Kings of Leon ‘AMERICANS DON’T APPRECIATE DECENT MUSIC’

Two words. Porcupine Tree.

"You have kids going to shows to see the bands, not going to a show to be seen there."

This is so true. It's with any music styling that isn't pop these days... people are just there to say they are there.

I agree that mainstream music is not any good. But I've listened to KoL since their first EP and I hate the new album so the fact that now with a sh** album their on MTV music awards, or whatever it was, looks like they are the sh**. He seems like a douche for saying that, though. But, I do agree that our (american) pop culture has too much love for the teen acts and teen entertainment in general. His comments make me not want to listen to them.

I agree with that statement, but I don't think Mr. Followill should be putting his simplistic, over-produced band on a pedestal. He's llucky to have a lead singer with such a unique voice, otherwise he'd probably be playing in a garage band, holding a regular job like everyone else.

I blame it on all the focus grouping that the radio corporation does. They just want to sell ad space.

I'm giving Kings of Leon a listen. I don't think it's my cup a tea. It sounds like the commercial adult rock you hear on MTV every now and then.

I'd rather listen to Dr. Dog, The Sonics, The Beatles, Classical music, Jazz or even The Killers than KoL. Does that make me low on taste level?

I see the dismal state of mainstream american music, but you, sir, Mr. Followill are still a douche bag for saying what you said.

you've got to understand that that they are an american band who started off with very little success in the states. Much like Jimi Hendrix, they went overseas to the UK and found the audience there much more receptive to their music. As for his comment about US mainstream music, i couldn't agree more. The radio is filled with club bangers, catchy kids songs and repetitive hooks. Even the rock stations play the same tired pop-punk songs over and over again. There is one station in San Diego called FM94/9, which does not really follow this monotonous format. As a matter of fact KoL played their summer show a few years back.

Maybe only British wankers like Kings of Leon because they only play British wanker music.

Just because you don't do well in America doesn't mean all Americans have bad taste in music. Get a clue.

Interesting and rather brave statement. This attitude usually doesn't sit well with the U.S. public.

I personally like KOL a lot and I'm about 20yrs older than their demographic. I really don't agree with their estimation. Yes, the Jonas Bros get much of the press but that's just the junk they play up on morning shows and prime time T.V. Real shows such as SNL and the latenight talk shows showcase acts such as KOL.

Europeans have always had an edge on the U.S. with an air of sophistication. Whether that translates to Americans having no taste...well I think that's a bit harsh - but true in some cases.

On a side note, I will say our hip-hop is much better minus the mainstream Gucci Man Rick Ross crap! We have The Roots, Madlib, Mos Def....hell I'll even throw Kanye and Kid Cudi in there...they are on the air all the time but they have talent.

I have to say the music over there is better than what we have over here....but only slightly because we do play some crap on the radios here.

Oh yeah for the reference

http://cdn.buzznet.com/media-cdn/jj1/headlines/2009/04/kings-of-leon-rolling-sto...

Kings of Leon, you guys are on the cover of rolling stone citing "The rise of America's hottest band"

Also Booze Swilling, and god fearing?

Man that shit sucks. Americans does have terrible shit taste in music, when you turn on the radio and hear some dumb as Linkin Park, followed by Gucci Mane(who I'm really fucking convinced is mentally retarded,and so are his fans).

There is no clear way of telling good music based on what it sounds like, pass obviously bad beats, and bad vocals, can you really say who sounds better between Beyonce and Jeniffer Hudson? Fuck no, and why? Because they are both pretty good singers, who singing will always come down to the fans subjective opinions.

But come on here we can all agree, that Radiohead>>>>>Fall Out Boy, and their both on my iPod as of now. Now who would dispute this?

Who would dispute this Fall Out Boy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Radiohead, Someone here is gonna come down, get mad and fucking because they think they have good taste in music. And by the standards of some music slob magazine or website, popular consensus of better says Radiohead trumps Fall Out Boy in every way.

Now let's say Gucci Mane>>>>>>>>>>>>>Jay-Z? Who the hell is going to dispute. Gucci Mane's popularity is clearly over Jay-Z's now. So who's better.

I want honest answers to these question.
Yes the internet is in front of us now, and since I stopped really watching TV, I've felt smarter. But the internet generation isn't taking this good.

They don't know good music, they want it easy, so it's easier to go by whats popular and be better intergrated with ur friends, then amongst your self. Indie music isn't popular because lets face it.... Music snobs influence is dead, conscious Hip-Hop isn't popular for the same reason.

Oh ya, well http://www.youhavebadtasteinmusic.com/

I love good music and can appreciate some pretty strange and out there stuff....
what I'm getting at is KoL should try a little harder and play something completely different.... and not sucking generally goes hand in hand with success...um, yeah

I agree that the US music scene is currently overrun by kiddy pop. However, if you are not listening to good music it is your own fault. There are a lot of good indie bands out there (and the kings of leon are not one of them).

I honestly think the kings of leon are contributing to the same thing that they are complaining about. They are a bunch of talentless hacks who pump out formulaic songs to be sold to, big surprise, TEENAGERS! They are just as reliant on 14 year olds spending their allowance on their music as the jobos are.

Sorry about the rant. I just really hate this band and all of the d bags in it.

i do agree with them it amazes me what passes for good music these days

Yes, 97% of all mainstream music sucks, but simply because an artist or band is indie, doesn't intrinsically make said artist or band good, e.g. Kings of Leon, i.e. they suck.

There's a reason it's called Pop music. It's what's popular. If you go into the music business you should know that things like Miley Cyrus and Jonas Brothers are going to get more airplay. If rock were more popular, it would be called pop music. Duh...simple.

Side note: I like Kings of Leon and Hannah Montana. Just saying.

Listen to The Mars Volta.

I hope Britney Spears takes a dump on his lawn.

He's right about the radio comment. A lot of people do listen to crap. The generalization still bugs me though.

The Kings of Leon must be right. C'mon guys, the UK did give us the Spice Girls.

In an ideal America where only great music made the charts, the Kings of Leon wouldn't even be able to say "Kings of Leon" and "Billboard" in the same sentence without getting a firm smack across the mouth.

kol need to be more patient

bad music is about to give space to the indie labels and their artist.

its not Americans, its just the mass media telling you what to listen to, boycott tv and radio, find music for yourself, learn about the history of it, its half the fun, and you realize how fucked up pop music is from doing this. it becomes a product. - funny how there is no 'pop' music that isnt popular no?..
its music for people that don't like music or are afraid of listening to new music in my opinion, chewing gum for the ears.

I think either everyone is forgetting or is ignorant to the fact that Radio One started in the UK and is easily the most popular radio station in the world. People over there take music more serious, because thats how its always been. Lots of legends got their start on Radio One, doing live sets that actually still flow around the music community like studio albums. We are talking acts like Eric Clapton, Hendrix, The Beatles, Janice Joplin, Led Zeppelin and so one... Radio One has been around for nearly 50 years and they are still running strong. As a matter of fact, they are probably one of the more diverse stations around right now, ranging from New Day Blue Grass, Modern Rock and electronic music, like their really popular Drum N' Bass show. They just have a lot more culture over there, so when they hear something catchy like KOL and they havent been beat over the head with it, it makes it easier to like it on your own time so therefore people become more openly committed to bands or acts. Admitting you like anything from the radio here in the states is like committing social suicide in some social networks. It also has a lot to do with the way the bands music was presented to us. Our radio stations aren't the best homes for even good bands, because of the amount of "product" lined out with it. Americans aren't repping music or quality, just whatever is comsumable and acceptable in groups, which I guess was the orignal point, right? Stil dont agree with Followell saying what he said though. He shoulld be so lucky..

A number of bands have not succeeded in the US, just as a number of American bands fail in the UK. It's not clear why this is, but it certainly has to do with audiences liking their own bands, especially in the UK where there's an element of pride.

To say that American charts and radio are worse than Britain's is ignorant - they are equally atrocious in general and have about the same amount of good stations.

It's hard to take an accusation like that seriously from someone whose band does poorly Stateside.

The Kings of Leon are a great band. They should be more successful in the US.

another stupid band that thinks music is important...

He's right. Americans need to apprecaite rock bands that sound like they washed up from the early 90's more.

Maybe if it were less expensive to experiment with new music / artists, people would be more willing to move away from their comfort area.

Not to mention the fact that "taste" is a relative term coined by eliteists. (Though I can't say that I'm innocent.) If music makes you happy and doesn't hurt anyone else, it's good music. If you don't like it, don't listen. (A theory I practice with recent KoL songs.) Trying to argue the "quality" of music is a pointless semantic exercise on par with arguing what, if any, is the "one true religion."

I agree with this statement in part.

It is more precise that "Americans don't appreciate decent contemporary rock music". It does not really sound like Nathan Followill is really slamming American music. I think he is just making an observation what popular American music is currently.

To me if his music or any music is good enough on its own merits: it will break through the American pop bubble. I guess that is what KOL wants, to be popular American music.

This is exactly how Lars Ulrich brought Metallica's career as a group to a hault single handedly. As a musician, you really want to try and stay unbias as to who it is spending money on your music in one way or another. Lars spoke out against Napster in the worst way a few years back and since then, Metallica hasn't been the same, because of the things said. Mr. Followell better watch his step, for he just invalidated approximatly 50,000 Americans per show in their next potential tour line-up on account of the fact that they attend the show for the wrong reasons(?). Wow... That is tooooo ballsy. That guy has some onions speaking for the whole band this way. If you think it, fine! Think it, but don't go on record to tell me why it is I buy a ticket to your show. Thats an insult to any American fan and not to mention, how does he know this for sure? It would have been better to say that he or they feel the energy differently in Europe than America and then maybe raise question as to why that might be. Hell... he should have a sit down chat with Tom Yorke and the boys from Radiohead and listen to a little story about a band being hated in their own country. Now that was a crime for the times. They couldn't even sit down and eat in public places for the longest time. Anybody interested in this story should watch "Meeting People is Easy" by Radiohead. Explains everything...

Anyway, I really hate seeing musicians forget that their voice are their music. Even if you don't like the fans, express it in the music and guess what.. the idiots will still buy tickets to your show. Just ask Refused, who are now retired now for similar reasons as well.

Shut your F-ing mouth and play the music and I speak as a drummer, myself.

What an A-hole, jack ass pud-whacker! Makes me glad didn't "jump on the wagon" with everyone else last summer having "Fiery Sex".

Its true. I've liked KoL since their first album many years ago, and then they release this new shitty "Only by the Night" and disregard almost everything that I have liked about them. I then hear in some interview with them (don't remember where) thet they tried to "American-ize" their latest album. WTF I guess you could say thats selling out, but from what I an gather from interviews I have read, they don't like their new album as much as their previous ones, which makes me happy.

When musicians make such statements it makes me wonder what they have on their MP3 Players? Maybe KoL should just go play shows in the U.K. since nobody in America appreciates their music. Be happy you can make a career out of doing something you love instead of blasting America because your not on the radio 24/7. There are tons of musical acts of all genres that are just as good if not better than KoL and would love to have half of the following they do.

This is why we should all support our local musicians. I for one LOVE Eisley from Tyler, TX, The Burden Brothers (Toadies lead singer/songwriter Vaden Todd Lewis and Reverend Horton Heat drummer Taz Bentley), Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights, I could go on and on.

Check out the local scene in your city, there is TONS of great bands there! :)

Most people that aren't musicians have a terrible taste in music, I wouldn't say just americans fall into this category. People that can recognize good music are far and hard to find.

its not that americans have bad taste in music, its that record companies sign idiots, drunks, and reatards. they try and keep us locked up making us believe thats all we have.

This is so true.. there is so much music on the radio that is just crap! Yeah, I listen to it, I sing along, and it entertains me, but I don't consider it good music.

Then there is REAL music out there that doesn't get recognition, but there are people who listen to it, and it's upon them to share it.

I don't find it that big of a deal. Obviously these guys do since they aren't being played on the radio or whatever, but... oh well.

Pretentious musicians. Americans listen to a wide variety of music. It's easy to put oneself on a pedestal and say you have taste, but it doesn't mean shit unless you have listened to everything available. Since that isn't humanly possible, you're just stroking your own ego.

Last time I heard Kings of Leon, it was nothing special.

He’s right. Too bad that Kings of Leon isn’t even nearly to be considered decent music.

This is why WolfMother is not more famous.
I mean they are the first band that I liked 'every' song on there CD.

Also MUSE is a great band, but no one knows them either.

On one hand I agree.
There is almost no good mainstream music in the US.
On the other hand it comes off like... my band is so great but no one has good enough taste to appreciate us. Riiiiiiiight.
Have you listened to your latest album?

I'm not really a fan of KoL, but I couldn't agree more.

There are so many bands I listen to that no one's even heard of here, meanwhile in the UK they have a number one single.