New Kings of Leon - "Sex On Fire"
According to NME, Kings Of Leon are one of the bands making America cool again, but "Sex On Fire," the first single off the Followill boys's forthcoming fourth album Only By the Night, is all about getting hot. (Please kill me for that.) The track premiered on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show on 8/4 and found its way onto the band's MySpace a couple of days ago. Take a listen.
Only By The Night is out 9/23 via RCA.
Posted at 2:03 PM by brandon
Tags: Kings Of Leon
I know a lot of people on these blogs love to bag on their once-favorite bands, calling them sell-outs and cheap incarnations of their former selves...but sometimes, bands evolve and it's great to see (I'm looking at you, My Morning Jacket). Kings of Leon is in the latter category. I know everyone is going to piss and moan that they're not making another YY&M or Aha Shake, that BCOT was too "arena"... too bad. These guys rock, as anyone who's seen them live knows full well. Why do people want bands to keep making the same sh*t over and over? I love the fact that they've taken their sound and expanded it, made it louder and bigger - all while keeping those Southern roots-rock influences in the drum fills, the vocals and the guitar lines.
People sit on these blogs all day and whine that someone didn't replicate their favorite song from a previous album... then turn and whine about how an album is too much of a "departure". You can't have it both ways.
Methinks snobbery is afoot, and from people who don't know any better. So, just listen and enjoy. I know I will.
Score = 21
i liked them better when they looked like Jesus.
Score = 14
I still like this band. And apparently so does someone else on this site or they wouldn't keep talking about them.
Score = 2
They just make me yawn these days...
Score = -3
Aha Shake - good
Them ripping off bands they tour with and getting haircuts - bad
They seemed pawned off now. They used to be so like who gives a fuck, no they're so like hey, we're big in England, drink and fuck girls. Sex on Fire, right?
Score = -1
Good tune, not as top notch as "crawl." Anyone else finding the site a bit wonky the past few days? Not the content, but the tech side of things? Posts are mashed together and the sidebars are showing up in the middle. Just wondering if it's my browser or the site?
Score = -1
We just moved servers and there are still a few minor differences in how they behave...that should be fixed now.
Score = 0
The Kings of Leon continue to be one of my favorite bands because they are not static; part of their glory is their ability to create new music while maintaining the essence of what made them great in the beginning.. Youth & Young Manhood was released approximately five years ago... Haven't we all changed a bit in the past five years? Give 'em a break... By the way: I saw them live with the Strokes before they were "big" and yes, they were awe-inspiring: all whiskey and tough guts.
Score = 1
worst song name EVER
Score = 3
no, that honor goes to 'let's put the x in sex' by kiss.
Score = 4
two things:
1) kyle, excellent post. totally agree.
2) the title of this song just verifies that KoL are the sex fiends we all weidely suspect them to be. thanks, guys.
Score = -2
pretty awesome, but then again so was their last album
Score = 0
Seriously, this track and the previous one, Crawl, sound like some of the best stuff these boys have ever done.
I agree with Kyle on this. They are evolving, and evolving into an amazing Rock band, adding extensive musical kudos to each album as it comes out.
I remember seeing Kings of Leon in the New Bands Tent at Glastonbury many moons ago, and seeing them headline Glastonbury this year.
I look forward to seeing them on their upcoming North America Tour, and am eagerly awaiting the new album, which if these tracks are anything to go by, will be a killer !!!
Score = 1
i really really really really really love this song. i've been driving my co-workers crazy the past couple of days listening to it on repeat. can't wait for this album.
Score = 1
Sex on fire is good
Crawl is fantastic
I feel like they have abandoned America though. Like....we don't need to play here, but were just doing you all a favor.
Score = -1
"Sex On Fire"??? Sounds like they wrote a song about their struggles with STDs.
Score = 2
This stuff does sound better than "Because Of The Times," which, c'mon...sucked.
Score = -6
KoL have been one of my favorite bands for about six years now, but I've gotta say that "Sex On Fire" sounds horrible. I can understand a band "evolving" and all that, but this track sounds like watered-down, generic shit. I do agree with the above poster(s) that they do kill it live (and have gotten better every time I've seen them), and that "Crawl" is a much better tune than this one. *Crosses fingers that the rest of the album won't suck*
Score = 2
Can someone tell me what band anyone on this site enjoys? Please? On every post someone bitches. I want to see what bands hipsters actually do enjoy.
Score = 0
I'll explain. Every hipster only likes 10% of the indie bands out there MAX, and not every hipster likes the same 10%. So no matter what the band, there's no shortage of scenesters ready to prove how tough they are to please by saying "they R teh suXXor!11!" It doesn't mean that all hipsters hate everything -- it just means that for any given band, a large percentage of hipsters will hate that particular band. I'm sure there's an equation for this phenomenon published somewhere.
But on topic, I'm not feeling that KoL song, but all KoL records have been hit-and-miss since YYM. They're the ultimate iTunes band -- dl the ones you like, ignore the ones you hate.
Score = -1
"Hipster" is not synonymous with "scenester". To me, a scenester is someone who tries ridiculously hard to fit into a particular scene. You know how 16-year-olds turn really goth over the course of like, a week, and then when they're 18 at college they become patchouli-reeked hemp-clad Phish heads in a semester, and then around age 21 they go all Hip Hop and start an underground rap career? Hipster has become a meaningless phrase that people toss out to insult anyone that's not into the same weird music they are, when in fact it should be reserved for people who predictably hop from trend to trend in order to be more up on what's cool than everyone else. They're like anti-scenesters; hipsters want to be *ahead* of the scenes. For instance, Animal Collective fans aren't automatically hipsters *unless* they only like the band while it's cool to do so, and then move on to whatever the new cool thing is. But just because they really like the music--to the point of disparaging more popular bands--and wear silly pseudo-ironic T-Shirts covered in montage pictures of wolves and bears doesn't necessarily make them hipsters (but it *could* make them scenesters, actually). Of course, we have to wait for "cool time" to pass before we see who the real hipsters of a scene are. That's all beside the point: surely we can think of more fitting and creative insults for people we don't like.
Hey Stereogum, can you just program a graemlin so that whenever anyone types "hipster" it comes out in the post as "phbbbt" or something? I really can't stand reading that word a hundred times whenever I'm on the internet.
Score = 6
haha, my brother has a t-shirt with a massive wolf on it.
Score = 0
does your brother watch flight of the conchords
Score = 1
What is it that these guys are making cool again? Leave-in hair conditioner?
Score = 4
I hate to be one of "those" people, but when I see that they're called "Kings of Leon" and that they look like that, I have absolutely no interest in hearing what they sound like. In fact, I get the strange urge to avoid ever finding out what they sound like, for fear that I might dislocate my jaw yawning. I can tell that this is the sort of stuff that doesn't even remotely rock. Too bad most indie bands are total fucking pussies now, instead of pissed off slackers like in the 90s.
Score = -21
re-read what you just wrote, then start crafting your apology. we'll wait.
Score = 5
Re-evaluate your shallow pseudo-indie taste in music, then start crafting your apology. We'll wait.
Score = -7
Or better yet, re-read the issue of Spin or Rolling Stone from last year that told you to listen to "indie rock" and realize that record label marketing executives are laughing at you.
Score = -5
you're a moron with a capital "retard"
Score = 5
well said.
Score = 3
Thanks! I'm glad you agree.
Score = -8
Steve... what about piss-on losers looking back on the 90's like they are the glory days of rock? Sounds like you spend your weekends helping out at the nursing home while rocking out to Sugar Ray and Smash Mouth on a disc-man. KOL is a great fucking band.
Score = 4
No, I've just been a fan of real underground music for over a decade. You kids are too dumb/young to remember that in the early 90s, there was a fake corporate movement called "alternative rock" that sounded EXACTLY like what you mainstreamers now call "indie rock". You guys are falling for a blatant rehash of an old tired trend, so don't get offended when people point out the obvious.
Score = -4
Kids... listen to this guy. Your the asshole arguing over a band you haven't even given a listen too yet. Congrats on liking SFA and Harvey Danger. Come back when you've educated yourself oh-90's-rock-guru.
Score = 1
Harvey Danger? When someone says that he's into 90s indie rock, THAT'S what pops into your mind? This proves my point nicely. Thanks!
Score = -1
You are an elitist douchebag. Get out.
Score = 1
they R teh suXXor!11!
Score = 6
What a sexy song. Not so noisy.
I didn't like the last album too much. They became a little too arrogant too. But I still be waiting in in line to get their new record...
Score = 1
I have been a KoL fan for a very long time. Aha Shake Heartbreak is still one of my fav albums. But honestly I'm totally flabbergasted (sp?) that people are calling "Crawl" and "Sex on Fire" KoL's greatest songs. Because of the Times took me a while to get into so maybe its the same these tracks. So far its just not happening. The other new song "Need Somebody" could be a Coldplay song if you swapped Caleb's vocals for Chris Martin. Touring with U2 was seriously the worst thing that could have happened to this band. But hey I'm sure they will sell a crapload of records...
Score = 1
there's certainly nothing wrong with a band evolving, but just like modest mouse, these boys evolved in a direction that doesn't suit my tastes. i miss the charm of they're early works. but that doesn't mean they suck and nobody should listen to them. its all just personal preference. Being a stuck up snobby prick about it wont help anything.
I've just never been a U2 fan.
Score = 7
^^^
100% agree
Score = 1
Steve... what about piss-on losers looking back on the 90's like they are the glory days of rock? Sounds like you spend your weekends helping out at the nursing home while rocking out to Sugar Ray and Smash Mouth on a disc-man.
KOL is a great fucking band, and you're missing out because you're a pussy.
Score = 0
There were no "glory days of rock". There's also no objective way to determine if music is good or bad. All I'm saying is, this mainstream indie rock trend that's caused almost all people under 24 to consider themselves to be "indie" has nothing to do with the original aesthetics of the movement.
I know almost nothing about Kings of Leon, so I'm not even targeting them specifically. I'm talking about this whole bland corporate college rock movement that the mainstream has dubbed "indie rock". You know, the trend that you base your current music taste on?
Score = -4
I bet you've never even heard of huge bands like Unwound. "Indie rock" my ass.
Score = -5
The Kings of Leon were a better band back when they were called Candlebox.
Score = 0
I do enjoy the irony of Dave referencing 90's throwaway bands Sugar Ray and Smash Mouth while failing to recognize that the Kings of Leon are the 00's equivalent, except not as successful.
Score = 0
steve listens to "real underground music", everyone.
hahaha. hilarity!
Score = 0
Yeah, that's right. I do. And why is that funny again? You know what's really funny? I know almost for a fact that you've only been into "indie rock" for a couple years, because nobody who knows anything about legitimate indie music gives a shit about some major label alt-rock band who probably get corporate sponsorship from Garnier Fructis shampoo.
Score = -4
One last thing..
I'm getting a psychic impression of your "indie" music collection, and I can sense that you've never even heard anything from SST or Touch and Go. I can also sense that you have no idea what "SST" or "Touch and Go" are. Go die.
Score = -5
getting into a "how indie are you" pissing match is beneath me as it should be for you.
you have a lot to prove for someone on the internet, guy.
Score = 4
Yeah, I'M the one who has something to prove on the internet. This coming from someone who went through the trouble of signing up for a profile just to make your text more visible than most other posters.
And no, I'm not trying to start an "indie pissing match". You would lose, unless we were talking about Kings of Tres Homme or whatever other major label whores you worship.
Score = -1
so basically, indie= worth listening to and everything else= not?
silly equation.
maybe you should go post at Brooklyn Vegan so you and your ilk can circle jerk to your heart's content.
Score = 2
Hey, you're the one who jumped to the defense of Kings of Leon when I simply pointed out that they're NOT INDIE ROCK. Like I already said, I never claimed that there's any objective way to determine what music is good or bad. I'm just picking on the nu-indie kids because it's obvious that you aren't far enough into the cycle of your indie phase to know even basic entry-level stuff.
And come on.. admit it. You know that you're part of this mainstream indie rock trend and that you consider Kings of Leon to be an indie rock band.
Score = 0
why would i consider KoL an indie band? they're on SonyBMG. sounds like a major fucking label to me.
i like KoL because i think they're music sounds good. i'm not here to impress anyone. i don't look for a label, read p4k and then decide- hmmm. yes, i will enjoy this.
if i like something and i think it sounds good, i'll listen. bottom fucking line.
Score = 3
you must be lying grace.... you hate everything.
Score = -1
if you don't care about bands like this why are you commenting?
you, my good sir, are a joke.
Score = 3
Dude, you're fucking lame.
Score = 0
yeah, Im sure none of us know about Sonic Youth's classic album Sister originally released on SST (which I believe was run by avant-fuck noiseman Glenn Branca), or Chicago's Touch and Go records which has cranked out tons and tons of worthwhile albums by the likes of TV on the Radio, !!!, Calexico, etc, etc.....Die Harder.
Score = 1
I never said that this was esoteric indie knowledge or anything like that. My whole point was that this shit is common knowledge for anyone who's even remotely into real indie rock, yet I would bet almost any amount of money that most of the mainstream cattle who now consider themselves to be "indie rock" fans don't know it.
Score = -4
And no, Glenn Branca had nothing to do with SST. You consider yourself to be into "indie" music, but you don't even know that Greg Ginn of Black Flag ran that label? And those are the only bands that spring to mind when you think of Touch and Go? You lose, comrade.
Score = -8
KOL only gets better
Score = 0
Kings of Leon are big
in Jersey.
Score = 0
Take a look at that photo again and tell me what you see...
Okay, tell me what you see other than four dudes you totally have boners for. They are totally rock & roll indie the way they let stylists pick out their clothes, choose their haircuts and determine their facial hair. Please don't give them anymore credit than Maroon 5 as they are no less manufactured.
Score = 2
I think Kings of Leon are one of the best bands of the decade, but since when are they indie? They're on a major label. They have their music in bad TV commercials. They tour with industry heavyweights. They have songs about booze and sex. Seriously, what about them is indie?
Kings are much more classic rock than indie rock, and at the end of the day they're just a great fucking band that puts on a great live show. Why is that so goddamn difficult to appreciate?
Also, Sex on Fire is great, and it's even better live as they proved at APW. If you don't believe me, watch this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYUW14ze5gU
Score = 2
yr right, branca didn't run sst and thats my fault for not googling it prior and then pawning off all the info like I already new it. You know exactly what im talking about dont you or you would've called me out for my error in yr first reply.
Score = 0
You have no idea what you're talking about. I skimmed the beginning of your post and then quickly replied, since I was trying to respond to several different people attacking me at once. When I got a chance to come back to post more, I finally read your entire post and clarified it.
Really, now... you think that this is deep indie knowledge? This is stuff that anyone who's even slightly interested in indie rock already knows. Anyone who read the huge mainstream book "Our Band Could Be Your Life" years ago would know this. That was my point- that you neo-indie fucks know nothing..
Now you're claiming that it was deliberate on your part and that you were trying to entice me into agreeing with a blatantly incorrect statement? I don't believe you.
Score = -2
Oh and one more thing, to call people sheep for hearing about a band and liking it is also ridiculous. How did you get to know about the awesome indie bands that you know? Telepathically? Someone told you about them or you read about them somewhere. That's obviously why you're on this site in the first place. It doesn't matter if Rolling Stone or Pitchfork or AP or MTV or freaking Grey's Anatomy is where you hear about a band, you hear about it from somewhere and you judge accordingly. Don't think because you think your sources are more "indie" that you're any different than anyone else. You're not. Maybe even more so because unlike most people, you feel the need to associate yourself as an indie fan so you're more inclined to like what they say is good. Again, you just sound like an asshole. Please stop.
Score = 2
Steve, Comrade? Die? You are obviously a first class tool. I just know it...
Seriously maybe one day you might get laid, get your act together, lose a few pounds, and be cool.
It is like Swayze say's "Be Nice"
Score = 1
And maybe one day you'll stop letting TV tell you what to listen to, how to dress, and how to act.
And if I'm so uncool, maybe you mainstream cattle should stop trying to imitate underground culture that I was already into ten years ago.
Score = -4
Steve, do you have a job?
Because...man...lots of posts...
about, you know...music.
and most people with jobs don't really...have that kind of time.
Score = 5
Here is the song played live for the first time at All Points West:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeeBd_rT0dE
Score = 0
First listen: That song is a rip off of________? I can't place it, but I know that I've heard it before.
Score = 0
i think that Kings of Leon wont be as famous as they were
Score = 1
yikesees.
stevie here takes himself rather seriously.
dude, fucking relax.
it's a post about a new single from kings of leon.
kings of fucking leon.
i find them quite enjoyable when i want to get drunk / my dance on / laid.
Score = 1
Yeah Steves –
Dont you know Kings of fucking Leon are only the best rock bland on the planets!
Score = -2
I think Steve's a closet fan of all mainstream rock music. He speaks of SST and the underground indie scene, but secretly he loves KOL. And Coldplay. And U2. And...
Score = 0
Look, admittedly I AM kind of being a dick to you people on purpose, but it's pretty infuriating that something I've been into for my entire adult life and most of my teens has now transformed into a really limp mainstream trend. I wouldn't mind that people are getting into something that I was already into, except people just so happen to always get into it as soon as the mainstream media says that it's ok to like. It's sickening to see people obeying marketing like it's the word of god. It would also be nice to see an underground trend go mainstream without it turning into soulless corporate product... but I guess that's just the way it goes.
Score = -4
you are tremendously tiring. there is no need for anyone to jump to conclusions about who you are in reality, or how respectable your taste in music is. you are just immensely, frustratingly tiring.
Score = 2
Steve has a Vagina!
Score = 1