'Youth and Young Manhood'

The Kings of Leon had the unusual circumstance that they were an American band that was entirely more popular in England.

Their first album -- Youth and Young Manhood -- is actually quite good. At the time, it was kind of a Southern gothic take on the garage/indie rock scene busting out at the time.

Even the band had this mystique: A family (brothers, a cousin) brought up in the southern Pentecostal world playing rock music together. This is how cults start.

Anyway, this album peaked at 113 in the United States and three in the United Kingdom. As they released more and more records, the bigger they got in England and, seemingly, the less popular they got in the United States. By their third album, they were not challenging anyone with their music. It was bordering on radio pop until their last album really burst on the scene and made them mega-rock stars in the United States.

I kind of can't stand them now. It's one thing for their sound to change and for me not to like the new direction. However, these guys are the epitome of a group of sell outs. They are quoted quite frankly that they wanted to be big in the United States and were forced to change their sound to achieve this. I don't begrudge the opportunity to make a buck. And I hope I'm not begrudged the opportunity to not like you.