Aha Shake Heartbreak Explained

Aha Shake Heartbreak
Type:studio
Artist:Kings of Leon
Cover:Ahashake.jpg
Border:yes
Released:November 1, 2004
Recorded:April – June 2004
Studio:Three Crows (Los Angeles)
Genre:
Length:35:01
Label:RCA
Producer:
Prev Title:Youth & Young Manhood
Prev Year:2003
Next Title:Day Old Belgian Blues
Next Year:2006

Aha Shake Heartbreak is the second studio album by American rock band Kings of Leon. It was first released in Europe on November 1, 2004, then in the United States on February 22, 2005, with alternate cover artwork. It is the only album by Kings of Leon to have a Parental Advisory label, because of profanity in "Taper Jean Girl," "Rememo," "Soft" and "Four Kicks." The U.S. album cover is reminiscent of Queen's A Night at the Opera.

"The Bucket", "Four Kicks" and "King of the Rodeo" were released as singles in the UK.

Recording

Like its predecessor, Aha Shake Heartbreak was recorded with producer Ethan Johns at his Three Crows Studio in Los Angeles using The Beatles' old Abbey Road mixing desk.

Title and artwork

The title of the album comes from the third track, "Taper Jean Girl."

There were two different covers for the album: the original UK/Ireland version of the album featured a white orchid on a black background, whereas the later U.S. version featured a different kind of orchid on a white background. The releases of the album with a white orchid on the cover contain bonus track "Where Nobody Knows." On compact disc, both versions of the artwork include a picture of the band as children hidden underneath the plastic tray that holds the disc.

Reception

At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted mean rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 74, based on 31 reviews, which indicates it received "generally favorable reviews".[4] Rolling Stone listed it as the 39th best album of its decade,[5] and it was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[6]

The band's popularity spiked in Australia during the weeks of September 22 and 29, 2008, when all four of their studio albums were in the top 50 on the charts. At that point, Aha Shake Heartbreak reached at its highest position yet, number 25, and attained Platinum sales. It was certified 2× Platinum in Australia on January 12, 2009.

The album has sold more than 910,000 copies worldwide.

Track listing

All songs written by Kings of Leon (Caleb Followill, Nathan Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill) unless otherwise noted.

Singles

Personnel

Kings of Leon

Charts and certifications

Year-end charts

Chart (2004)Position
UK Albums (OCC)[8] 91
Chart (2005)Position
UK Albums (OCC)[9] 153
Chart (2008)Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[10] 81
UK Albums (OCC)[11] 174
Chart (2009)Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[12] 99
UK Albums (OCC)[13] 143

Certifications

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Palathingal . George . November 21, 2013 . Kings of Leon had the sex but it was not on fire . February 28, 2023 . The Sydney Morning Herald.
  2. Web site: Lifton . Dave . April 3, 2017 . 10 Years Ago: Kings of Leon Move Past Southern Rock With 'Because of the Times' . February 28, 2023 . Diffuser.fm.
  3. Web site: Browne . David . February 21, 2005 . Aha Shake Heartbreak . February 28, 2023 . Entertainment Weekly.
  4. Web site: Metacritic profile – Aha Shake Heartbreak. Metacritic. November 29, 2010.
  5. Introducing Rolling Stone's 100 Best Albums of the 2000s | Music News . Rolling Stone . 2011-07-19 . November 3, 2011.
  6. Book: Robert Dimery. Michael Lydon. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. 7 February 2006. Universe. 0-7893-1371-5.
  7. Web site: Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 4 November 2004 . . August 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116163444/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240002&arch=t&lyr=2004&year=2004&week=45 . dead . November 16, 2016.
  8. Web site: End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2004. Official Charts Company. September 7, 2020.
  9. Web site: The Official UK Albums Chart 2005. UKChartsPlus. September 7, 2020.
  10. Web site: ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2008. Australian Recording Industry Association. September 7, 2020.
  11. Web site: 2008 Year-End UK Charts. Chart Plus. The Official Charts Company. September 7, 2020.
  12. Web site: ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2009. Australian Recording Industry Association. September 7, 2020.
  13. Web site: Charts Plus Year end 2009. Charts Plus. September 7, 2020.