 List Price: $11.98
Lowest Price: $5.64 
Album Description: Limited edition 2004 album from Kings Of Leon featuring the first single 'The Bucket'. Hand Me Down. Having released a debut album that you can safely say was well received (the NME described it as, 'one of the best debut albums of the last ten years'), Kings Of Leon have their work cut out to produce a suitable follow-up. Thankfully their sophomore effort, the strangely titled ‘A-Ha Shake Heartbreak’, is more than a match for its illustrious predecessor. Fast paced, lyrically shocking and, rather surprisingly, with added yodelling, ‘A Ha Shake Heartbreak’, is a shoe-in for one of the best albums of 2004. Amazon.com: Nomadic Southern evangelist Leon Followill may take soap suds to the mouths of the kinfolk wunderkinds--his three sons and a nephew--in Tennessee quartet Kings of Leon, whose second album spins enough cuss phrases and sexual allusions to leave Dolly Parton flushed. But the peculiar 20-something longhairs also fuel up on a filthy shotgun bass and relentless guitar riffs, complementing the delightfully discordant drawl of vocalist Caleb Followill to whittle a 35-minute grab bag of garage rock, English blues, sixties psychedelia, London Calling-ska, spaced-out country waltzes and front-porch, red-state revelry. Without revising its 2003 debut Youth & Young Manhood, producer Ethan Johns (The Jayhawks, Ray LaMontagne) steers the band down a similar mischievous road, integrating poles-apart rhythms and techniques into an energized jumble of rotating tempos and lyrical bombshells. Putting faith in earth-shakers like "Velvet Snow" and "Pistol Of Fire," the wound down and pleasing "Milk" and its yodeling cousin "Day Old Blues," the Kings ultimately escape Preacher Leon’s retribution, rendering him speechless--save for a simple "amen." --Scott Holter Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-06-09
Excellent
This cd is great! Had one before, but got lost in the move or something. Came to Amazon to find it and I did for a fraction of the price. Mint condition and Excellent! Rating:
Date: 2008-05-05
They are all good, but this is the best...
Ok, this being the second KOL release it has a lot to live up to. But it does so and admirably. KOL is one of the first bands in recent memory to have that "Southern sound" that is both fresh and place-centric. The first album was amazing even through its use of simple chords and straight forward arrangements. I loved it. Aha Shake Heartbreak still respects its Southern roots and rock and roll sensibility, but it is certainly more mature. Both musically and lyrically.
As an after-the-fact-review, I must admit I also own the third album and listen to it frequently. I like it, but not as much as the first two. If you are a fan (or perhaps even if not) get it too. But this is the best. I look forward to the next release and hope KOL keeps growing and putting out some of the best current American rock-and-roll.
Rating: 
Date: 2008-03-08
Almost a Perfect Album
I heard about Kings of Leon in 2004 when the single "The Bucket" was released. I have to admit I wasn't a fan at first, but the song grew on me and I decided to purchase the album. Each and every song on the album, but one, is absolutely terrific and demands repeat listens.
From the get go on "Slow Night, So Long" the musical creativity just flows from the speakers. The lyrics are not overly inspriring but still memorable enough to sing along with. The better songs on the album would have to be "Taper Jean Girl", "The Bucket" & "Pistol of Fire".
The reasoning that this album does not warrant the five star rating is due to one horrible song. The fifth track, "Milk" is absolutely treacherous. Absent is any real substance other than the occasional gallup drum and bass line that is rather subpar compared to the rest of the work. The vocal arrangement on the track is strained and is just plain wretched.
Other than one mishap on the recording, this is an album that many people will purchase and listen to hundreds, if not, thousands of times. The constant complaining about not being able to add it to an iPOD is absolute rubbish, as well. Anyone with a half-way decent opperating system and understands how to use it will have absolutely no problem adding. Purchase the album and add 11 of the best songs you'll ever listen to your iPOD today, you won't be disappointed. Rating: 
Date: 2008-01-31
Decent album
The boys have created a decent album, with a few memorable tunes and other that won't grab your attention, unless you're into quirky lyrics without restrictions and into southern USA & its implications. Rating:
Date: 2008-01-25
KoL ROCK.
Seriously,
Everyone on this site who reviewed this album based on the copyright issues on the CD should be drawn and quartered. If you don't know what that means - well, that's prolly why you're reviewing a CD based on the plastic and encryption - not the BEAUTIFUL contents of the lyrics, melodies, and ROCK. This album WILL stand the test of time. Just superb amounts of complexity, eclectic variety of riffs mixed in with who the hell knows what. That's what made Radiohead, Led Zeppelin, and a VERY few select others so great - as are THE KINGS. Long live this band.
QUIT BITCHING ABOUT COPYRIGHTS, and learn how to rip music onto your comptuer.... friggin dolts. |
