Kings of Leon: Researching The Band (Chosen Band)

Kings of Leon

We decided to go with Kings of Leon as our artist for our music video, they have a great selection of songs and we really liked their albums. They are meaningful in their song writing which is another reason we went for them, they have great lyrics which make it very easy to come up with ideas for a music video for them.

Early Days
Founded in 1999 by the three Followill brothers and their cousin all from Nashville Tennessee in the United States. They loved the rock music and lifestyle after watching their favourite bands and were influenced by bands such as Thin Lizzy, The Rolling Stones and The Clash. They played at gigs across the south of the United States and gradually started to become well known and very popular. They were signed by RCA Records, but the record company only wanted two of the brothers, but they insisted they would be stick together and so they did and became Kings of Leon. 

Band Members
Caleb Followill – lead vocals, rhythm guitar.
Matthew Followill – lead guitar, keyboards, piano, backing vocals.
Jared Followill – bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals.
Nathan Followill – drums and percussion, backing vocals.

Albums

Youth & Young Manhood (2003)

1. Red Morning Light
2. Happy Alone
3. Wasted Time
4. Joe's Head
5. Trani
6. California Waiting
7. Spiral Suitcase
8. Molly's Chambers
9. Genius
10. Dusty
11. Holy Roller Novocaine


Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004)

1. Slow Night, Slow Song          11. Velvet Show
2. King Of The Rodeo               12. Rememo
3. Taper Jean Girl                      13. Where Nobody Knows
4. Pistol Of Fire
5. Milk
6. The Bucket
7. Soft
8. Razz
9. Day Old Blues
10. Four Kicks



Because Of The Times (2007)

1. Knocked Up                          11. Trunk
2. Charmer                                 12. Camaro
3. On Call                                   13. Arizona
4. McFearless
5. Black Thumbnail
6. My Party
7. True Love Way
8. Ragoo
9. Fans
10. The Runner



Only By The Night (2008)

1. Closer                                  11. Cold Desert
2. Crawl
3. Sex On Fire
4. Use Somebody
5. Manhattan
6. Revelry
7. 17
8. Notion
9. I Want You
10. Be Somebody



Come Around Sundown (2010)

1. The End                               11. Birthday
2. Radioactive                          12. Mi Amigo
3. Pyro                                     13. Pickup Truck
4. Mary
5. The Face
6. The Immortals
7. Back Down South
8. Beach Side
9. No Money
10. Pony Up



Mechanical Bull (2013)

1. Supersoaker                         11. On The Chin
2. Rock City                             12. Work On Me
3. Don't Matter                         13. Last Mile Home
4. Beautiful War
5. Temple
6. Wait For Me
7. Family Tree
8. Comeback Story
9. Tonight
10. Coming Back Again




As you can see, all six of the albums do not really keep a consistency in the artwork. They all have one thing in common and that is the band name being at the top of the album artwork. I think it is good that every album cover is different and doesn't hold too many similarities so it is easier to distinguish which album is which so they all have a piece of individuality about them. Notice how the album name also links with the album artwork; for example Come Around Sundown has two tall palm trees with the sun-setting in the background. Mechanical Bull has a picture of a sign saying Mechanical Bull and a race track finish logo printed on the wall. Only By The Night has a picture of the lead signer with an owl blended and mixed into his face, owls are connoted with the night time, again linking the artwork and album cover.

For my artwork I am going to make sure the album name is linked and has a key relationship with the album artwork. I want to do this so I can keep a consistency just like Kings of Leon have.