At the end of every year folks like to make their “best of” lists, so I figured why I shouldn’t join in on the festivities. But, I figured I’ll keep things simple with the best album of 2008.

This honor would go to Kings of Leon’s Only By The Night.

I’ve been a casual fan of KOL since their 2003 debut Youth & Young Manhood. Over the years I’ve watched them gain mild success, but for the most part, they were one of those bands that no one had really heard of, at least here in the States.

One of my favorite bands out there right now just self-released a new album.

Through their own Abstract Dragon imprint, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has digitally released a collection of ten “instrumental/ambient” tracks entitled The Effects of 333. You can purchase the album through the band’s website for $6. You’ll also get a poem to download, which is hidden in one of the tracks, and an acoustic version of “Too Real”.

Here’s the tracklisting:

“The Effects of 333″
“Still No Answer”
“I Know You’re in There”
“And With This Comes”
“A Sad State”
“A Twisted State”
“Sedated With Sterilized Tongues”
“We’re Not Welcome Alone”
“Or Needed”
“And When Was Better”

I’ve been listening to the new Kings of Leon album a lot lately. If you don’t already have a copy then you should go out right now and pick one up. Only By The Night is fucking awesome. Period.

Anyways, as I’ve been listening to KOL, I’ve been thinking about their current success. I mean how did a garage band from Tennessee go on to become Madison Square Garden headliners in five years?

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