Aha Shake Heartbreak

Aha Shake Heartbreak
Studio album by Kings of Leon
Released	November 1, 2004 (UK) February 22, 2005 (U.S.)
Recorded	April–June 2004 at Three Crows Studio, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Southern rock, post-punk, garage rock, indie rock
Length	37:36
Label	RCA, HandMeDown Records
Producer	Ethan Johns and Angelo
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link The Guardian link Mojo Nov 2004, p116 NME (8/10) link Pitchfork Media (4.9/10) link Prefix Magazine (7/10) link Rolling Stone link Stylus Magazine (B+) link XFM (favourable) link
Kings of Leon chronology
Youth and Young Manhood (2003) Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004) Day Old Belgian Blues (2006)
Alternate cover
US cover

Aha Shake Heartbreak is the second album released by the southern American rock band Kings of Leon. It was released in November 2004 in the UK and February 2005 in the US. Although the band have never had a huge following, the album was met with critical acclaim and was widely appreciated among Kings of Leon fans. Notable songs include "Milk", an acoustic track accentuating Caleb Followill's vocals, "King of the Rodeo", which high-lights the twin guitar playing, and the Latin-style coda to the opening track "Slow Night, So Long". When speaking about the album, the band remarked "if Youth and Young Manhood was the party, Aha Shake Heartbreak is hangover." "The Bucket", "Four Kicks" and "King of the Rodeo" were released as singles in the UK. The original version of the album featured a white background and an orchid, the second featured a black cover with a different kind of orchid. The second also contained the bonus track "Where Nobody Knows", and on both albums the flower is positioned in a suggestively sexual position. The title of the album comes from the third track, "Taper Jean Girl". There is also a photo, hidden underneath the white plastic of the second black cover, of the band as children.

Track listing

All songs were written by Caleb Followill, Nathan Followill, Jared Followill and Matthew Followill.

1. "Slow Night, So Long" – 3:54
2. "King of the Rodeo" – 2:25
3. "Taper Jean Girl" – 3:05
4. "Pistol of Fire" – 2:20
5. "Milk" – 4:00
6. "The Bucket" – 2:55
7. "Soft" – 2:59
8. "Razz" – 2:15
9. "Day Old Blues" – 3:32
10. "Four Kicks" – 2:09
11. "Velvet Snow" – 2:10
12. "Rememo" – 3:20
13. "Where Nobody Knows" (bonus track on UK edition only) – 2:23

Like its predecessor, Aha Shake Heartbreak was recorded with producer Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Ben Kweller) at his 3 Crows studio in Los Angeles using the Beatles' old Abbey Road mixing desk. Once again, the band's longtime mentor, noted songwriter/producer Angelo Petraglia, made additional co-production contributions. The tracks were cut completely live with no overdubs.

Singles

• "The Bucket"
  • Released: October 25 2004
  • Chart positions:
    #16 (UK Singles Chart)
    #23 (US Modern Rock)
    #28 (Irish Singles Chart)
• "Four Kicks"
  • Released: January 17 2005
  • Chart positions:
    #24 (UK Singles Chart)
    #28 (Irish Singles Chart)
• "King of the Rodeo"
  • Released: April 11 2005
  • Chart positions: #41 (UK Singles Chart)