Hand over your heart

Why are the Kings of Leon divided by the Atlantic?

From their very first record the Followill brothers have been shunned by US media and critics, struggling to fill even small venues and receiving little attention and plays on the radio and TV. Fans in the UK and Australia can't understand this brutal dismissal of the much-loved brothers, who have headlined large festivals like Glastonbury in the UK and Big Day Out and Falls in Australia.

Here are the scores side by side of some UK and American reviews:
(click the scores for links to the reviews)

Youth & Young Manhood
NME: 9/10                                         Pitchfork: 4.2/10
The Guardian: 5/5                                 Popmatters: 3/10
Uncut: 5/5

Aha Shake Heartbreak
NME: 8/10                                         Pitchfork: 4.9/10
The Guardian: 4/5                                 Tiny Mix Tapes: 0.5/5
Uncut: 2/5

Because of the Times
NME: 8/10                                         Pitchfork: 5.4/10
The Guardian: 4/5                                 Spin: 5/10
The Observer: 5/5                 
Uncut: 4/5

Only by the Night
NME: 7/10                                         Pitchfork: 3.8/10
The Observer: 5/5                                 Popmatters: 2/10
Uncut: 4/5
Baked Not Fried: 3/5

What is it about KOL that polarises listeners and critics? It seems that you either love them or hate them. Is it Caleb's voice, or his lyrics? Is it the attitude the Followills have, is it the comparisons to the Strokes or U2? Whatever it is, I enjoy the music of the Followills, and will continue to do so, regardless of how poppy they push to become (to a point.) Hopefully they can break the US market so they can return to proper form and don't have to waste effort crafting radio hits.

Here are two excellent B-sides, the first from the Only by the Night deluxe version and the second from the Sex on Fire 7". They are only 128 kbps, buy full quality via iTunes here.

Beneath The Surface

Frontier City