Kings Of Leon had a historic 2008 and 2009. For a band that has been on the scene since 1999, they were due for their big break. Turns out their big break may have just been the biggest break for a band in the last 10 years. The group's 2008 studio effort, Only By The Night, could have easily been the album of the year and it did win awards for song and record of the year. Tracks like Sex On Fire and Use Somebody tore up the charts month after month for most of 2009. Couple all of that with a world tour, a headlining slot at Lollapalooza, and the transformation from underground bar band to household name, and you get one of the most meteoric rises in recent rock history.
With success though comes expectations. But lets be honest. Would it be feasible for anyone to top the kind of success Kings Of Leon had in 2009? Unless you are Taylor Swift, probably not. So, lets just get it out there right away. Kings Of Leon's newest record, Come Around Sundown, is not as good as Only By The Night. It probably isn't even in the same universe as that record. But, that doesn't make it bad.
And it isn't bad. Come Around has some really great songs and fits together nicely as a 13 track record. It kicks off with a slower balladish tune in The End. It picks up for the next few with the first single, Radioactive, Pyro, and Mary. All three were songs that the group road tested towards the end of their 2010 summer tour. From their we get a "live it up" song in Immortals that features some great guitar playing from Matthew Followill. Matthew's guitar is prevalent on virtually every track and is a true high point of the album.
Other song highlights on the record include Back Down South, a country twanging ode to the "good ol days" in Tennesse (which is where the band members grew up). The albums best song is Pony Up, a tragic bar fight love tale. Lyrically, it is pretty simple and to the point, but musically, the various guitar riffs, stifling bass guitar, and patterned drums make it a very interesting and fun listen.
As a whole, Caleb Followill's lyrics are relatively simple all the way through the album. In songs like The End and Pickup Truck he reaches out for a little more and while he succeeds, its as clear as day he won't be becoming the Bob Dylan of our generation any time soon.
Come Around Sundown is a good album, but it is also a safe album. On this follow-up record, it is obvious Kings Of Leon was not interested in drawing a new line in the sand or expanding their musical focus. Come Around is a lot like Only By The Night in that it appeals to many ears and is easy to listen to. Why isn't it as good then? Because Only By The Night was the first of its kind and Come Around Sundown is a carbon copy. It would have been nice to see the Followill's take their music in a more challenging direction. After seeing Kings Of Leon twice in the past year, my fear always was that they would become a new version of an arena rock type band. Come Around Sundown lends more credibility to that fear.
As the years go on, we'll see exactly what kind of band Kings Of Leon morphs into. In the meantime, any follow-up to Only By The Night would have been highly criticized one way or another. Come Around Sundown can stare all the criticism in the eye as it is simply a fun and enjoyable record. Nothing more, nothing less.
Straight Lines Music is a debuting a new feature this month...the Straight Lines Spotlight! Each month, Straight Lines Music will spotlight a different band or artist. This spotlight will highlight band history, discography, current news, music, and videos.
To kick off the Straight Lines Spotlight series, we start with My Chemical Romance.
My Chemical Romance was formed by lead singer Gerard Way and then drummer Matt Pelissier. Over the years Way has stated that the idea to start the band came after experiencing and living through the September 11th tragedy in New Jersey. Along the way, Way and Pelissier picked up guitarist Ray Toro and Way's brother Mikey. In addition, the group added a second guitarist in Frank Lero. After only being a band for about three months, the group recorded what would be released as I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love.
MCR's breakthrough year came in 2003. After a tour with Avenged Sevenfold, the band went back into the studio to record their sophomore record Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge. As things would turn out, for My Chemical Romance, the second time was the charm. Three Cheers went platinum in just over a year and hosted chart topping singles including, I'm Not Okay, Helena, and The Ghost Of You.
I'm Not Okay
Helena
The Ghost Of You
In 2003 and 2004, in addition to much success, My Chemical Romance found some unrest in the group. It was during this time that the group parted ways with original drummer Matt Pelissier. As a group, they have never gone into detail as to why Pelissier left the group. Bob Bryar took over the drumming duties shortly after the split.
Throughout 2004, 2005, and some of 2006 My Chem was on the road performing and headlining various shows and festivals including the first ever Taste Of Chaos tour and Warped Tour. In addition, the band opened for Green Day on their American Idiot Tour.
In April of 2006, My Chem began work on their third studio album, The Black Parade. The record was produced by longtime Green Day producer, Rob Cavallo, and was the band's first concept album. Lyrically, the album took on the topic of death. Musically, it was a smooth transition between emo-punk, rock, and ballads. The Black Parade took My Chemical Romance to a new level. It was rated the 20th best album in 2006 by Rolling Stone magazine and the fourth best album of the year that year by Kerrang magazine. In 2007, the band was nominated for an American Music Award in the category of Best Alternative Band.
Welcome To The Black Parade
Teenagers
Famous Last Words
During live shows in 2006 and 2007, My Chemical Romance ditched the MCR gear and became The Black Parade. The band played The Black Parade in its entirety each night to the delight of millions of fans around the world. The tour culminated with a DVD recording in Mexico that was released in October of 2007.
After The Black Parade tour concluded in 2007, MCR took a much needed break from the road and the studio to spend time with their families and pursue other individual interests.
The band reconvened in 2009 to do a song for the Watchmen movie soundtrack. On the soundtrack MCR covers the historic Bob Dylan and his song Desolation Row.
Desolation Row
Throughout the hiatus, numerous rumors popped up of turmoil within the group and drummer Bob Bryar left the band in early 2010. Like the last drummer, the band has not commented as to why Bryar left the group. In addition, rumors of various recording sessions reportedly took place, but much to the the chagrin of fans, no release date was announced. Until September of 2010 that is. In September, My Chemical Romance announced the release of their fourth studio album, Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys. Danger Days hits stores on November 22nd. My Chemical Romance has announced some concerts here and there, but an official tour has not been finalized. The band will be doing shows in St. Louis and at Q101's Twisted in Chicago, as well as some others overseas. Early reviews on leaked songs as well as Danger Day's first single Na Na Na have been stellar.
Na Na Na
The My Chemical Romance story is certainly one of uniqueness. The five band members from Jersey climbed the rock ranks extremely quick and not just with one off popular songs, but with classic albums that will stand the test of time. The distant future is cloudy for this band but the immediate one couldn't be clearer. With a new album, rejuvenated band, and a beyond excited fanbase, November and 20ll is shaping up to be another great year for My Chemical Romance.
DISCOGRAPHY * I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love (2002) * Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004) * The Black Parade (2006) * Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (2010)
Yesterday we reported on the Buffalo Springfield reunion at Neil Young's Bridge Benefit concert, but the clip was shaky and the sound was poor. Check out this link for great sound and the complete set -- no video but the band sounds great, especially Ritchie Furay on "Kind Woman" and Steven Stills on "For What It's Worth" and "Rock and Roll Woman." Note the inclusion of "Bluebird" with its extended Stills and Neil Young guitar interplay in the middle -- long considered a classic Springfield tune that was only available in a live version on a retrospective set. Don't wait to listen as this link probably won't be active for too long.
Well, it wasn't the Whiskey-A-Go-Go, where Buffalo Springfield holds legendary status (along with The Doors) and it wasn't the complete Buffalo Springfield. But it was as close as anyone's gotten to hearing this great band since 1967.
Last weekend at Neil Young's annual acoustic music Bridge School Benefit, where a couple dozen Big Name performers set aside their egos and rider demands for Cristal and caviar to play for free with no expenses paid, Young brought together the two other surviving members of what many say was "the greatest live band no one heard" and they resurrected the old days for a few minutes.
Young looked as dapper as he'll ever look in a great hat and fringed jacket that hearkened back to his Tiger Beat photo spreads, Steven Stills looked thinner and better than he has in years (and a little professorial too), and silver-haired Richie Furay looked like he was thrilled to be their with his old pals. Too bad all five original members weren't there, but bassist Bruce Palmer and drummer Dewey Martin have died and were replaced by members of the CSNY touring band.
The set list included Buffalo gems and classics: "On the Way Home (set opener, click above video), "Rock and Roll Woman," "Do I Have to Come Right Out and Say It," "I Am a Child," "Kind Woman," "Child's Claim," "Burned," "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing," "Bluebird," and "Mr. Soul."
Any chance this sets the stage for a reunion tour?
In what has become an annual tradition in Chicago, Q101's Twisted is back. And back with a vengeance. The radio station announced its five night 2010 lineup on Monday morning. All shows will be at Chicago's House Of Blues and will feature five headlining acts: Alterbridge, Five Finger Death Punch, Chevelle, Cake, and My Chemical Romance. Other bands slated to play so far are, Sick Puppies, Bad City, Hellyeah, The Damned Things, Finger Eleven, Hail The Villain, Middle Class Rut, and Greek Fire. More bands are sure to be announced in the coming days.
The true shocker of the lineup is that of My Chemical Romance. The band is coming off an almost five year hiatus and has not even announced a full U.S tour as of yet. The band is releasing a new album in November and a live performance in Chicago is the perfect way to kick off their return.
Q101's Twisted is going to be held on December 11th thru December 15th. Tickets go on-sale to the general public on Friday October 29th at 10am. Stay tuned to Straight Lines for updated band information as it becomes available.
The Straight Lines video of the week this week is from Kings Of Leon. After a historic 2009 for the band, 2010 is looking to be even bigger. KOL just released their newest album, Come Around Sundown on October 19th and hit the Saturday Night Live stage this past weekend to show off some of the new tracks. They group played the album's first single, Radioactive, as well as a track off the record titled Pyro. Check out the performance of Radioactive below!
Here is this weekend's Chicago concert information! Enjoy!
Kings Of Leon had a historic 2008 and 2009. For a band that has been on the scene since 1999, they were due for their big break. Turns out their big break may have just been the biggest break for a band in the last 10 years. The group's 2008 studio effort, Only By The Night, could have easily been the album of the year and it did win awards for song and record of the year. Tracks like Sex On Fire and Use Somebody tore up the charts month after month for most of 2009. Couple all of that with a world tour, a headlining slot at Lollapalooza, and the transformation from underground bar band to household name, and you get one of the most meteoric rises in recent rock history.
Straight Lines Music is a debuting a new feature this month...the Straight Lines Spotlight! Each month, Straight Lines Music will spotlight a different band or artist. This spotlight will highlight band history, discography, current news, music, and videos.
In what has become an annual tradition in Chicago, Q101's Twisted is back. And back with a vengeance. The radio station announced its five night 2010 lineup on Monday morning. All shows will be at Chicago's House Of Blues and will feature five headlining acts: Alterbridge, Five Finger Death Punch, Chevelle, Cake, and My Chemical Romance. Other bands slated to play so far are, Sick Puppies, Bad City, Hellyeah, The Damned Things, Finger Eleven, Hail The Villain, Middle Class Rut, and Greek Fire. More bands are sure to be announced in the coming days.