Musical Thesis: Kings of Leon "WALLS"
At the center of every album is a musical thesis. For Kings of Leon and their album, “Walls,” the thesis feels more introspective than anything they have ever created before. The first thing to bubble to the surface is this idea of a love that fades away. It was this point that really made me dig deep, search, and question. Do all relationships have an expiration date? Is everything that begins built to also end? How do you give of yourself so completely only to see it all fade away? The thought of these questions scared me, but they also inspired me to work harder for the relationships I so deeply cherish.
Standing in the misery of a relationship ending, the album allows another idea to rise and that is the thought of allowing yourself to crumble in these situations. In these moments, we let our guard down. We become human, real, and authentic. Sure, we make less than the best decisions in these moments, but we also allow ourselves to be recreated as something new and whole. What stands on the other side of the fall is wonderful, if you can make it there.
Finally, this album spends a little time discussing this notion of stabbing westward. Call it “Manifest Destiny” or you can call it our explorer’s heart. Whatever it is, we’ve long been obsessed with the American West. We’ve headed in this direction for wide open spaces, solitude, and escape. Here, Kings of Leon turns the idea on its head and begs the opposite question. What if you want to feel protected, surrounded, and found? What if life has come crashing down and the last thing in this world you need is to be alone? When is it time to return home? When should the walls fall?
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
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