Kings of Leon fans? (Jared Followill)

[Salvatore'sLady]

Anyone here dig this band? I'm not into the new album, their sound got too processed, but I think they're really great, and I love the bass sound. By no means is Jared a stellar bassist, but he's good, and the band grooves well together. I like his tone a lot. Its been debated that he's absolutely terrible, but I don't agree. In addition, KOL songs are really fun to jam around on.

[Bootzilla]

I like their work, the new album more so than because of the time. Haven't analyzed any basslines yet but the music is good so I he's obviously doing something right (and I like his bass too )

btw. Sex on fire is the bomb

[Salvatore'sLady]

Good song. Off the new album - Crawl's really fun, that fuzz tone is hard to nail, though.

[Dave Siff]

Listen to "Aha Shake Heartbreak". I'd say he's stellar and then some. Every pop or rock bass player should aspire to be as indispensable to the music as he is on that album.

[Salvatore'sLady]

Youth and Young Manhood is their best album as it contains delicious bass on Wasted Time, Spiral Staircase and Holy Roller Novocain. Aha Shake Heartbreak has Four Kicks, though, and that's the song I can't stop screwing around with, so fun.

[J. Crawford]

The scary thing is, in BP magazine, Jared said he only started playing bass to be in the band.. and he has some awesome bass lines! Im jealous!

[Bootzilla]

I just read this on wikipedia:
"Kings of Leon's first release, The Holy Roller Novocaine EP came out in 2003. At this point, Jared had yet to learn how to play the bass guitar. He bought himself one, locked himself in his room and subsequently taught himself how to play. Ready to record the first album, he was only 16 at the time. Four of its five songs would later be released on Youth and Young Manhood, with the songs "California Waiting" and "Wasted Time" being remade. The EP also contained the B-side "Wicker Chair". Another track called 'Absent', rumoured to be about singer Caleb's childhood sweetheart Marnie Jensen was discarded prior to release. All the songs were co-written by Angelo Petraglia."

Wow...

This just inspired me to pick up my bass instead of strolling around on TB.

[Salvatore'sLady]

It was a bit disheartening to learn they didn't write their own songs (that's a big one with me) and that they were devout Christians. I got over it, music's music and theirs is great.

[topper]

I love his work on the song Manhattan. Remarkable about him just picking up the bass for this band.

[J. Crawford]

Originally Posted by Bootzilla

I just read this on wikipedia:
"Kings of Leon's first release, The Holy Roller Novocaine EP came out in 2003. At this point, Jared had yet to learn how to play the bass guitar. He bought himself one, locked himself in his room and subsequently taught himself how to play. Ready to record the first album, he was only 16 at the time. Four of its five songs would later be released on Youth and Young Manhood, with the songs "California Waiting" and "Wasted Time" being remade. The EP also contained the B-side "Wicker Chair". Another track called 'Absent', rumoured to be about singer Caleb's childhood sweetheart Marnie Jensen was discarded prior to release. All the songs were co-written by Angelo Petraglia."

Wow...

This just inspired me to pick up my bass instead of strolling around on TB.

Me too.. That is devotion.

Originally Posted by Salvatore'sLady

It was a bit disheartening to learn they didn't write their own songs (that's a big one with me) and that they were devout Christians. I got over it, music's music and theirs is great.

First part is a big no-no for me, but the second part is a big +1 to me.

Opinions, opinions!

[theory028]

What part of the songs don't they write? Only by the Night has a lot of really cool songs (Cold Desert springs to mind). It is a bit upsetting if they didn't write it. But, like you said, good tunes is good tunes.

[unclekebm]

Originally Posted by Dave Siff

Listen to "Aha Shake Heartbreak". I'd say he's stellar and then some. Every pop or rock bass player should aspire to be as indispensable to the music as he is on that album.

+1 Killer first album...

[Salvatore'sLady]

Pretty sure they don't... write... anything. This is what I've heard, and I'm too lazy to do extensive research on the subject. Their lyricism is so yummy (Dusty being my favorite song) and its a tad sad they can't write their own ****. Can we cuss on this forum? Oh, dear.

[strummer21]

We cover 3 of their songs and get great audience reaction. His basslines aren't too technical, but they are catchy and fit the songs well. I also like how they have the bass up in the mix, and it really comes through.

[thedude77md]

Originally Posted by Salvatore'sLady

It was a bit disheartening to learn they didn't write their own songs (that's a big one with me) and that they were devout Christians. I got over it, music's music and theirs is great.

My respect for them just went down a heckuvalot (for the first part, the latter I could care less)

[DreadRaver]

Whoah there everybody ...

Kings of Leon do indeed write their own material.
Angelo has been their mentor and producer since the beginning.
Indeed, he did help them shape their sound, and has got co-writing credit, but some consider him a 5th member of the group, rather than some kind of "ghost writer."
Caleb does write most of the lyrics.

For more insight into the band/producer relationship see this article:
Kings of Leon Producer Angelo Petraglia on Early KOL and Their Gibsons

excerpt from that article:

Angelo clarified that the initial introduction to singer/guitarist Caleb and drummer Nathan Followill was through his publishing company―as potential songwriting partners.

“There was a misconception from the beginning,” explains Angelo, “where some people thought this band was put together, which is so untrue. I mean these guys have so much talent, whether it was in the beginning very raw―talent is talent. To me, it was just guys that I hit it off with and dug making music with, and the writing was really cool.”

[Bassmingo]

Originally Posted by Bootzilla

All the songs were co-written by Angelo Petraglia."

First album only, guys. they wrote the rest themselves.

[TheHegemon]

I like some of their stuff, Holy Roller Novocaine and Sex on Fire are pretty decent songs. That said I really dont see much in their bassist, I read the Rolling Stone article on them and from what I gathered he hasnt been playing very long and didn't even want to play the bass in the first place(got the impression they made him take up the instrument).

But playing music its not really about one player and its sounds like he's doing whats right for the band which is ok in my book.

[Salvatore'sLady]

Originally Posted by DreadRaver

Whoah there everybody ...

Kings of Leon do indeed write their own material.
Angelo has been their mentor and producer since the beginning.
Indeed, he did help them shape their sound, and has got co-writing credit, but some consider him a 5th member of the group, rather than some kind of "ghost writer."
Caleb does write most of the lyrics.

For more insight into the band/producer relationship see this article:
Kings of Leon Producer Angelo Petraglia on Early KOL and Their Gibsons

excerpt from that article:

Angelo clarified that the initial introduction to singer/guitarist Caleb and drummer Nathan Followill was through his publishing company―as potential songwriting partners.

“There was a misconception from the beginning,” explains Angelo, “where some people thought this band was put together, which is so untrue. I mean these guys have so much talent, whether it was in the beginning very raw―talent is talent. To me, it was just guys that I hit it off with and dug making music with, and the writing was really cool.”

]Hm. I'll have to show this to the boy who broke my heart when he told me they didn't. Thanks for doing research!

[Greevus]

Who the hell is LEON?