Main menu
Fretplay home Submit tabs

Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon tabs Kings of Leon discography

Channels
Guitar channel Bass channel Guitar videos Reviews

Message Forum
Guitar forum Bass forum Bands and artists Promote your band Recent discussions All categories

Fretplay.com

Kings of Leon guitar tabs

CD reviews

Youth & Young Manhood

Kings of Leon - Youth & Young Manhood Audio CD

A fair review of the Kings of Leon "Youth & Young Manhood" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Kings of Leon reviews here, or go back to the Kings of Leon tabs.

Band: Kings of Leon
Title: Youth & Young Manhood
Rating:

Release Date: 2003-08-19
Media: Audio CD

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

A Timeless Release
I've not seen a band generate so much love/hate since the Stones broke in way back in 1964 (and I'm old enough to remember that very clearly).
Because you either adore or detest the Kings of Leon, and because the band has not only made it but is obviously going to be a major voice in rock, I see no point in the host of reviews that are either cheerleading or dissing them.

Personally, I'm convinced KOL will be one of the greatest bands ever (and I can count the number of bands I've said that about over the last 40 years on one hand). . . . and yes, I've seen them live more than once.

For those of you who don't want to miss a moment of the bliss as it arrives, here is a comprehensive list of what KOL has released. Here is a key to the notations so you won't miss any of their releases:

* tracks that have not been released on albums
# different version
@ live track
$ video

Holy Roller Novocaine - EP (2003 Feb 18)
Molly's Chambers
Wasted Time
# California Waiting (different version from Youth & Young Manhood LP)
* Wicker Chair
Holy Roller Novocaine

Molly's Chambers - UK Import (2003 Sep 23)
Molly's Chambers
@ Wasted Time (Live)
@ Spiral Staircase (Live)

Red Morning Light - Import (2003 Jul 15)
Red Morning Light
* Wicker Chair
Talihina Sky

Molly's Chambers - Import (2003 Oct 27)
Molly's Chambers
@ Molly's Chambers (Live at Birmingham Academy)
@ Red Morning Light (Live at Birmingham Academy)

Wasted Time - EP Import (2003 Nov 25)
Wasted Time
* Mollys Hangover (Previously Unreleased)
@ Joes Head (Live From LA)
$ Wasted Time (Enhanced Video)

Youth & Young Manhood - LP (2003 Aug 19)
Red Morning Light
Happy Alone
Wasted Time
Joe's Head
Trani
California Waiting
Spiral Staircase
Molly's Chambers
Genius
Dusty
Holy Roller Novocaine
Talihina Sky (hidden track 8 min after end of last track)

California Waiting (2004 Mar 4)
California Waiting
@ Joe's Head (Live at Brixton Academy)

The Bucket - UK Import (2004 October 25)
Bucket
* Where Nobody Knows

The Bucket Part 1 - German Import (2004 Dec 14)
Bucket
Slow Night, So Long
* Wicker Chair

The Bucket Part 2 - German Import (2005 Jan 18)
Bucket
* Where Nobody Knows

Youth & Young Manhood - Japanese Import LP (2005 Feb 1)
Red Morning Light
Happy Alone
Wasted Time
Joe's Head
Trani
California Waiting
Spiral Staircase
Molly's Chambers
Genius
Dusty
Holy Roller Novocaine
* Wicker Chair

Aha Shake Heartbreak - Japanese LP (2005 Feb 1)
Slow Night, So Long
King Of The Rodeo
Taper Jean Girl
Pistol Of Fire
Milk
Bucket
Soft
Razz
Day Old Blues
Four Kicks
Velvet Snow
Rememo
* Where Nobody Knows

Aha Shake Heartbreak - LP (2005 Feb 22)
Slow Night, So Long
King Of The Rodeo
Taper Jean Girl
Pistol Of Fire
Milk
Bucket
Soft
Razz
Day Old Blues
Four Kicks
Velvet Snow
Rememo

4 Kicks - Import (2005 Mar 1)
4 Kicks
* Head To Toe

King Of The Rodeo - Import (2005 May 24)
King of the Rodeo
@ Taper Jean Girl (Live in Belgium)
@ Molly's Chambers (Live in Belgium)
$ King of the Rodeo (Video)

.

the real youth & young manhood.
So the obvious question in this day and age to ask is who are they ripping off? Lynard Skynard? Yes a little. Kings of Leon - Good old southern boy's from the home of porn - a delightful deluge of cross dressing, easy women and yarns from the murky subculture of their transient youth. Credence Clearwater? Yes a touch here and there, there's also a touch of the Velvet underground in the subject matter but they swagger with an exuberance and an effervescence that makes this a refreshing and vital recording. I can sense the sniggers, the chuckle as you point out the obvious clich�d reference points. But that just goes to prove even further what a triumph this debut album is, so here comes another clich� 'better to have people talking about you (good or bad) than not talking about you at all, ahhhhhh, yes, the kings are in the spotlight, they are again being lauded by the fickle music press you say and next month it'll be the hiss, or the rapture, or some other band named after a forgotten part of the human anatomy. Yes, a highly likely assessment but forget all that and just listen to the music. I then challenge you not to break out in an all over, foot stomping smile, that has you coming back for more and more of the same. In all their seedy glorious moment the Kings of Leon are just trying to get out, and get on, don't deny them their story. Those who thought American youth was all about sports jackets, candy floss, cheese burgers, red convertibles, Budweiser, coca-cola, Florida, Venice beach, surfing, Molly Ringwald, the Yankees, Joe Montana, cheer leaders and thickshakes - well think again. Like a David Lynch movie these guy's allow you to take a peek behind the glossy post cards and cheap 'college style' movies to a much different world populated by perverts, paedophile priests and drunken louts. It won't be to everyone's liking but hey, by the bands own admission 'we just tell it how it is'.

Take opening track 'Red morning light' it sets the scene and provides the tempo for what is about to follow "hey hey another dirty bird giving out a taste" sings Caleb. Then there's 'Joe's Head' where the protagonist murders the guy who's shagging his wife. Then murders his wife. Then has a fag afterwards to celebrate. 'Happy Alone' where you'll find Caleb at the local whorehouse "prancing around in my high heels/And your cherry red lipstick". Then there's the sleazy 'tranny' - it involves Caleb doing coke, "cheap trick hookers" and being "tied to a chair" - but then how could any song titled simply 'tranny' be anything other than brilliant - it's also the greatest song about cross-dressing since Lou Reed sung 'Take a walk on the wild side'.

It's been a while since such a remarkably fresh and unconscious album was released on the general public in such an unassuming way. 'Youth and Young manhood' is quite an achievment. It is one of the debut album since 'definitley maybe' and is odds on for album of the year. Ignore the hype that surronds them and enjoy the moment - they are, in the immortal words of Noel Gallagher "My new favourite f*****g band".

The old is new again

This album however, is FANTASTIC! It's so nice to see a band that plays music that comes straight from the hip. Rock music has taken a turn for the worst in the past 10 years and there are not many bands that really get the rocker in me too excited. With bluesy hooks and tons of thinly vieled sexual references this album screams of the good old days when rock'n'roll meant something and expressed our deepest desires. If you secretly think that "The Joker" by Steve Miller Band is one of the top rocks songs of all time, this record will blow you away. If you like your rock straight up and unrefined (no ice please), hold on to your hat when you pick up this album!.

Can't stop playing it!
i heard about their performance at glastonbury, so when i was at t in the park, i had to go and see them. After spending 4 weeks in england, i got a taste of what england was really into, and kings of leon were one of these bands. . . and im glad i did. . . because these guys simply rocked. i went out and bought the cd, and now that im back in the states, i keep playing the cd over and over. . . . i cant stop because its soooo good. i am disappointed that the us version will have another song on it. . . but hey. . . i got the cd before everyone else, so oh well. buy this album!.

You can see a complete list of all Kings of Leon discography, or go back to the Kings of Leon tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.