{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Because of the Times | type = studio | artist = Kings of Leon | cover = BOTT.jpg | alt = A photo of a lightbulb that is about to break | released = April 2, 2007 | recorded = 2006 | studio = * Blackbird (Berry Hill, Tennessee) * Sunset Sound (Hollywood, California) | genre = * Alternative rock<ref name="WC">{{Cite web |last=Cooley |first=Joshua |date=January 9, 2022 |title=10 Almost Perfect Alternative Rock Albums |url=https://whatculture.com/music/10-almost-perfect-alternative-rock-albums?page=3 |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=WhatCulture}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Baird |first=Robert |date=March 9, 2007 |title=Recording of March 2007: Because of the Times |url=https://www.stereophile.com/recordingofthemonth/307rotm/index.html |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=Stereophile}}</ref> * southern rock<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wormwood |first=Vladimir |date=April 2, 2007 |title=Kings of Leon: Because of the Times |url=https://www.popmatters.com/kings-of-leon-because-of-the-times-2496171786.html |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=PopMatters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Keefe |first=Jonathan |date=April 15, 2007 |title=Review: Kings of Leon, Because of the Times |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/kings-of-leon-because-of-the-times/ |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=Slant}}</ref> * garage rock revival<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baird |first=Robert |date=March 9, 2007 |title=Recording of March 2007: Because of the Times |url=https://www.stereophile.com/recordingofthemonth/307rotm/index.html |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=Stereophile}}</ref> * post-punk revival<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wohlmacher |first=John |date=March 8, 2021 |title=Album Review: Kings of Leon - When You See Yourself |url=https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself/ |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=Beats Per Minute}}</ref><ref name="AllMusic"/> * pop rock<ref name="WC"/> * progressive rock<ref name="AllMusic"/> | length = 51:33 | label = RCA | producer = * Ethan Johns * Angelo Petraglia | prev_title = Day Old Belgian Blues | prev_year = 2006 | next_title = Only by the Night | next_year = 2008 | misc = {{Singles | name = Because of the Times | type = studio | single1 = On Call | single1date = March 26, 2007 | single2 = Fans | single2date = July 9, 2007 | single3 = Charmer | single3date = October 29, 2007 }} {{Extra album cover | header = Alternate cover | type = studio | cover = KOL-Because_of_the_Times_UK.JPG | border = | alt = | caption = 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/review/kings-of-leon-because-of-the-times/ |title=Kings of Leon: Because of the Times |work=PopMatters |date=April 2, 2017 |access-date=July 10, 2017 |author=Wormwood, Vladmir}}</ref> The album received generally positive reviews and appeared in numerous Top-10 lists for "Album of the Year".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/kingsofleon/becauseofthetimes?q=Kings%20of%20Leon |title=Because Of The Times Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic |publisher=Metacritic.com |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=2008-02-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215064801/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/kingsofleon/becauseofthetimes?q=kings%20of%20leon |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/clash-essential-50-number-3 |title=Clash Essential 50 – Number 3 | Clash Music Exclusive Best of Clash |publisher=Clashmusic.com |date=2009-04-22 |access-date=2012-01-15}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Music ratings | MC = 79/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/because-of-the-times/kings-of-leon |title=Reviews for Because Of The Times by Kings of Leon |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=December 28, 2015}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/because-of-the-times-mw0000478745 |title=Because of the Times – Kings of Leon |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=December 28, 2015 |last=Collar |first=Matt}}</ref> | rev2 = ''The A.V. Club'' | rev2score = A−<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/review/kings-of-leon-embecause-of-the-timesem-7898 |title=Kings Of Leon: Because Of The Times |work=The A.V. Club |date=April 3, 2007 |access-date=December 28, 2015 |last=Murray |first=Noel}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Entertainment Weekly'' | rev3score = A−<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2007/03/30/because-times |title=Because of the Times |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 30, 2007 |access-date=December 28, 2015 |last=Collis |first=Clark |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117143203/http://www.ew.com/article/2007/03/30/because-times |archive-date=January 17, 2016}}</ref> | rev4 = ''The Guardian'' | rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/mar/30/popandrock.shopping1 |title=Kings of Leon, Because of the Times |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=March 30, 2007 |access-date=December 28, 2015 |last=Cooper |first=Leonie}}</ref> | rev5 = ''The Independent'' | rev5score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Kings of Leon: Because of the Times (RCA) |work=The Independent |location=London |date=March 23, 2007 |last=Gill |first=Andy}}</ref> | rev6 = ''NME'' | rev6score = 8/10<ref name="nme">{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/8372 |title=Kings Of Leon: Because Of The Times |journal=NME |date=April 4, 2007 |access-date=January 15, 2012 |last=Nicolson |first=Barry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054255/http://www.nme.com/reviews/8372 |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> | rev7 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev7score = 5.4/10<ref name="pitchfork">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10072-because-of-the-times/ |title=Kings of Leon: Because of the Times |work=Pitchfork |date=April 5, 2007 |access-date=June 13, 2012 |last=Strew |first=Roque}}</ref> | rev8 = ''Q'' | rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=Kings of Leon: Because of the Times |journal=Q |issue=250 |date=May 2007 |page=119}}</ref> | rev9 = ''Rolling Stone'' | rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/because-of-the-times-20070321 |title=Because Of The Times |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 21, 2007 |access-date=December 28, 2015 |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield}}</ref> | rev10 = ''Spin'' | rev10score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AuTSBJnG06YC&pg=PA95 |title=Dharma Bums |journal=Spin |volume=23 |issue=4 |date=April 2007 |access-date=December 28, 2015 |last=Beaujon |first=Andrew |page=95}}</ref> }} Writing for ''NME'', Barry Nicolson said the album "cements Kings Of Leon as one of the great American bands of our times".<ref name="nme"/> ''Entertainment Weekly'' called ''Because of the Times'' "an epic wide-screen movie of a CD and the band's best to date."<ref>Collis, Clark. "[https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,20016440,00.html Because of the Times]{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}". ''Entertainment Weekly'', March 30, 2007. Retrieved on February 05, 2008.</ref> 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."<ref>Harper, Alana.{{cite web|url=http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/index.php/weblog/more/because_of_the_times/ |title="Because of the Times" |access-date=2009-02-08 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505062050/http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/index.php/weblog/more/because_of_the_times/ |archive-date=2008-05-05 }} . Okayplayer.com, 2007. Retrieved on February 05, 2008.</ref>
Some critics found the album inferior to the band's previous efforts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/kings-of-leon/because-of-the-times.htm |title=Kings of Leon – Because of the Times – Review |publisher=Stylus Magazine |access-date=2012-01-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202011710/http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/kings-of-leon/because-of-the-times.htm |archive-date=2010-02-02 }}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://artrocker.com/reviews/kings-of-leon-because-of-the-times |title=Reviews | Slash The Seats |publisher=Artrocker.com |access-date=2012-01-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807024131/http://www.artrocker.com/reviews/kings-of-leon-because-of-the-times |archive-date=2011-08-07 }}</ref> ''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."<ref name="pitchfork"/>
The album was ranked No. 6 on ''NME''{{'}}s list of the best albums of the year and No. 31 on ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s Top 50 Albums of 2007 list.
==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = Kings of Leon | title1 = Knocked Up | length1 = 7:10 | title2 = Charmer | length2 = 2:56 | title3 = On Call | length3 = 3:21 | title4 = McFearless | length4 = 3:09 | title5 = Black Thumbnail | length5 = 4:00 | title6 = My Party | length6 = 4:10 | title7 = True Love Way | length7 = 4:02 | title8 = Ragoo | length8 = 3:00 | title9 = Fans | length9 = 3:35 | title10 = The Runner | length10 = 4:16 | title11 = Trunk | length11 = 3:57 | title12 = Camaro | length12 = 3:09 | title13 = Arizona | length13 = 4:50 | total_length = 51:33 }} {{Track listing | headline = US iTunes, Japanese and deluxe edition bonus track | title14 = My Third House | length14 = 4:03 }} {{Track listing | headline = UK iTunes bonus track | title14 = On Call | note14 = AOL Music Sessions | length14 = 3:21 }}
==Personnel== * Caleb Followill – guitar, vocals * Matthew Followill – guitar, backing vocals * Jared Followill – bass guitar, backing vocals * Nathan Followill – drums, backing vocals
==Charts and certifications== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2007) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Australia|4|artist=Kings Of Leon|album=Because Of The Times|rowheader=true|access-date=September 19, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Austria|35|artist=Kings Of Leon|album=Because Of The Times|rowheader=true|access-date=September 19, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Flanders|20|artist=Kings Of Leon|album=Because Of The Times|rowheader=true|access-date=September 19, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Denmark|39|artist=Kings Of Leon|album=Because Of The Times|rowheader=true|access-date=September 19, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|62|artist=Kings Of Leon|album=Because Of The Times|rowheader=true|access-date=September 19, 2020}} |- {{album chart|France|88|artist=Kings Of Leon|album=Because Of The Times|rowheader=true|access-date=September 19, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Germany|32|id=54770|artist=Kings Of Leon|album=Because Of The Times|rowheader=true|access-date=September 19, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Ireland2|1|artist=Kings Of Leon|rowheader=true|access-date=September 19, 2020}} |- {{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Kings Of Leon|album=Because Of The Times|rowheader=true|access-date=September 19, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Scotland|2|date=20070414|rowheader=true|access-date=September 19, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Switzerland|86|artist=Kings Of Leon|album=Because Of The Times|rowheader=true|access-date=September 19, 2020}} |- {{album chart|UK2|1|date=20070414|rowheader=true|access-date=September 19, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|25|artist=Kings Of Leon|rowheader=true|access-date=September 19, 2020}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRock|4|artist=Kings Of Leon|rowheader=true|access-date=September 19, 2020}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2007) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2007/albums-chart|title=ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2007|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=September 19, 2020}}</ref> | 46 |- ! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2007&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2007|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=September 19, 2020}}</ref> | 99 |- ! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/2007-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 2007|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=September 19, 2020}}</ref> | 25 |- ! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20070107/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2007|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=September 19, 2020}}</ref> | 31 |} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2008) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2008/albums-chart|title=ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2008|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=September 19, 2020}}</ref> | 46 |- ! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20080106/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2008|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=September 19, 2020}}</ref> | 66 |} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2009) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2009/albums-chart|title=ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2009|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=September 19, 2020}}</ref> | 83 |- ! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20090104/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2009|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=September 19, 2020}}</ref> | 90 |} {{col-end}}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Sales certifications for ''Because of the Times''}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=2007|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=2009|access-date=24 October 2020}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=2007|relmonth=4|region=Belgium|award=Gold|certyear=2009|certmonth=2|access-date=24 October 2020}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=2007|region=Germany|award=Gold|artist=Kings of Leon|title=Because of the Times|access-date=24 October 2020}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=2007|region=Ireland|award=Platinum|number=3|certyear=2007|artist=Kings of Leon|title=Because of the Times|access-date=24 October 2020}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|relyear=2007|title=Because of the Times|artist=Kings of Leon|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|source=radioscope|certyear=2020|access-date=January 24, 2025}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=2007|certyear=2015|certmonth=12|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|number=3|artist=Kings of Leon|title=Because of the Times|access-date=24 October 2020|id=761-878-2}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|nocert=yes|salesamount=226,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Nathan|last=Followill|title=Kings of the Road|magazine=Billboard|date=21 February 2009|page=22}}</ref>{{page needed|date=June 2023}} }} {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
{{Kings of Leon}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2007 albums Category:Kings of Leon albums Category:RCA Records albums Category:Albums produced by Ethan Johns Category:Albums recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders