Because of the Times
A photo of a lightbulb that is about to break
Studio album by
Kings of Leon
ReleasedApril 2, 2007
Recorded2006
Studio
Genre
Length51:33
LabelRCA
Producer
Kings of Leon chronology
Day Old Belgian Blues
(2006) 		Because of the Times
(2007) 		Only by the Night
(2008)
Singles from Because of the Times
  1. "On Call"
    Released: March 26, 2007
  2. "Fans"
    Released: July 9, 2007
  3. "Charmer"
    Released: October 29, 2007
Alternate cover
United Kingdom editions

Because of the Times is the third studio album by American rock band Kings of Leon. It was released on April 2, 2007, in the United Kingdom and the next day in the United States.[8] The album received generally positive reviews and appeared in numerous Top-10 lists for "Album of the Year".[9] In 2009, Clash named the album number 3 on the "Clash Essential 50", a list of the most important albums released since the magazine's inception in 2004.[10]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic79/100[11]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
The A.V. ClubA−[12]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[13]
The Guardian[14]
The Independent[15]
NME8/10[16]
Pitchfork5.4/10[17]
Q[18]
Rolling Stone[19]
Spin[20]

Writing for NME, Barry Nicolson said the album "cements Kings Of Leon as one of the great American bands of our times".[16] Entertainment Weekly called Because of the Times "an epic wide-screen movie of a CD and the band's best to date."[21] Another reviewer described Because of the Times as "an accomplished album of unbelievable beauty and familiar, loveable grit. Kings of Leon is maturing wonderfully and with patience, not forcing anything musically or lyrically that doesn't sound natural."[22]

Some critics found the album inferior to the band's previous efforts.[23] Dave Hood of Artrocker gave the album one star out of five, finding that "Kings of Leon are experimenting, learning, and getting a bit lost."[24] Pitchfork contended that "Because of the Times sound[s] suspiciously like a counterattack on womankind, launched from somewhere in the mid-1990s, deep inside a bruised, stadium-sized ego."[17]

The album was ranked #6 on NME's list of the best albums of the year and #31 on Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2007 list.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Kings of Leon

No.TitleLength
1."Knocked Up"7:10
2."Charmer"2:56
3."On Call"3:21
4."McFearless"3:09
5."Black Thumbnail"4:00
6."My Party"4:10
7."True Love Way"4:02
8."Ragoo"3:00
9."Fans"3:35
10."The Runner"4:16
11."Trunk"3:57
12."Camaro"3:09
13."Arizona"4:50
US iTunes, Japanese and deluxe edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
14."My Third House"4:03
UK iTunes bonus track
No.TitleLength
14."On Call" (AOL Music Sessions)3:21

Personnel

Charts and certifications

Certifications

Sales certifications for Because of the Times
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[47] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Belgium (BEA)[48] Gold 25,000*
Germany (BVMI)[49] Gold 100,000^
Ireland (IRMA)[50] 3× Platinum 45,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[51] Platinum 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] 3× Platinum 900,000‡
United States — 226,000[53][page needed]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b Cooley, Joshua (January 9, 2022). "10 Almost Perfect Alternative Rock Albums". WhatCulture. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  2. ^ Baird, Robert (March 9, 2007). "Recording of March 2007: Because of the Times". Stereophile. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Wormwood, Vladimir (April 2, 2007). "Kings of Leon: Because of the Times". PopMatters. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  4. ^ Keefe, Jonathan (April 15, 2007). "Review: Kings of Leon, Because of the Times". Slant. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  5. ^ "Kings of Leon Because of the times". AOTY. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  6. ^ Wohlmacher, John (March 8, 2021). "Album Review: Kings of Leon - When You See Yourself". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Collar, Matt. "Because of the Times – Kings of Leon". AllMusic. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  8. ^ Wormwood, Vladmir (April 2, 2017). "Kings of Leon: Because of the Times". PopMatters. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  9. ^ "Because Of The Times Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  10. ^ "Clash Essential 50 – Number 3 | Clash Music Exclusive Best of Clash". Clashmusic.com. 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  11. ^ "Reviews for Because Of The Times by Kings of Leon". Metacritic. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  12. ^ Murray, Noel (April 3, 2007). "Kings Of Leon: Because Of The Times". The A.V. Club. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  13. ^ Collis, Clark (March 30, 2007). "Because of the Times". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 17, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  14. ^ Cooper, Leonie (March 30, 2007). "Kings of Leon, Because of the Times". The Guardian. London. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  15. ^ Gill, Andy (March 23, 2007). "Kings of Leon: Because of the Times (RCA)". The Independent. London.
  16. ^ a b Nicolson, Barry (April 4, 2007). "Kings Of Leon: Because Of The Times". NME. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  17. ^ a b Strew, Roque (April 5, 2007). "Kings of Leon: Because of the Times". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  18. ^ "Kings of Leon: Because of the Times". Q (250): 119. May 2007.
  19. ^ Sheffield, Rob (March 21, 2007). "Because Of The Times". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  20. ^ Beaujon, Andrew (April 2007). "Dharma Bums". Spin. 23 (4): 95. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  21. ^ Collis, Clark. "Because of the Times". Entertainment Weekly, March 30, 2007. Retrieved on February 05, 2008.
  22. ^ Harper, Alana.""Because of the Times"". Archived from the original on 2008-05-05. Retrieved 2009-02-08.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) . Okayplayer.com, 2007. Retrieved on February 05, 2008.
  23. ^ "Kings of Leon – Because of the Times – Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 2010-02-02. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  24. ^ "Reviews | Slash The Seats". Artrocker.com. Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  25. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Kings Of Leon – Because Of The Times". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  26. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Kings Of Leon – Because Of The Times" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  27. ^ "Ultratop.be – Kings Of Leon – Because Of The Times" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  28. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Kings Of Leon – Because Of The Times". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  29. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kings Of Leon – Because Of The Times" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  30. ^ "Lescharts.com – Kings Of Leon – Because Of The Times". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  31. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kings Of Leon – Because Of The Times" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  32. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Kings Of Leon". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  33. ^ "Charts.nz – Kings Of Leon – Because Of The Times". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  34. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  35. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Kings Of Leon – Because Of The Times". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  36. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  37. ^ "Kings Of Leon Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  38. ^ "Kings Of Leon Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  39. ^ "ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2007". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  40. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2007". Ultratop. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  41. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 2007". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  42. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2007". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  43. ^ "ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2008". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  44. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2008". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  45. ^ "ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2009". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  46. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2009". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  47. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  48. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2009". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  49. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Kings of Leon; 'Because of the Times')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  50. ^ "The Irish Charts - 2007 Certification Awards - Multi Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  51. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Kings of Leon – Because of the Times". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  52. ^ "British album certifications – Kings of Leon – Because of the Times". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  53. ^ Followill, Nathan (21 February 2009). "Kings of the Road". Billboard: 22.
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