Now their new album is out and the title track is playing ad-nauseam here in LA. Not only have Kings of Leon sold out there musical style for more of an arena rock, TRL friendly format but the lyrics are mystifying. 

The track is called Sex On Fire and the chorus goes like this:

Is this a warning? Is this a compliment? Is this a double entendre? I think it sounds horrifyingly painful. It could be a nod to deadpan humor.

Ben: oh....oh god. Carl Help! oh god why!?!  

It may also be a damning accusation thrown towards someone who is has loose morals. Possibly inferring the accused has an STD.

Whatever the meaning is it's obvious what they are saying: That Rock&Roll continues to be dead and only vapid percussion accompanied with esoteric vocals persists to feed the masses. If you have no idea what I'm talking about just wait. The cancerous pop culture tumor will ooze it's way across the mid west and fester in the east coast soon enough.

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I recently had the opportunity to be behind the scenes at a taping of a popular sitcom on network TV. I was handed a script and a pink wristband and got to pal around and observe the crew and staff do there work. The show is shot in the old style of multi-camera. Think of I Love Lucy or Friends and then compare that to The Office or Chuck. The latter are single camera shows. The difference is that multi-cam are shot in front of a studio audience almost exclusively on a sound stage. Whereas a show like Scrubs is done on location and on a sound stage with no audience.

If Multi-cam seems like an outdated and marginalized style of television then let me throw a figure in your face. Two And A Half Men (CBS) consistently gets more viewers than The Office (NBC). Sound incredible? I thought it did to considering Men is my least favorite sitcom on TV besides Till Death and Hannah Montana.

The problem is that single camera shows have benefited from genre bending shows like Scrubs and The Office (U.K.) In short they are original and creative unlike stuffy old rehash multi-cam.

But I don't understand why. Having the audience right there while the actors are working and the writers agonizing in the corner made for an energetic taping. If a joke falls flat, the writers flock to the director and pitch new lines. If a joke works then the audience blows up in laughter and the actors get the rush of approval which they crave. It seems like a melting pot of good jokes and great acting; on the fly focus groups.

Alas that's not the case. I'm flabbergasted as to why although I think the problem lies with the higher ups. 

~

To hell with Kings of Leon. Feast your ears on "Popplagi" by Sigur Ros. It's over 11 minutes long but the crescendo it builds to is amazing. Feast your senses on Heroes if you have not already. And wallow in the debauchery of enjoying a good meal with friends.