It took seven studio albums for the American alternative rock band, Kings of Leon, to earn their first No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
Known for their southern tones, the guitar sounds of the 80βs, with a pop-finish, the band had come extremely close to this feat several times, but their luck evaded them, until this week.Β The latest album, WALLS, shifted 77,000 equivalent units, of which 68,000 were actual sales. The album starts with a song called ‘Waste a Moment’, whose chord progression is pretty much a tribute to Bruce Springsteenβs ‘Born to Run’. WALLS apparently is a acronym for βWe Are Like Love Songsβ, the syllable count of which fits the bandβs album title tradition.
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Kings of Leon made it to the Top 10 of the Billboard 200, three times prior to this. The band’s first Billboard 200 appearance came in 2003 when their debut albumΒ ‘Youth & Young Manhood’ reached Number 113. Later, in 2008, ‘Only By The Night‘Β gained the No.4 position, thereby pushing the band to gain fame as one of the best rock acts in the industry. It was this album that brought songs like ‘Sex on Fire’ andΒ ‘Use Somebody’ to this world. Their following albums, ‘Come Around SundownΒ (2010)’ and ‘Mechanical Bull (2013)’ earned them the runners-up position, which was both, delightful and frustrating.
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This time round, the band members decided to give themselves a makeover. Β Stepping away from their usual needy guitars riffs of ‘Around The World’, the sorrowful retro tune that ‘Over’Β boasts off, and the 80βs style production showcased in songs like ‘Find Me’, they have made something that is big and commercial. The die-hard fans were skeptical. What if, the band had finally become a sell out? Their new album, with its shiny new look, might become the antithesis of what the soul of the band had been for the past 13-or so, years. But, we were wrong. The new sound has only made the band better and stronger, with its lucid detailing.
It is assumed that their reign will be short-lived as Lady Gaga’s Joanne is, in all-likelihood, cited to bag the No.1 spot by next week. But, to be honest, it wonβt matter. Anyone who has listened to their music can attest to the fact that No.1 or not, they have continuously made some of the best music in the past decade or so. They donβt need big radio singles or charts backing their creations, because their fan base is large and dedicated enough to push them to the top. Ultimately, It is their tireless attempts to create soulful and lyrically moving songs that have helped them bag the spot.Β You can listen to the entire album, here.