A Little After "Only by the Night" LP
I'm pretty sure everybody at some point in their life experiences a moment, a quick glimpse of the mind, where neurons rule the roost, feeding you mysterious info that syncs up and clicks in place. A specific feeling hits you. You sense that an adventure may be at hand.
My last experience of that ilk came one evening as I was cruising up the freeway to the airport. I popped the radio on and happened to catch about four lines of a song that sounded like a very young Ozzy Osborne. But that didn't seem correct. Hell, I wasn't buying my own thought. However, yippy ki aye, that one thought ignited a blazing fire within.
First a tiny layer of back-story. I am climbing down the other side of the ladder. An older individual winding his way through a personal situation involving pain. A proper distraction was most welcome. Additionally, I was at the end of a 4 year stretch of not listening to the radio. I became disenchanted with what I perceived to be a serious lack of creativity in the rock radio world. So I bugged out. Way out!
Back to the freeway and those four lines. I was racking my brain as to whom that song belonged and I knew that I would not rest until I got home, powered up the laptop and fiercely hurled words at Google.
I don't remember which station I heard the song, nor do I remember exactly how I began my Internet quest to quench the burning question of who, who, who was trippin' me out with that song.
My best estimation of the time frame to finally run it down was 20 minutes. Now, how the hell does that happen? I had virtually nothing to go on. It turned out to be “Crawl” (a favorite now) from the LP Only By The Night. Ozzy? I don't think so!
Anyway, this lead directly to a music rebirth (thanks dudes) and consequently, my eventual deconstruction of Kings Of Leon. When I say deconstruction, I mean heavy friggin' duty research. This was a new experience for me and one that absolutely took on a life of it's own.
Truthfully, I thought it a bit strange. Nonetheless, I was teeming with enthusiasm that I didn't fully understand, and man o' man did I ever plunge into the proverbial deep end.
There is one caveat that boggles my mind. It's a head scratcher. I caught KOL opening for U2 in 05. Sadly, other than thinking it was an odd name for a band, my beautiful Bride and I do not remember anything of note about their time on stage, what they looked like, or how many members were in the band.
I can look back and honestly say that my head was in a very different place. Deconstruction would never have come to fruition were it attempted then. My “gone fishing” sign must have been posted.
One inward 2 ½ somersaults in the tuck position dive and I truly have negotiated the deep end of this odyssey where KOL began, the “Holy Roller Novocaine” EP.
I listened with great intent from that point through “Only By The Night”. I then reversed the order many times. I then chased the various live performances that matched album tracks. I then compared those to the canned versions. I then separated the player and instrument via the canned versions. Then, yes another then (I should whisper the fact that there were quite a few more thens actually), I began checking out written interviews, followed by video interviews.
Whoa, I had to yield to the stop sign. I was an obsessed, possessed PAC-man gobbling up everything KOL. The interviews were a huge mistake. They definitely have a way of skewing reality. I learned far too much about people I will never interact with. No bull. There was a bucket load of psychology learned as well.
Don't forget having to wade through the inane questions asked by a rather large percentage of writers/reporters in dire need of a weekend workshop to hone their skills. A weekend workshop run by the Wizard of Westwood would be appropriate (sorry re-animating not an option).
Bloody pitiful really. I sometimes wonder how band members can deal with not allowing their blood to rush out, lose all feeling, while collapsing into a tiny pool of pot and wine due to extreme boredom and the nasty loop of repetition. Careful though, one doesn't want the next band being interviewed to roll a buck and snort you up.
Finally, after two weeks of tunnel vision research my candle blew out. So what did I take away from this all-encompassing experience? First and fore-most, I know I will never head down this F-ing road again. It plumb tuckered me out and I remain unsure why this occurred.
As far as Kings of Leon as a band? Solid, tight, good lyrics, good instrument blending, good timing. Good, period! The question that rose to the top, the barometer if you will that gave way to surprise....would KOL music fly under the banner of instrumentals? Subjective to be sure. My answer is a resounding yes. Take that with a grain of salt please and not with a normal instrumental mentality.
In closing, I don't understand why so many fans get their undies-in-an-uproar when comparing the so called old KOL to the so called new KOL. Enjoy the ride baby. I like it all. OK, there is one song that were I to look down my pants, I would see my testicles wincing because the lead singers voice is too raw. I pass on that one.
Lets be real, a good band cannot help but change, evolve, refine. With emphasis on life being different from one day to the next. It is reflected in their music. Natural progression, especially in the creative arena, is too great a force to be slowed down or stopped. No sense sweating it. An unnecessary negative. Go with the flow. Kick back, turn it up, smile and start tapping!
