Soaring to new heights or a band hitting turbulance?
'Kings of Leon' have shared an abundance of success since forming in 1999.
Five albums and a documentary later its easy to see why they have vastly become one of the worlds favourite rock bands to date. However, as I am about to explore, new documentary 'Talihina Sky' may have been a stumbling block against an otherwise arguably flawless existence.
The bands debut album 'Youth and Young Manhood' (2003) was groundbreaking this side of the atlantic, giving them huge success in the UK. Follow up album 'Aha Shake Heartbreak' (2004-05) saw the Followills gain accolade from some of their rock peers. Touring in 2005-2006 with Bob Dylan, an opportunity not taken lightly by the Followills holding him as a hero and inspiration of the band. They also went on to support nations favourite Pearl Jam during the same period on the South Pacific leg of their world tour.
'Kings' first number one in the UK came with the release of their third album 'Because Of The Times' (2006-07). Although some reviews were far from flattering it still shifted over 70,000 copies in its first week.'Only By The Night' (2008-2009) arguably the bands most commercial album to date saw them gain long awaited recognition by their native, America. With debatably a slightly more watered down radio friendly sound, singles 'Sex On Fire' and 'Use Somebody' propelled the album to new levels of success across the globe. Giving the band a broader appeal that stemmed from air time on prime time radio stations.
The bands latest album 'Come Around Sundown' (2010-2011) saw this seemingly unstoppable force of rock and roll gain more reward with a Grammy nomination for best rock song in 2011 for 'Radioactive'.
After all the success obtained through these albums comes Kings Of Leon's latest venture, the homely titled documentary 'Talihina Sky'. It centres on the band's up bringing, family and friends all of which seemingly shaped the four twenty and thirty somethings into the group we know today.
Even with a relatively acceptable running time of 1:23:06 it feels like more of an endurance test rather than a trip behind the scenes. Choosing to focus mainly on their roots it would have been more bearable had it included more live, studio or touring footage. Instead the viewer is subdued to home videos and interviews with family and friends. What starts as an interesting insight into their religious roots and humble upbringing in Albion, Oklahoma seemingly appears to be filler material opposed to the anticipated footage of the years of sex, drugs and rock and roll that made this notorious foursome irresistible to UK music magazine headlines and the behaviour which made them the adopted sons of the UK's rock scene.
Director Stephen C.Mitchell was there from the beginning, handing brothers Nathan and Caleb their first song writing deal whilst working on music publishing in Nashville. Admitting that the early footage of the band forming in their garage with brother Jared and cousin Matthew along with early tour and gig footage was "lost or stolen" they had to dive into the archives and recover footage the lads had taken themselves. Being brought up in the 'home video atmosphere' they took to the camera with ease, however the footage is much to be desired.
'Talihina Sky' is not one of KOL's best achievements, and after much anticipation it is rather disappointing it's not the portrayal of one of the worlds biggest bands that we expected or wanted. This won't signal a decent from the summit of chart rock, however it will trigger an expectant, possibly impatient reaction from fans waiting for a highly anticipated NEW project, hopefully, worthy of its hype.
