Only by the Night

I was always a defender of Sex on Fire amongst its controversy and dumb lyrical hook, but I can see why this album was both their most successful record commercially, as well as the final nail in their musical coffin. It's a massive step down from their prior albums, and just puts me to sleep with It's attempts at being something more, when at the end of the day I only really liked Kings of Leon for scratching that garage rock revival but in the South itch. This is just pop rock you would've heard on the radio in the 2000s, and while it's mostly technically quality, it can be pretty hit or miss, and nothing really is as good as Sex on Fire, so if you already don't like that song, I can't imagine sitting through this album. It's fine, but it could stand to be much better, and you can really see the band slipping here.

I don't get why it is such a popular band. Never really liked anything. I thought maybe Sex On Fire became a hit because it was accesible, and the other songs were more interesting, but it wasn't the case. Also, his voice is screeching my eardrum.

Yet another ex-1001 album!™
http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex

I've always been indifferent about Kings of Leon... even when everyone in the pub is roaring to Sex on Fire, meh!

A question about audio production, everything felt dampened down, was it recorded under a wet blanket?

more than 3 less than 4

I love this album, It's SO good. The smoky, husky voice, the mellow, yet complex melodies, the sad relatability of the lyrics, it's amazing. If I'm being uber critical, I'll say that it does sound a *little* dated. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could.

Listened to this album a lot when I was a teenager. I absolutely loved it. Now? Wtf? Over half the songs seem to repeat themselves over and over. And nearly none of them make sense. They all bleed into each other. And 17??? What the double actual fuck is that song? Idk what the hell was going through my teenage brain enjoying this album.

There is no universe where this pandering, underwhelming, sack of shit of an album should be in the top 1001. Kings of Leon clearly intended for Sex on Fire and Use Somebody to be the singles (both of which are not interesting nor good), with the rest of the album padded by bad songs with repetitive lyrics, grating vocals and basic song structures. This is an all time low on this list so far, and I sincerely hope the author removed this album to make room for other albums. 0/5 -> 1/5

The stuff guilty pleasures are made of, but if it's a pleasure, what's there to complain about?

Sooo basiic

I liked Crawl. The rest of the album was fine but not that great. I think the two hits off this album are the worst songs on it. Maybe it’s because of them being overplayed, or it’s the woah-oh chorus on use somebody. That was overused for a long time, it’s such a lazy choice. Otherwise, it’s an inoffensive pop rock album, not sure it deserves to be on this list. Just ok.

I’m at a 4.5 that I’m gonna begrudgingly bump up to a 5, because I think it’s not a 4, but it just doesn’t feel like a 5.

Make no mistake; I think this album’s fucking great. This is incredibly cool to me – I only knew Use Somebody, which I still think is an all-timer of a track, but I’ve never really heard any of the other songs surrounding it, and up until Track 6, everything was blazing hot, all cylinders firing, all engines go, felt like one of the easiest 5s I might give. And yet, of those final 5 tracks, I was only really digging the last 2; something about Tracks 7 through 9 sounded really good, but they never really put the full package together in the same way that the first 6 tracks did.

Who knows? I might just be overreacting to an underwhelming finish; those first 6 tracks hit like crack, man. Absolute bliss for me. Even those last 5 tracks are still good listens; the soundscape never lets up a single time during this album, and you can’t say that Caleb Followill can’t sing his ass off, because he was belting like a motherfucker on this. I’m sure someone will get more enjoyment out of Notion or I Want You than I did (17 is an actively mediocre track), and they don’t take away from the rest of the album at all. It’s a great listen, and it deserves to be on the list; kind of conflicted about bumping it up to a 5, but I really do think it's just too good to only give it a 4.

Song by song I just kept turning the volume down until it wasn't on anymore and that was a nice change.

Favourite songs: Sex on Fire, Use Somebody, Notion, Closer, Manhattan, Crawl

Least favourite songs: 17, I Want You

4/5

Lidt flere gode sange på den her plade, men jeg kan virkelig ikke snuppe hans stemme...

Except for “Sex on Fire,” I don’t think there’s anything worth listening to here

I find the singer's voice to be annoying. This is fairly unexciting stuff.

I think what this comes down to is if you like that ragged tear in the lead singer's voice or not. I don't think I do. It's not like fingernails on a chalkboard or anything. It's more like a hug from a drunk acquaintance that lasts just a little too long. Like he's just overexcited, but it's a little awkward.

I had not really taken the time to listen to this band before 1001. Now, I feel I have listened to them far too much, and that they are overrepresented on the list. Pick an album, alright Dimery? This well may be their best effort, who knows, but because it comes so late in my 1001 journey, I basically knew what to expect, and this just didn't feel fresh to me. You know what, fuck it, those vocals are bringing it down for me. He's trying to come across all soulful, but it's really just whining in disguise. Welcome to my controversial artist list boys!

Sex On Fire and Use Somebody were almost impossible to escape growing up, and they are a big one-two. This band is actually a lot more mellow than their singles might suggest. I Want You is a surprising tune. Cold Desert is the closer on this album that I think it deserves. This one is right on the cusp for me. the middle is largely overshadowed by the singles but I think the whole thing is sonically complete.

It’s fine honestly. Overhated at this point just because it got so undeservedly popular. Nothing spectacular but also nothing terrible.

Well, it’s certainly listenable, if not particularly interesting. “Sex on Fire” is a great track and there are some other fun moments. But it also features some of the tendencies in Top 40 rock that tends to make my eyes roll (I’m looking at you, cliche “oh-woah-woahs” in “Use Somebody”). It’s like if Hootie and the Blowfish got Blues Traveler’s lead singer and decided to write songs specifically to be played in Guitar Hero clones. Serviceable, but uninspired.