There’s music that fills silence, and then there’s music that feeds the deepest cravings of your soul. The kind that makes you want to turn the volume up to eleven, roll the windows down, and get lost in a guitar riff that you feel somewhere deep in your chest. For me, Kings of Leon is the latter recently.
Somewhere between the alternative rock anthems and the songs that make you want to take the long way home to have more listening time, Kings of Leon has found its way onto my radar. And honestly, I’m not complaining.
Typically, I get annoyed when the music I like becomes mainstream. Not because I think I’m nonchalant and niche or something (Kings of Leon is like the tip of the iceberg for the 2000s alternative scene), but rather because there’s something about discovering a band on your own that makes it feel like it’s yours. You create your distinct memories and connections with the songs, and for that reason they begin to hold a special place in your heart. Then, these songs start showing up everywhere (thanks, TikTok) and suddenly everyone claims to be a fan. Maybe that’s a bit selfish of me, but I like having music that feels like it’s mine, something I can come back to without feeling like the rest of the world has caught on. And in the case of Kings of Leon, I’m finding that keeping good music to yourself isn’t necessarily the easiest thing to do.
But enough with my internal problem with gatekeeping music, LARPers, and the like. If I’m going to talk about the Kings of Leon, it’s only fair to share the songs that got me hooked in the first place. In no particular order (or perhaps just a little bit of order), here are my top five Kings of Leon songs.
5.) “Beach Side”
“Beach Side” is track eight on the 2010 album Come Around Sundown. There’s something about the bass that makes the entire song feel like summer. It has this laid-back, coastal feel that makes you want to roll down those windows and go on a drive with no intended destination. I think that this song in particular encapsulates the entire album’s indie feel perfectly. There’s an effortless, almost unpolished quality to it that gives the music character. It doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard to be anything more than what it is, and that’s what makes it sound so good.
4.) “Sex on Fire“
Basic, I know. But it would be absolutely illegal to list the top Kings of Leon songs and not champion this one. Besides, maturing is realizing that the most popular songs are usually so for a reason. “Sex on Fire” is the third track off of their breakthrough album Only by The Night, released in 2008. From nightclubs, to sporting events, to late-night jam sessions in the car, this song has found its way into every setting imaginable. From that intense opening riff to Caleb Followill’s hearty vocals, the song builds into a chorus that feels just as electric as it did almost two decades ago. It’s one of those songs that reserves the right to be blasted at full volume, anywhere and everywhere. The one thing that sticks with me particularly is the way Caleb builds up to the chorus. There’s something almost desperate in the way he belts “You” to kick it off, and from there he just pours his entire soul into every word. The raw emotion is what makes the song feel so electric. As I write each paragraph for each song, I keep the track playing on repeat to feel the emotion and get the brain juices flowing. For the record, it feels like torture to not stand up and scream this song in the middle of the college library. It feels nearly impossible to not sing along, and that’s what makes it such a staple of the alternative rock scene: it doesn’t matter where you hear it or who’s listening. For three minutes and twenty-four seconds, everyone knows the words.
3.) “Molly’s Chambers“
“Molly’s Chambers” came out in 2003 as part of the band’s debut album Youth and Young Manhood. The song starts out with this kicking drum beat paired with a prominent, driving bass line on the lowest string. It has this punk sound to it, making it the ultimate hype up song. There’s an almost restless energy to this song that makes it impossible to sit through. It’s rough around the edges in only the best way, with a driving rhythm that feels like it belongs in a packed basement venue or a dive bar rather than a polished stadium. “Molly’s Chambers” captures that raw, garage-rock side of Kings of Leon that made them stand out originally. That song captures exactly what I imagine it was like to be alive in the late nineties-early 2000s. It’s the kind of song I want to put on before a workout, a night out, or pretty much any occasion that calls for an unnecessary amount of confidence.
2.) “Temple“
What’s a top-five list without a sweet little love song? “Temple” is track five on the 2013 album Mechanical Bull. The central line (“I’d take one in the temple, I’d take one for you”) uses “temple” as a reference to the vital spot on the side of the head, meaning the narrator is willing to take a bullet for someone they care about. Lines like “I just want to be noticed” highlight a human craving for attention, validation, and emotional reciprocation from a partner. How stinkin’ cute! The guitar has this looping, almost hypnotic quality to it, while Caleb’s vocals glide over the instrumental in a way that makes the song feel effortless. The melody of the song feels like what I picture falling in love to sound like, which is what makes it so appealing. There’s something so nostalgic about it too, like the soundtrack to a memory that you have yet to make. It’s romantic, but not overly sentimental, and that balance is what makes “Temple” such an easy song to fall for.
1. ) “Revelry“
We dive back into Only By The Night to experience an intense emotional gut punch. If I could inject any song into my bloodstream, it’d undoubtedly be this one. There’s something so incredibly bittersweet about “Revelry” that makes it stand out among Kings of Leon’s biggest hits. Caleb Followill wrote the track to express deep regret over losing a meaningful relationship because of his own lifestyle and immaturity. He explicitly admits, “even though it was me who drove us right in the ground.” Just stab me in the heart. The lyrics mention, “the demon in me was a best friend from the start,” personifying his self-destructive habits, inner demons, and affinity for partying that ultimately sabotaged the romance. Um, ouch. Sometimes instrumentals speak just as much as lyrics. The melody sounds like looking into the heart of a campfire on a cold night, immediately after letting go of something or someone you love. This song captures a deep sadness that you just can’t put your finger on, yet it offers an unexpected comfort.
This list was incredibly difficult to make, as all devoted music listeners know that a good band doesn’t have five true best songs. There are usually far too many to choose from. Here are some honorable mentions: “Wait for me” (would’ve made the list if it weren’t for its recent resurgence on TikTok), “Notion,” “Use Somebody” (duh), “On Call,” and “Work on Me.” I could seriously write an individual article about all of these songs, but I won’t keep you here all day. I leave you with this — go listen to Only By the Night in its entirety, preferably on a late night. And if you end up becoming a Kings of Leon fan, just know that I was here first.