Kings of Leon have made their new album Mechanical Bull available to stream on iTunes ahead of its September 24 release date. The 13-track LP is the follow-up to 2010′s Come Around Sundown, and can be heard now on iTunes.
“I pretty much checked out for that record,” Followill told Rolling Stone, adding that he was ‘pissed’ at his bandmates for publicly criticizing him after leaving the stage during a gig in Dallas, Texas in June 2011. The tour was cancelled shortly thereafter, and rumors of alcoholism swirled, which Followill vehemently denies.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Followill described the band’s evolution over the years.
“This is our sixth record, so we kinda know,” he explained. “But you notice the little things, like someone tapping their foot or people whistling a melody in the studio all day. You have little signs. But for the most part we had to go back to the drawing board and say, “Do we continue this song or do we stop this one and do something else?” Lucky for us we were all in the same headspace, and taking that break allowed us to fall back in love with what we get to do for a living. We did what we’ve known to do for 12 years, which was pick up our instruments and play.”
“We’d go in every day and play stuff we were into, and it was interesting hearing what people were into. There are a couple songs that could be considered country ballads, even though they’re not country songs. One song has more of a Queens of the Stone Age feel. Another one sounds more like Sly and the Family Stone. It’s all across the board.”
Pick up Mechanical Bull now at the band’s official site.
