HomeKings of LeonBecause of the Times
Because of the Times
Rock · 2007 · 13 tracks

Because of the Times

A sprawling transition from garage-rock grit to wide-screen arena ambition. Reverb-heavy guitars and raspy vocals meet a newfound sense of atmospheric space.

March 30, 2007 · RCA

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Cavernous, reverb-drenched spaces replace the tight, dry rooms of the band's past, signaling a dramatic expansion into cinematic alternative rock. This third outing trades jittery garage-punk for a dark, Southern Gothic atmosphere where towering guitar textures and brooding, restless tempos stretch the songs into expansive, atmospheric shapes. The vocal performance shifts from a slurred mumble into a piercing, desperate howl, capturing a group that is suddenly too vast for small clubs but still haunted by the shadows of their origins.

Tracklist · 13 Tracks
01
Knocked Up
7:10
02
Charmer
2:57
03
On Call
3:22
04
McFearless
3:09
05
Black Thumbnail
4:00
06
My Party
4:11
07
True Love Way
4:03
08
Ragoo
3:01
09
Fans
3:36
10
The Runner
4:16
11
Trunk
3:57
12
Camaro
3:07
13
Arizona
4:50
Moments Worth Listening For
01Knocked UpThe opening track 'Knocked Up' stretches over seven minutes, anchoring the album's new, patient scale with a slow-building, hypnotic bassline.
02CharmerA series of piercing, high-pitched vocal shrieks defines the abrasive texture of 'Charmer', contrasting sharply with the album's smoother melodic moments.
03On CallThe prominent, driving bassline of 'On Call' provides a clean, rhythmic pulse that pushes the band toward a more polished, stadium-ready sound.
Reviews

How does Because of the Times sound next to the rest of Kings of Leon's catalogue?

Defiant+1.4σ

Defiant saturates this record notably more than the artist's norm.

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