I think their crap to be honest. Crawl was one of the worst songs i've heard!!

i think the first half an the album is quality then slowly drops off, to call it an all time classic. nearly there boys not far away from make one great album full off really great songs! cant wait to hear 'use somebody' to live that will truly be amazing!! cheers johnny!!

Best Band in the world!!! Then they released 'Because of the times' and 'Only by the night' now they are just like any other mainstream band bland and boring!! wot happened to songs like 'taper jean girl' 'razz' 'spiral staircase'!!! KOL r.i.p

Music is all about moving on. If they made another Youth and Young Manhood they would be panned. I think the album is beautiful. I think seeing it played live will be what KOL have wanted to sound like ever since they started playing music. Nice article though. Cat... You are a pube.

Totally agree with Mark. I'm an Oasis fan, but they get ridiculed for sounding too similar. KOL have released an album that, as much as I love Youth and Young Manhood, may be their best. If you haven't guessed, I love it.

In the words of Morrissey: "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful". I bet Mark and Cat used to love KoL. And Razorlight. And anybody else who was their little-known indie darlings. And then more people hear of them and suddenly you aren't allowed to like them anymore? Get over your sad little selves, this is a fourth great album from KoL. (Although "Because of the Times" is still the best...)

kol have not even reached their peak - the new album has so many classic tunes...and as for the mainstream sell out crap - its not fair to criticize the fact that everyone is realizing just how great kol are. They would already struggle to release a best of album as they would have too much material. It may not be the fans most popular album but it will be up there in years to come.

yep mainstream rubbish.........even heard a comparison to 'epic coldplay' in one write up.... hilarious................ amen 2 great albums 2 shite, better than most do tho i spose!!

Huge fan, and love the first 3 albums. That said, just not feeling this record. For me, the songs just aren't as strong and consistent as they were on Because of the Times. Revelry, 17, Cold Desert, I Want You, Be Somebody just drag the second half down, sad to say.

they became better with every album. when there was a ghost of the ´second cd´ they made a better one. when the phantom of the third strangled once perfect bands like Strokes and still haunting Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs and Killers, the southern boy made a fuckin' classic fourth.

cat and mark your fecking's smeghead's!!Kings of leon are a great band enough said

Why do so many people find it so uncool to have a big sound?! So many reviews have taken pops at it for sounding too polished!' What is wrong with musicians trying to better themselves in the studio?!!! Seems crazy. It's not my favourite album (aha shake still is) but it is by far the best the band have ever been...?! Surely. For me there's not one bad song on there - in fact i've never heard a bad KOL song! i'm all for development. I can't understand why the 'greatness' in bands gets slated!

Brian, Ross, Donko (loving the name)... Words of wisom. Cat... You're still a pube.

I think the new album is slightly better than ‘Because Of The Times’ but both still don’t come anywhere near the first two records. I heard Jared in an interview claim that they were going back to their ‘southern roots’ on Only By The Night, but I can’t find any evidence of this at all. I was expecting to hear a style reminiscent of the classics from the first album such as ‘Spiral Staircase’ and ‘Joes Head’. The best KOL album of all in my opinion though is Aha shake Heartbreak, such a quality record, every single song is just brilliant. I’m not a music snob and won’t abandon them just because they have become more popular in recent years, but I’d love for them to hark back to the style of their earlier work for the next album. For once I agree with an NME review, I’d give this album 7/10

I think the new album is slightly better than ‘Because Of The Times’ but both still don’t come anywhere near the first two records. I heard Jared in an interview claim that they were going back to their ‘southern roots’ on Only By The Night, but I can’t find any evidence of this at all. I was expecting to hear a style reminiscent of the classics from the first album such as ‘Spiral Staircase’ and ‘Joes Head’. The best KOL album of all in my opinion though is Aha shake Heartbreak, such a quality record, every single song is just brilliant. I’m not a music snob and won’t abandon them just because they have become more popular in recent years, but I’d love for them to hark back to the style of their earlier work for the next album. For once I agree with an NME review, I’d give this album 7/10

...It's evolution baby...once Pearl Jam said. What a joy is have the possibility to listen to a band that makes something new in every album instead of repeating herself? I'm deeply in love with Kings of leon music and Only by the night is one of the reasons! I only hope that they come to Italy soon!!!

This album is simply beautiful. Wasn't overly keen on the last album, but this is just wonderful. That is all.

They're very different to when they first started but strangely they've still kept their indie credentials and I still love them as much as when I first heard "Red Morning Light"! I don't get all this "sell-out" business - they're just doing what's coming to them naturally and a band are never going to make the same album twice!

Sinse they said they were going to release this album, back in june/july, I couldn't wait for it. Ive heard it few times and the first 5 songs are brilliant, no faulter, but then i just feel they loose their grip. 'Revelry' 'Notion' and 'Be Somebody' are average and the rest...well, they could have put other songs on there instead. Ive known KOL from their first album, genius! Second, took while to get used to from their first but is good, third perfection, now they've done this album to suit everyone, worst albume in my opinion. BUT, maybe its like their second album, it will take some while to get used to, I hope so.

i dont think as a record its as good as because of the times, but its similar in a way, in that when its brilliant its really quite brilliant, but its not the complete classic some critics have talked about. i think 7/10 is about right from the nme review...but is it a step forward musically? no, sex on fire is being adopted in indie clubs by the 'chav' brigade in a similar way to Mr. Brightside was, and thats always a sore point when kids asking for bands only know them for one track...and dont realise that this band have been on the most consistant acts of the decade. i'm hoping they dont change and that they continue to produce exciting music like On Call, Charmer, Bucket etc, the new album has some good moments, but perhaps it comes a little too soon after the last album. a little more time may have produced a better all round album

Even from across the pond, I follow British music and British music closely. Most of the bands I have listened to in the last 20 years (the Roses and on thru Madchester, to the Libs, and Cribs) are British. And the few American bands I like were essentially discovered in the UK and by UK audiences first (Strokes, White Stripes just to name a few), and only then got attention back home. Or some only achieved acclaim over there, and never caught on with a US audience at all. That’s why I continue to connect with British music and the UK audience. The UK has cranked out the best bands for 30+ years and you guys have great taste. Period. Since the days of my youth, in the 80’s before the internet…I would go down to the record store here in states, a little indie shop…everyday to see if the “new” NME was out. For me, “new” was a 3-week old copy of NME that they finally got it….just so I could read about the next big thing coming out of the UK…the Roses legal battle….Morrissey’s rants…demise of Factory .whatever. Today, I still do the same thing, only on the Net. And no, this is not meant as a masturbatory, planted “shout out” to the NME….but all I am saying is that for 20+ years, I have gone to NME to read about up and coming bands and their excess and antics, or to read about aging giants growing old. So the amount of love shown KOL by NME and the UK…as much as I have tried, I just don’t get it. I don’t see anything special about these guys at all, yet they are nearly royalty over there. Can someone help me out here? What am I missing (maybe its their first album? I don’t have it and really only started listening to them around the time of “BoTT.”). Now, I live in the Southern US, so maybe the kitsch of their initial country slant is not as appealing to me, where maybe it’s a novelty to folks in Europe? Maybe in the same way some of here in the US took to Oasis and their working class Northern working class attitude (coupled with massive ego) and never let go…..while I am sure many in the UK thought they and their “scene” were bollocks. Not trying to be contrarian; I am asking a legitimate question here. What is so appealing about KOL? Point me in the right direction….. Cheers,

What a surprise to find this tripe on the NME site. The magazine and its readers revel in building bands up to the stratosphere only to shoot them down. I know a girl who refuses to listen to this album because Sex on Fire is number 1, thus they "sold out". What the fuck. In case anyone is keeping up with the Kings career every album is more polished more ambitious. Its a matter of confidence and increasing standards of musicianship. You will be hard pushed to find a better album than this, this year. Its nearly pure class and I love it.

I was really gutted when i heard the 3rd album.. it has lost all the rock and roll of why they were brilliant in the first place... and now this... don't get me wrong though, i love it! it's just i know now there won't be anything quite as rough and as rock as the first albums from the guys... which is sad really. :(

I actually love the 2nd half, Notion and be somebody are my 2 favourites. I'm sick of people who stop liking a band cos they get successful. That must mean they're doing something right!

i can't believe the people who are slagging this album off. kol are way better than any american band since the grunge era. anyone who doesn't think so, can spin on it! ok, i love my indie (mainstream) music, and this album beats the crap out of anything at the moment. this band will be the next u2. in my opinion, this is just as strong as any of their other releases. kol you rock.

Why oh why do people keep on saying they're disapointed that they dont write songs like Mollys Chambers and Red Morning Light anymore? A great band evolves...in the same way the Beatles did - when they released Strawberry Fields, some fans stil wanted She Loves You, I want to Hold Your Hand etc...The same applies to Radiohead. Shit bands still churn out the same - i.e Oasis. I think it's a cracker and I like the mellow second half - just as I did with Because of the Times. Maybe it's missing a track like My Party, but that's my only complaint. I'd give it 8 out of 10....

Some of these "critics" need to stop taking themselves SO seriously! Quit crying and take each and every album for what it is and not dwell on what it is not. So some of you don't like this record compared to that record, so fucking what. Start your own bands and make your own records if you know SO much about music. I love each and every KOL record...

got the album and thought its very good what i expected after buying because of the times but theres still no "mcfearless" kind of edgey track on there but still top notch alex

poor

some good stuff def a spiritual awakening if u will i prefer oberst album and new cold war kids http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=43111771

Didn't like the album at first coz it doesn't rock out like previous albums. But a dozen listens in and I love it. It's great they're making different sounding albums. Where would Radiohead be if the last 5 albums sounded like The Bends?

i can see where the argument of the boys becoming mainstream, and therefore losing sight of the original sound that i fell in love with right from the beginning of thier career. however the new album is really good with some classic tunes. i still prefere kol of old and thier simple but catchy tunes. it was inevitable that kol were going to become mainstream just because they are that good, its a side effect of their talent. i just hope in future records they go back to the roots and produce the music which the fans who have been hooked since the days of youth and young manhood.

Good for them that they decided to crack on and rush another album out when their stock was rising. You can hear there sound evolving if you listen to them all starting with Because of the Times and I suppose it is shinier than it used to be but thats probably to be expected. Theres nothing as sonically nasty as Charmer or as bizarre as Milk on this one but its still generally a good set of tunes. One minor criticism has been Caleb turning his mike up - I always loved the mystery of his lyrics when his voice was deep in the mix - never had a clue what he was singing about. If you want an example of a band that made two belters and followed it up with two stinkers, may I point you in the direction of The Streets.

I really liked Because Of The Times, and this new album is growing on me too. Just because a band become mainstream doesn't automatically make them rubbish, time after time we hear the same comments about bands who become huge, they get accused of "selling out" becoming "uncool" etc. If you don't like the music then fair enough, but to dislike a band or anything else because it becomes mainstream is just illogical

I Completely agree with progression in music, but this record feels a little too poppy. It is a good album and when taken out of context of the first three records, it could be described as a completete success. That's when taking it out of context though, coming from a big KOL fan now, we simply have no my party's, no king of the rodeo's and no Trani's. You can listen to this record and find no song anywhere near as great as on the previous albums, both technically and in sheer charm. Caleb did describe the record as a wham one and i this one has given him alot of expression lyrically and vocally, but perhaps his want for this expression has removed room for work on the music brilliance sid of it. Where's the inventive drum beats? The bluesy guitar solos? The interesting melodys? It's a good album, but let us pray they take influence from the first three records for the next one

This album really didn't get universal critical acclaim - i've read a few stinkers. i don't care that the band are no longer 'ours' etc, i've no problem with a band deservedly becoming massive. this album is horrendous though. self-important, shallow, badly produced, cheesy. and i enjoyed their last album.

Every song sounds the same. Boring.

how dare they become successful! brilliant album,but fans who followed them from the start are getting pissed off cos the general public know of them now.if a band releases similar stuff,they get slated.try something different and their selling out. obviously any bands early stuff is a bit raw,but then they develop.indie fans prefer the first album everytime. some people think dylan done fuck all once he picked up an electric guitar. hope the kings get to headline slane next year

If anyone has read the interviews that another publication had with the band (this publication also, in the end, shot down the album) they are quoted as saying that they want a "Box-set career" because that is what their manager said to them when he signed on. They're progressing and know what they are capable of. They know that they are capable of being one of the best bands in the world. You can't physically go on stage in an arena and expect to play 4 albums worth of "Youth and Young Manhood" or "Aha Shake Heartbreak" songs and fill the seats. If they had released four albums of that, the ones critisising them would still be slagging the fact that the sound hasn't changed. Grow some balls and make your own records!

huge fan of kol, and got the album today, i heard it plenty before i bought it and i now am an even bigger fan!!!!! great point up there about the beatles cganging their sound because they just realised that they had more talent and grew into their own!!! yes the first two albums were fantastic, mainly because we had not heard that kind of sound nor that kind of song writing in , well a very long time!!!! the third album they tried the experiment, and fuck, headling all the festivals around europe, well im afraid to say that because of the times is a classic and only by the night will be even bigger. it will grow on the majority of people, and for the people that it dosent grow on, well fuck them!!! kings of leon are one of the best of the decade, not many can match them!!!!!! top album and notion is brilliant.....top trumps to the kings!!!!!!

i'm yet to hear all of this album but began to lose faith with because of the times. granted a band's sound must evolve but i can't help feeling they've got worse. nostalgic memories of kol's first two efforts are all that keep me as a fan. Anyone who considers either of these last two albums to be kol's best were clearly late to get into the band and ignorant of what they're supposed to stand for. the talent's clearly still there but i question their application. they wouldn't be the first band to let success get to them and they certainly won't be the last.

Theres nothing wrong with there new songs at all most of them are really good. I think the new album just sounds a bit to commercial and radio friendly and at times a little bit bland. I prefered them when they rock out Mollys chambers Charmer 4 Kicks Crawl etc etc and experiment more with songs. But as with any band you have to move on and thats what there doing with a new stadium sort of sound. I still like there new album it is good but i prefered there other three to this one.

The people on here are so stuck up, when KOL has started to get to everyones ears, they decide they don't like them anymore. Get a life the new album is quality.

KOL have sold out. i'm all for good bands changing direction with each album but they have simply choosen the wrong one. I much prefered Caleb's lyrics in the first two albums which left us to decipher them ourselves rather than the current storytelling drivvle. OBTN is simply rubbish...it's a terrible shame when your favourite band goes soft! Bring back the drugs and debauchery.

i think its a beautiful album, another side to KOL. I think its hilarious when someone says 'mainstream rubbish' etc. They blatantly just write songs they like to write. Its not even as indie as their first few albums.

the first 2 were amazing the next 2 are still much better albums than most bands but different to what i was expecting. still second best band in world after radiohead it just annoys me now that i hae my brother and sisters singing sex on fire all day long, no doubt radio 1 hae played it to death.

They've lost the grit and passion of they're first couple of albums, I've seen them 3 times and the third time walked out, they looked more bored by it than I was! Never again!

An amazing album from an amazing band - don't read the they've sold out bollocks comments! This is pure genius.

The Kings have lost there MOJO - first 5 tracks good, the rest pretty bland and samey.

I think that alot of the criticism here is unfair on KOL. I loved a fair few songs off the Aha Shake Heartbreak album, but wouldnt have classed myself a big fan of them. Tickets for them tour come available last year, and decided to take a chance on seeing them, and they blew me away and have followed them ever closer since and have since become one of my few favourite bands. Like a few people have mentioned, the new album is pretty good, but its still missing something that i cant put my finger on. But they're ever evolving and ever improving, and that those doubters who havent seen KOL live, if you can afford it, I would take the chance in going to see them and you wont be dissapointed. This coming from a guy who wasnt a big KOL fan before I saw them live. Sometimes some albums need more than one listen as well.

The new album sucks! Where is the rock n' roll? Ok, the single "Sex On Fire" is a great track, but the album is freezing! What a shame...

I don't wanna write a cliché, because we've heard it all - mainstream or improving - disagree or agree - like or dislike - love or hate.. you know that's what we hear every time a band release a new album. Remember when Arctic Monkeys released their second?? The first people thought was ''Why doesn't this sound like the first one!?! They've sold out!!''. Then within two months or perhaps less, it's become their favourite. And I'm sure this is the same. We expect something from the band everytime, and when we get the new stuff, we think it's crap becaue it wasn't what we expected. I'm just glad that some people in this debate actually realize, that this is a beautiful album. And Kings of Leon are a great and talented band, that just wanna do something they've done before, and don't wanna get stuck in making the same music all over again. And the whole mainstream thing.. It's something you can't avoid with a band like this, it just had to happen... And you can't complain about it, cause they warned you in all the interviews before this record was released ''We wanna be the greatest band in the world'' and stuff.. And if that means being played in the radio that everybody listens to, then that's what's gonna happen.. even if it's a bad way.. And to the guy who said that Caleb's lyrics used to be better.. I just couldn't disagree more.. He's just getting older and more mature and is thinking much more about the world, than himself... But let that be..

A band grows with time and we have to accept it. If it;s good it can;t always be catering to the small niche audience i always has , it will progress and definitely sounds will change and that's whats happened with Kings of Leon. Their new album is what i feel a work of genius..pure genius...i have't heard anything like it before...i hope they contibue making such good music..

I personally think that Only By The Night is a great album. OK, it's not as raw and ferocious as their first two but you have to remember that bands are people too and have ups and downs in their life which has clearly changed their outlook on life and the way they approach music. Also, remember when Oasis released Be Here Now? It was panned because they didn't progress. The album shows them growing. KoL's work to date is absolutely spectacular. As somebody else pointed out, they would struggle to create a best of because they have so many classic tunes already. I also think that the album will be appreciated when they next tour. You have to remember that they'll maybe only play five or so songs from this record amongst all their other "hits" and I think these "more mellow" songs will bring more depth to their live show. People who moan about them not writing "Red Morning Light" over and over again should remember that Arizona was one of the most beautiful moments of Glastonbury this year. I'm not one to suddenly go off KoL because they are becoming as big as they deserve to be. I welcome it. Why must the NME not celebrate a good band rather than looking down at their pointy shoes wondering what Farris Rotter up to?

I'm from Boston, and i find it curious why the UK loves Kings of Leon? could it be the faux posering, the new weak-ass U2 rip offs? the bland John Mayer-esque songs? ugh - this band, after a great first record, now sucks. Soon you'll realize what the U.S. learned two records ago.

Cat is the biggest douche bag there has ever been, i know this because you simply dont know what music is if you dont like kings altogether, and especially this album, its foochin awesome

All albums are Brilliant!!! this one is extra good seeing as it was made in a short amount of time!! I'm a fan all ways will be no matter how successful they get!

This "You just don't like it because it's number 1 in the charts" is so ridicilous. Look guys, I dislike OBTN because it sounds totally washed out and softrock for me. They're going for the "Grey's Anatomy"-Soundtrack with this one.

Very good album! I miss the southern rock vibe of the 1st two but the incredible drumming (just listen to it!)and improved vocals make up for that.

Talk about over use of a delay pedal. The guitar playing is so lame and Caleb's songs suck so bad now. I've never in my lifetime seen a band fall so far so quickly. I would punch them in their collective face if I saw them on the street.

KOL used to be great, but what happened to the don't care, all-out rock attitude that gave us Holy Roller Novacaine, Taper Jean Girl, and Trani? They were great when they recorded their songs as a group in one take, but now, everything sounds like it's been edited over a hundred times. They're not the same band. I listen to 'Youth' and 'Aha' all the time, but 'Times' almost never. KOL needs to get back to what made them great and stop caring about the mainstream.

Same old british media, Kings of leon change direction for this album and it sounds soooo goooood!! 4th album released and 2nd best album KOL have made its brilliant, i love it, people i know love it, I guess when NME release a special edition booklet about the kings of leon they will change the review of this album to a higher rating when they realise they are wrong just like they did with the Oasis special edition booklet about 5 years a go. This album is by far the best album of the year, ive been listening to new Oasis album which also sounds great so might be competition from that but for now the Kings are KOL

I got into Kings of Leon after hearing 'Because of the Times'. I thought it was really good, so I then bought their earlier albums. My favourite record of the two was 'Aha Shake' which I feel is still their best. 'Only by the Night' is a good album, but I would have to concede that it is their worst effort so far. Nevertheless I still love it, and songs like 'Closer' and 'Crawl' show that their music is evolving for the better. 7.5/10

I give it 7/10 too. I suspect in a couple of weeks I will change that to an 8. I hope that in future, though, the re-remember how to make proper belting rockers again, at least two or three on each album!

Amazing new album . I think you most would agree most of the critism is unfair it comes from fans that followed them from the start ,they need to be more open minded just because everyone likes them dosent mean you dont because you crave to be different and indie , a true fan will appreciate true music.

What a band, altho I feel this is there worst album and not strach on Aha Shake u can't blame a band for looking to change. Just look wot happens to bands like Oasis when they stay the same for 15 years. Congrats on a different but gd album lads!

Has to be the best album I have bought in a long time. There is no bad song on the album and is defiantly their best yet. The perfect album to just sit there and listen, amazing! LOVE IT!!

I loved their 1st two albums, 2nd album would maybe even make my top 15 albums ever and I own a lot of albums. But I found apart from fans & arizona that because of the times was poor and I've not been that struck on the new ones I've heard they sound like they should be playing in the background of one tree hill or smallville. I love the energy of the 1st two album, great riffs, amazing melodies and their sound was great, it was like hillbillie blues hit indie. But now they sound just indie. Bit of a der der der der der kind of rhythm all the way through, they're definitely talented. Album 1 & 2 sound like young lads having fun, album 3 & 4 sound like they're in their late 30s making a bit of a comeback. I dislike the whole need of needing to progress, the same thing happens with everyone...if you don't move on they moan you haven't, if you do they moan you should keep to what you know and I think in those 1st to albums they had found an original sound. I guess I only get annoyed with all the popularity now because they didn't have all the attention on 1st 2 album and now when they're doing songs less good they are loved and i bet half of the new fans aren't even aware of fussed of the old stuff. Cos it's the whole "all about now" generation. That's old man get over it, they're new album is the best blah blah. I believe they'll find a way back to putting catchy melody over the creative guitar playing again and not always continue the 3 minute der der der der playing they're into right now. Aha Shake Heartbreak Forever! I guess hearing them go from songs as uplifting as california waiting to one of the worst songs ever charmer just depresses me. Their sound made me excited to listen to the albums but they give me one listen albums now.

Absolute garbage, nothing will ever touch there first album, there last effort was a disaster! as for this, i hated it, its soooo boring it all sounds the same, boy do i need another Radiohead album just to wash away all this crap!!!!!!!!!!!

this is one hell of an album. yeah its not ther greatest but its sows how far they have come since youth and young manhood. but still mint as ever-

IT's a pretty average album nothing special, think they wrote it to be performed live more than on a CD, No where near best album of the year, thats reserved for elbow!

People keep saying that the band has changed direction, can they please explain how? i would hardly call the album a change in direction, the tracks sound all same, and without caleb followill's voice, it could be any other alternative bands album. I've listened to the album a number of times now, and not one track stands out I was hoping the album would grow on me but it hasn't, so I put aha shake heartbreak instead. People will moan if you say going mainstream has ruined them, but it clearly has,

I think this album is rather brilliant actually. I have been a fan of kings since their second album and while there were some quality tunes, they have really become a consistent, top notch band with this album, songs like use somebody, revelry, seventeen and sex on fire are some of the best rock songs i have heard in quite some time.

bands need to change and progress through albums. This is the best direction they could have gone in.

KOL are an amazing band. Always have been, always will. They are growing as a band from Youth and young manhood, playing music now that they were probably too scared and too shy to do 5 years ago! I think they are realising what they ve become and it wouldnt surprise me if they completely stripped back for their fifth album.If it was the same as the first two albums they would get canned as well, so they cant win. Either way, terrific album, they deserve all the success in the world.

KOL are an amazing band. Always have been, always will. They are growing as a band from Youth and young manhood, playing music now that they were probably too scared and too shy to do 5 years ago! I think they are realising what they ve become and it wouldnt surprise me if they completely stripped back for their fifth album.If it was the same as the first two albums they would get canned as well, so they cant win.

What are you people going on about? bad album...surely not genius by any stretch. There is no need to talk about selling out or that people gave up on them because they are now Number 1. Its just not a good album - bad songwriting, too polished etc...

Buy the new TV on the Radio!!!!

so jared promises that they would go into 'full rock mode' on this album. so what has happened? forget all this pain medication stuff. i respect they need to try to live up to massive tunes off because of the times like 'black thumbnail', 'ragoo', and 'camaro' and even more so their early stuff, which will never happen again. but seriously who cares about a numer 1 single, they have became friends with radio 1 scum who get boring nobodies to buy millions of records, along with the hoosiers and all that rubbish, a fair few new tunes are decent, like 'manhattan' and the bonus track 'frontier city', i couldnt even watch 'use somebody' on jools the other week. not too sure what happened to the same band that wrote 'trani' and 'razz', god sake grow your hair and become cool again. my teacheres are starting to say they like them.!

I really don't see how anyone can criticise K.O.L for developing their sound. Yeah, their first two albums were amazing but how many albums could they have made with the same old bluesy-southern rock theme. The first two albums will always be there for us to look back on but in terms of looking forward, the new tracks theyve come out with on Only by the Night shows that they've grown up and they're passionate about what theyre doing. Amazing album, no doubt about it.

I think this album is amazing! But yeah i agree in the sense that theyll just be another stadium band, and shit. Ill give it 8/10 though, it is so good, much more range of vocals on it. I still think that Aha Shake Heartbreak is their best work yet

I feel KOL has the right to follow whatever direction they feel necessary. I'm not a big of their last two albums. There is certainly good music on both of them, but it doesn't really interest me like their earlier work did. I'm not opposed to the huge aura of their sound, it's just that they seem to be willing to imitate and look like everyone else, which is kind of lame. Like Paul said, their first two albums were amazing, and their last two albums not nearly as good. Yet, their music is still better than most. I don't feel betrayed by KOL whatsoever. This argument is kind of like the Bob Dylan switch to doing electric sets as well as acoustic ones, but not nearly as big in scale. Good luck to the KOL.

Thou shalt not stop liking a band just because they've become popular.

Ok guys i didn't mean to make it as blunt as that. I like the songs like The Bucket, and I quite like Sex On Fire, but their just not a band to my taste. I like bands like The Libertines, The Killers!, and yeah i do like razorlight ;) I just don't see why there is a sudden outburst for KoL...

''Awww, I really wish they'd keep making 'Aha...' a hundred times and weren't popular coz now I cant like them anymore (gwumble,gwumble)''.......losers, its a really good album (yes, it coulda done witha rocker near the end).....8/10...!

the album is very very good. not great but very good. and who cares if they sound a little bit friendly. its only natural for a band to evolve towards selling records. lets not forget this is their livelihood. i've always felt KOL were my little band i discovered. but now its time to share them with the rest of the world. let arena rock begin!!!!!!!!!

it just shows how much people love this band with so many comments. all 4 albums are different and classics for me. love the new stuff. fuck the critics

is anyone ever happy? theyve sold out/they sound the same etc etc just enjoy the music and be grateful to have a great band around in our times!

The albums alright, better then Because of the Times. Isn't anywhere near as good as Youth and Young Manhood and especially Aha Shake Heartbreak! Those two albums are classics.

The first five and the last two songs are incredible but the rest doesn't really do it for me. They're still the best rock band of the last ten years!

I heard this album and as usual your favorite tracks jumped out at you but after listening to it again and again ALL of the songs are pretty awesome in their own way. Its not like any of their earlier stuff, there is no Charmer or Four Kicks but there is an a album of brilliant tracks that each have the KOL sound. Different is good, differnt shows that these guys have come a long way and you cant put them down for that.......Im not dissppointed

Dont let NME prompt you into slagging it off. Since they've become the 'indie' heat magazine, thats become theyre only job, to antaganise people ( fans and bands) into bad mouthing other peoples work.

Dont let NME prompt you into slagging it off. Since they've become the 'indie' heat magazine, thats become theyre only job, to antaganise people ( fans and bands) into bad mouthing other peoples work.

It's ambitious, granted. And Caleb can sing like a bird - a very fit one if you've seen the 'Sex on Fire' video. But it lacks a signifcant amount of substance.... perhaps they should try those again, they seemed to have a bit more fun.

I love KoL and, while I always hate it wen my long- running favourite bands become famous and I here people talking about 'this great new band...' we can hardly ridicule them for wanting a little bit of mainsteam success, or in fact just to be recognized by more than a handful (in the scale of things) of dedicated fans who just happened to discover them way back when. They're brill and for anyone to call them sell-outs should get a slap and told to grow up. Nothing can last forever and making critically acclaimed music 4 albums in is not selling out. Grow up haters!

A pretty bad album from a pretty bad band. With some great songs like 'Crawl' and 'Sex On Fire' but the res tis just-yawn! (5/10)

I am disappointed by this last album. I hope that these guys are going to get to work soon, and find their creativity, poetry and finesse soon. Otherwise, I am out of there and won't be their fan anymore. I cannot stand mediocrity!

ok, bands change, i can understand why bands have to change there sounds so that the fans dont get bored, but this is just depressing! after i heard sex on fire, i thought yeh this sounds cool, but the album is a load of shit, it'll be on ebay in a min i think!

Upon my first listen in noticed this is the first KOL album not to have a killer opening track. straight away like many others I was thinking " oh dear not a good sign". This is also the first KOl album to use friggin christmas beels on an intro, what the hell is this some bad east 17 track, as soon as I heard that I turned it off and listened to some real music. There are good tracks on the album but not enough to call this album amazing. All the new KOL fans proberly also have the kooks cd's sitting on thier coofe tables and that makes me unhappy, it's a sign of what the kings have become another same same indie band gripped by the mainstream hype. Where the hell were all you people back in 2002. actually i know, you were proberly raving on about how relevent keane were or getting down to travis. anynew true KOL fan please try this test. all you got to do is listen to any track off the new album make sure it's you best one. then listen to four kicks. it's an instant feeling of loss. I for one have lost a good friend, kings of leon were one of the best bands of our time and could of gone down in history, now i'm not too sure. bring back your balls guys, bring back the gritty rock and roll and please ditch this mainstream radio one friendly bull shit. drink some wine and pass the cup!!!!!!! what the fuck, thats sounds more at home on a shitty lame hip hop vid/track. Two fingers up to all the new ( just get on the band wagon six years too late ) fans. R.I.P. the old kings, you are truley missed.

kol r always gonna b one of the best bands in the world but there new album is not what i was expecting i fell they released this ablum a bit to quickly it didnt have a great momentum to me and i still havnt bought it but i hav listened to it many times and its defo there worse album.

its a shame that they are criticised when they do well, but unfortunately as a devoted kol follower, i am left dissapointed slightly. Not with the music but for the number of my friends who have ridiculed me for years, trying to tell me about kings of leon. I have been there since 2000 and saw them first in 2001 so i shall stay true. They are so good they were bound to turn mainstream eventually, so good for them!! They deserve every last fan. Mixed feelings.

Kings Of Leon are no longer OUR'S these guys have been the soundtrack to my life so its gutting to say it :(

I didn't actually like the first two Kings Of Leon albums. I know a lot of people did, but they really didn't do anything for me. Because Of The Times and Only By The Night are darker and edgier and really make you sit up and listen. Caleb's Southern drawl seemed to get lost in the music on the first two albums because it was too similar - on the last two the music and the vocals contradicted and complemented each other, giving the tracks greater depth. I think my perfect Kings Of Leon album would be half of Because Of The Times, mixed in with half of Only By The Night.

the first three albums were incredible and did not make it into the mainstream. their last one blows and now they are all the rage. could it be that most people suck and like horrible, simple, lame music? yes, i think so.

The new album would be tolerable if they hadn't put out 2 gems and one decent album before this mickey mouse of a new album. However, I'd rather here Sex is on fire than a nickelback song on the radio. That being said I just hope this is a money making ploy for them and that for the next album they clean or should I say dirty there act up. "She's 17 but I done plum forgot about it."

No matter what, even if you feel this is a "sell out" and such, you can't deny, this album is awesome. Ignoring all the, oh it's not as good as there others, put that aside, and just admit this album is really good. I wouldnt go as far as to say it's the best album of the decade, but it doesnt matter, because it's good enough for me to sit and listen to the whole thing. Which i've only ever done to the beatles albums (especialy rubber soul) , some blink 182 albums, and the smiths albums.