind, thinking let’s do whatever it takes to get these songs to the next level. Because we really have a lot of music inside of us and a lot of different places we can go.”

Such exploration can be found in the band's forst single off of the new album, "On Call." It's a track that features the already familiar "Kings Of Leon" slow burn to pounding beat, but builds upon that tactic by using vocal effects. See if you agree, for your consideration, you can listen to the track below.



"Because Of The Times" will be released stateside April 3rd. If you would like to hear other tracks from the band, visit The Kings Of Leon at myspace.


For Your Consideration:
Kings Of Leon - On Call Mp3
Kings Of Leon - Molly's Chambers (Live Austin City Limits Music Festival: 2003 Collection) Mp3