Kings of Leon

關于來自美國納什維爾的Kings of Leon，樂隊最有趣的也許就是他們的童年經歷，隊中的四位同胞兄弟從小就跟隨著身為牧師的父親出入教堂進行宗教儀式，而樂隊Kings of Leon的命名也正是來自父親和外祖父的名字。四個聽著Neil Young長大的年輕人深受布魯斯、朋克還有南方搖滾的影響，2003年當樂隊以一張《Youth & Young Manhood》亮相樂壇的時候，評論界都驚呼，“教堂里走出了一群搖滾客。”所有評論都一致地將美國南方搖滾復蘇的契機放在了他們的身，而音樂中濃厚的車庫搖滾的痕跡也使得Kings of Leon成為車庫復古大軍中強力的一支。 在初演賺得足夠的口碑后，2006年Kings of Leon又以一張《Aha Shake Heartbreak》搶占了幾乎所有音樂雜志推薦的頭條，此時的樂隊也真正摘掉“唱詩班”的頭銜，一躍成為美國獨立音樂界的明星，而在大洋彼岸的英國，樂隊更是得到極力的追捧。這支平均年齡才過二十四歲的年輕樂隊成功地逃脫了“第二張專輯”的魔咒，對于他們，一切似乎都已進入正常的軌道。因此當樂隊透露發行新專輯的消息后，大部分人都認為Kings of Leon完全可以再做一張《Aha Shake Heartbreak》式的專輯，安安穩穩地賺得滿堂喝彩。這樣的選擇對于樂隊的短期發展也許是安全的，但對于一支在成長過程中的樂隊來說，坐吃山空是最大的忌諱，因此Kings of Leon選擇了帶有點賭博性質的方式，正如鼓手Nathan Followill所說，“也許歌迷們習慣聽我們以前的歌曲了，但這次我們要讓所有人大吃一驚。” 事實是樂隊將他們的第三張專輯作為了跳板，他們期望用全力的一跳實現質的飛躍，正如主唱 Caleb自信滿滿所說，“我們將全部精力都放在了這張專輯中，在錄音室中我們盡量地發揮想象，為的是實現音樂質的飛躍，因為我們還有很多靈感，還可以讓更多地方的歌迷知道我們的搖滾。”《Because of the Times 》正是Kings of Leon的雄心碩果，2007年四月樂隊在Hand Me Down旗下正式發行了這張背負太多重望的專輯。相比于歌迷的期待，樂隊自己也賦予這張專輯更多的含義，單單從專輯的命名就能看出樂隊是何等的苦心，“Because of the Times”其實是指在路易斯安娜州的Alexandria舉行的宗教年會，而這句話也是取自搖滾界里的一句俗語，“If an album does well it’s because of the times”（如果一張專輯獲得好評，那是因為它趕上了好時候。） 《Because of the Times》算是踩準了步點，在美國搖滾界普遍趨于平緩的時候，Kings of Leon適時的引爆，就如在悶慌的鐵皮屋里一顆戛然響起炸彈，不需要有多大的威力，只要它能豁開一塊空間，引起新的空氣。新專輯一經發行，除了得到各大雜志的追捧外，發行第一周就在英國登上了第一的位置，這也是樂隊第一張取得如此佳績的專輯，因此可以說，《Because of the Times》獲得了人心和影響力上的雙重成功。 雖然還是支年輕的樂隊，但Kings of Leon絕不會甘于唱些青春期萌動的歌曲來逗歌迷們開心，歌曲的主題一般都來自平日生活，并沒有太多狂想雜念。開場曲《Knocked Up》講述的就是在外界非議下依然掙扎生存的戀人，新專輯依然請來同為Ryan Adams制作人的Ethan Initially embraced as "the Southern Strokes" for their resurrection and reinvention of Dixie-styled rock & roll, Kings of Leon steadily morphed themselves into an experimental rock outfit during the 2000s. The Tennessee-bred quartet debuted in 2003 with the Holy Roller Novocaine EP, whose blend of raw, unpolished boogie rock was further explored on their debut full-length, Youth & Young Manhood. Such revivalist music was matched by a similarly revivalist appearance -- including long hair, mustaches, and tight-fitting denim -- and Kings of Leon experienced immediate popularity in the U.K. (where they would later enjoy platinum album sales, despite a persistently lukewarm reception at home). As the band explored different sonic textures with subsequent releases, most notably on 2006's Because of the Times, those tenuous links to the Strokes were finally dissolved. Comprised of three Followill brothers -- Caleb (guitar), Nathan (drums), and Jared (bass) -- as well as first cousin Matthew Followill (guitar), Kings of Leon formed in 2000. The Followill siblings had spent their youth traveling across America's heartland with their evangelist father, decamping at Pentecostal churches and tent revivals for several days at a time before moving onward. When their father resigned from the church and divorced his wife in 1997, the boys relocated to Nashville and embraced the rock music (not to mention the accompanying lifestyle) they'd previously been denied. Cousin Matthew was added to the lineup, and a Southern garage rock sound quickly emerged. RCA took note, signing the band in 2001 and facilitating a partnership with Nashville-based producer Angelo Petraglia, who furthered the band's rock & roll education and co-wrote the material for 2003's Holy Roller Novocaine EP. Tours across North America and the U.K. coincided with the release of the band's full-length debut, Youth & Young Manhood, that same summer. Buoyed by the single "Molly's Chambers," the album saw moderate success in the U.K. However, it was the band's sophomore effort, 2004's Aha Shake Heartbreak, that made them European stars, with three songs cracking the U.K. singles charts. The album saw an American release in February 2005, and Kings of Leon toured the country alongside U2 before retreating to work on their third effort. The darker, more expansive Because of the Times followed in 2007. Featuring production from Ethan Johns (who had helmed the band's previous releases as well), the album proved to be the band's biggest release, debuting at number 25 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and topping the album charts in the U.K., Ireland, and New Zealand. 更多>>