You could make the argument that Kings of Leon are the biggest rock band of the modern era.
The band from Nashville that formed in 1999 consists of three brothers and a cousin. Caleb, Jared, Nathan Followill, and their cousin Matthew named their band after their Grandpa Leon.
They’ve changed their sound over the years. Earlier on, they were a mix of southern rock and garage rock, but as their popularity grew, they transitioned into more of an alternative rock sound.
Their earlier albums, Youth and Young Manhood (2003), Aha Shake Heartbeat (2005), and Because of the Times (2007) fit into the Southern rock sound. They built up quite a bit of momentum throughout these albums, with the lead single for Because of the Times, “On Call,” being a big breakout hit for them.
These albums are great. Some songs that I’d recommend checking out are “Red Morning Light,” “Molly’s Chambers,” “King of the Rodeo,” “Fans,” and “Ragoo.”
In 2008, they released Only by the Night. This album shot their stock to the moon. “Sex on Fire” won Best Rock Performance by a Group at the 2009 Grammy Awards. At the 2010 award show, Only by the Night won Best Rock Album. They also won Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Group for “Use Somebody.” Some other great songs here are “Closer,” “Notion,” “Be Somebody,” and “Revelry.”
They released Come Around Sundown in 2011, and Mechanical Bull in 2014. These albums didn’t garner as much buzz as their breakout effort, but they’re both good albums. Some songs I’d recommend off these are “Pyro,” “Back Down South,” “Don’t Matter,” “Temple,” and “Comeback Story.” And “Rock City” is one of my absolute favorite Kings of Leon songs.
WALLS (2016) came out next and was yet another quality album. They never had a bad one before and this one is no different. Spoiler: They still haven’t put out a bad album. This one features good songs like “Reverend,” “Find Me,” and “Waste a Moment.”
Their latest album, When You See Yourself, was released in 2020 and continues their run of incredible records. Kings of Leon doesn’t miss. Its lead single, “The Bandit” was a big hit and guided this album to more success. Other standout songs on this album are “Time in Disguise,” “Claire & Eddie,” “Golden Restless Age,” “Stormy Weather,” and “100,000 People.”
Whether you love them or not, they’ve become one of the pillars of the modern rock scene, and they aren’t going anywhere. Tune into Evolution to hear the best of Kings of Leon!