Ranking All of the Kings of Leon Albums
Kings of Leon is a rock band that was formed in 1999 in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a family affair, as the band members are brothers Caleb, Jared, and Nathan Followill, along with their cousin Matthew Followill. In the early days, the band’s style was a combination of garage rock and Southern rock with some blues influences.
However, their style has evolved over the years to include other genres, including arena rock and alternative rock. Initially, the band was most popular in the UK, although they were also achieving chart success in the United States by 2008. The Kings of Leon have won multiple awards, including two BRIT Awards and four Grammy Awards. During their career, the Kings of Leon have released eight studio albums, five EPs, two compilation albums, one live album, one video album, 27 music videos, 26 singles, and three promotional singles. Here are the Kings of Leon albums ranked.
8. When You See Yourself (2021)
It had been five years since the Kings of Leon had released an album when they released ‘When You See Yourself’ in 2021. With this album, the band proved they could stand the test of time as they have been releasing music across three decades. ‘When You See Yourself’ topped the charts in Austria, Australia, the UK, and Ireland. It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200. The singles released from the album were ‘The Bandit’ and ‘100,000 People.’
7. WALLS (2016)
‘WALLS’ was the seventh studio album released by the Kings of Leon. An interesting fact about ‘WALLS’ is that it is an acronym for ‘We All Like Love Songs.’ Although an acronym is used for the title, the full name follows in the Kings of Leon’s tradition for releasing albums with titles that have five syllables. It was the first Kings of Leon album to hit the top spot on the Billboard 200, and it was also a number one hit in Austria, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK. The three singles released from this album were ‘Waste a Moment,’ ‘Reverend,’ and ‘Around the World.’
6. Youth & Young Manhood (2003)
‘Youth & Young Manhood’ was the Kings of Leon’s debut album. The band’s passion for their music and their hunger to succeed in the industry was clear in this album, as it seemed like they were giving each track everything they had got. It was instantly successful in the UK, reaching number three on the album charts. However, it peaked at only 113 on the Billboard 200. The band released four singles from this album, which were ‘Red Morning Light,’ ‘Molly’s Chambers,’ ‘Wasted Time,’ and ‘California Waiting.’
5. Because of the Times (2007)
Giddy Up America lists ‘Because of the Times’ as the best Kings of Leon album, as it marks the transition from the band’s original sound to their experimentation with new genres. It was the band’s third studio album, and it still contains some of the sounds from the first two albums that their original fans loved. However, the use of new influences is evident across many of the album’s tracks. It was the first time the Kings of Leon topped the charts, and they achieved this in the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand.
4. Aha Shake Heartbreak (2005)
The Kings of Leon’s second album was ‘Aha Shake Heartbreak,’ which NME rates as the band’s best album. It was clear the band had become more confident about their style since recording their debut album. It was the second time the Kings of Leon reached number three on the album charts in the UK, and they reached the same chart position in Ireland. It also performed better than the previous album in the United States, reaching number five on the Billboard 200. The three singles released from this album were ‘The Bucket,’ ‘Four Kicks,’ and ‘King of Rodeo.’ Another track from the album is ‘Taper Jean Girl,’ which contains profanities. It is because of this song that the album has a parental advisory label.
3. Mechanical Bull (2013)
Some of the songs on ‘Mechanical Bull,’ such as ‘Supersoaker’ and ‘Temple,’ are reminiscent of the King of Leon’s earlier sound. However, songs like ‘Family Tree’ and ‘Rock City’ show the groovier sound of the band that they had begun to develop by this time in their career. ‘Mechanical Bull’ topped the charts in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK. It peaked at number two in the United States, Austria, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands.
2. Come Around Sundown (2010)
Although the Kings of Leon had already established a strong fanbase in the UK, it wasn’t until the release of ‘Come Around Sundown,’ their fifth studio album, that they became commercially successful in the United States. It topped the album charts in Australia, Austria, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, Belgium, Ireland, and Germany, and it peaked at number two in the United States and the Netherlands. It was nominated for the Best Rock Album Award at the 54th Grammy Awards.
1. Only by the Night (2008)
In terms of commercial success, the Kings of Leon’s best album is ‘Only by the Night.’ This album spawned the singles ‘Sex on Fire’ and ‘Use Somebody,’ which are two of the band’s best-known songs. It topped the album charts in the UK, New Zealand, Ireland, Belgium, and Australia. ‘Only by the Night’ was also a top ten hit in the United States, Austria, Canada, and the Netherlands. The album won two BRIT Awards, and it was also nominated for the Best Rock Album Award at the 51st Grammy Awards.
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