When You See Yourself

{{Infobox album

| name = When You See Yourself

| type = studio

| cover = Kings of Leon - When You See Yourself.png

| alt =

| released = {{start date|2021|03|05}}

| recorded = 2019

| studio = Blackbird (Nashville){{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2021/01/07/kings-of-leon-new-album-when-you-see-yourself-watch-the-bandit-video-listen-100000-people|title=Kings of Leon Announce New Album 'When You See Yourself'|publisher=DIY|date=January 7, 2021|accessdate=March 5, 2021|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20210305225829/https://diymag.com/2021/01/07/kings-of-leon-new-album-when-you-see-yourself-watch-the-bandit-video-listen-100000-people|archivedate=March 5, 2021|url-status=live}}

| genre =

Indie rock
post-punk revival{{Cite web |date=April 11, 2021 |title=Wait A Minute! This Isn't Metal! - March 2021 |url=https://metalstorm.net/pub/article.php?article_id=2175 |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=Metal Storm |author=RaduP}}
Southern rock

| length = 51:26

| label = RCA

| producer = Markus Dravs

| prev_title = Walls

| prev_year = 2016

| next_title = Can We Please Have Fun

| next_year = 2024

| misc = {{Singles

| name = When You See Yourself

| type = studio

| single1 = The Bandit" / "100,000 People

| single1date = January 7, 2021

| single2 = Echoing

| single2date = February 11, 2021

| single3 = Stormy Weather

| single3date = March 5, 2021

}}

When You See Yourself is the eighth studio album by American rock band Kings of Leon. It was released on March 5, 2021, by RCA Records. The album was produced by Markus Dravs.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/kings-of-leon-announce-long-awaited-new-album-when-you-see-yourself-2851754|title=Kings Of Leon announce long-awaited new album 'When You See Yourself'|work=NME|last=Daly|first=Rhian|date=January 7, 2021|access-date=March 4, 2021}} It was preceded by the singles "The Bandit" and "100,000 People", both released on January 7, 2021. It was the band's first album in over four years, following 2016's Walls, marking their longest gap between studio album releases as well as their final release under RCA, before becoming an independent band in 2023.

Release and promotion

On March 31, 2020, the band released a live acoustic recording of its first new song in more than three years, "Going Nowhere"—later renamed "Supermarket"—through YouTube and various social media platforms.{{cite magazine|last=Legaspi|first=Althea|title=Kings of Leon Unveil Black-and-White Video for New Acoustic Song 'Going Nowhere'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kings-of-leon-going-nowhere-song-video-976287/|date=March 31, 2020|access-date=August 29, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305203826/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kings-of-leon-going-nowhere-song-video-976287/|archive-date=March 5, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Lotter|first=Judah Charles|title=Kings of Leon drop new song 'Going Nowhere' after 3 years, promote social distancing in black-and-white video|url=https://meaww.com/going-nowhere-kings-of-leon-new-single-live-music-video-social-distancing|date=March 31, 2020|access-date=August 29, 2021|website=MEAWW}}

On January 1, 2021, the band teased the song "The Bandit" on Instagram, and subsequently posted five more teasers of new songs. Six days later, the name of the album was announced and saw the release of its two lead singles: "The Bandit" and "100,000 People".{{cite magazine|title=Kings Of Leon announce long-awaited new album 'When You See Yourself'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kings-of-leon-announce-long-awaited-new-album-when-you-see-yourself-2851405|date=January 7, 2021|access-date=August 29, 2021|magazine=NME|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509061554/https://www.nme.com/news/music/kings-of-leon-announce-long-awaited-new-album-when-you-see-yourself-2851405|archive-date=May 9, 2021|url-status=live}} The album itself was released on March 5.{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/news/kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself-album-nft-crypto-1135192/|title=Kings of Leon Will Be the First Band to Release an Album as an NFT|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Hissong|first=Samantha|date=March 3, 2021|access-date=March 4, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303145427/https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/news/kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself-album-nft-crypto-1135192/|archive-date=March 3, 2021}}

The band became the first to sell a newly-released album in the form of a non-fungible token, a type of cryptocurrency that contains unique assets such as music and art. The release came in the form of three different types of tokens for three separate packages in a series called "NFT Yourself". They contained a special album package, a live show package, and an audiovisual package. The tokens were developed and hosted by YellowHeart, a ticketing platform employing blockchain technology. The album was the first NFT to be displayed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |title=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Exhibits Kings of Leon Historic NFT {{!}} Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |url=https://www.rockhall.com/rock-roll-hall-fame-exhibits-kings-leon-historic-nft |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=www.rockhall.com}}

Critical reception

{{Music ratings

| MC = 69/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/when-you-see-yourself/kings-of-leon|title=When You See Yourself by Kings of Leon Reviews and Tracks|website=Metacritic|access-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322013654/https://www.metacritic.com/music/when-you-see-yourself/kings-of-leon|archive-date=March 22, 2021|url-status=live}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/when-you-see-yourself-mw0003468929|title=Kings Of Leon – When You See Yourself|publisher=AllMusic|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=March 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507201450/https://www.allmusic.com/album/when-you-see-yourself-mw0003468929|archive-date=May 7, 2021|url-status=live}}

| rev2 = Clash

| rev2score = 7/10{{cite magazine|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself|title=Kings Of Leon – When You See Yourself|magazine=Clash|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=March 3, 2021|access-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303122405/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself|archive-date=March 3, 2021|url-status=live}}

| rev3 = Classic Rock

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |last=Beaumont |first=Mark |date=March 5, 2021 |title=Kings Of Leon's When You See Yourself is a record of life-worn wisdom, hard times and hope |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/kings-of-leons-when-you-see-yourself-is-a-record-of-life-worn-wisdom-hard-times-and-hope |access-date=February 27, 2023 |website=Classic Rock}}

| rev4 = The Daily Telegraph

| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web |last=McCormick |first=Neil |date=March 4, 2021 |title=Kings of Leon have gone from Sex on Fire to the Travis of Tennessee |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/kings-leon-have-gone-sex-fire-travis-tennessee/ |access-date=February 27, 2023 |website=The Daily Telegraph}}

| rev5 = DIY

| rev5score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://diymag.com/2021/03/04/kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself-album-review|title=Kings of Leon – When You See Yourself {{!}} Reviews|magazine=DIY|last=Wright|first=Lisa|date=March 4, 2021|access-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304130103/https://diymag.com/2021/03/04/kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself-album-review|archive-date=March 4, 2021|url-status=live}}

| rev6 = musicOMH

| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |last=Horton |first=Ross |date=March 5, 2021 |title=Kings Of Leon – When You See Yourself |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself |access-date=February 27, 2023 |website=musicOMH}}

| rev7 = NME

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself-review-2894039|title=Kings of Leon – When You See Yourself {{!}} Reviews|work=NME|last=Kemp|first=Ella|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=March 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416234546/https://www.nme.com/reviews/kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself-review-2894039|archive-date=April 16, 2021|url-status=live}}

| rev8 = Pitchfork

| rev8score = 4.8/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself/|title=Kings of Leon – When You See Yourself {{!}} Reviews|website=Pitchfork|last=Rytlewski|first=Evan|date=March 8, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505190738/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself/|archive-date=May 5, 2021|url-status=live}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite magazine |last=Dolan |first=Jon |date=March 5, 2021 |title=Kings of Leon Create an Arena-Rock of the Mind on 'When You See Yourself' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself-1137451/ |access-date=February 27, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}

| rev10 = The Times

| rev10score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself-review-from-nashville-straight-to-dullsville-rd9rpfhgdreview|title=Kings of Leon – From Nashville Straight To Dullsville|work=The Times|last=Hodgkinson|first=Will|date=March 7, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2021}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

}}

When You See Yourself has received generally positive reviews from critics. On Metacritic, the album has a weighted average score of 69 out of 100 based on 19 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the album "as a continuation of Walls" in a positive review, commenting that "the moody stateliness of When You See Yourself showcases their knack for building melodrama." Robin Murray of Clash praised the record for containing the band's "most tender and honest songwriting for a decade" and giving its fans "a certain intimacy" when they listen to it, writing that, "Subtle in its evolution, Kings Of Leon treat 'When You See Yourself' as a means to re-engage with their early bite, yet remain unwilling to cede their place at rock's top table." Pitchfork contributor Evan Rytlewski wrote that: "On their eighth album, the Followill brothers desperately cling to a sound that has stopped working, trying to write songs that soar but capable only of ones that wallow." Phil Mongredien of The Guardian felt that producer Dravs couldn't make use of the band's "raw material" to get them out of performing "wearyingly featureless mellow country rock", concluding that "this is the sound of a band fresh out of ideas."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/mar/07/kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself-review|title=Kings of Leon – When You See Yourself-Not Much To Look At {{!}} Reviews|newspaper=The Guardian|last=Mongredien|first=Phil|date=March 7, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321141913/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/mar/07/kings-of-leon-when-you-see-yourself-review|archive-date=March 21, 2021|url-status=live}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = When You See Yourself track listing

| total_length = 51:26

| title1 = When You See Yourself, Are You Far Away

| length1 = 5:47

| title2 = The Bandit

| length2 = 4:10

| title3 = 100,000 People

| length3 = 5:44

| title4 = Stormy Weather

| length4 = 3:42

| title5 = A Wave

| length5 = 5:23

| title6 = Golden Restless Age

| length6 = 4:33

| title7 = Time in Disguise

| length7 = 4:45

| title8 = Supermarket

| length8 = 4:58

| title9 = Claire & Eddie

| length9 = 4:52

| title10 = Echoing

| length10 = 3:37

| title11 = Fairytale

| length11 = 3:55

}}

Personnel

Adapted from the booklet of When You See Yourself.{{cite AV media notes|title=When You See Yourself|others=Kings of Leon|year=2021|publisher=RCA|type=booklet|id=19439-74687-2}}

Kings of Leon

Caleb Followill – guitar, vocals
Matthew Followill – guitar, synthesiser {{small|(on "When You See Yourself, Are You Far Away", "100,000 People" and "A Wave")}}, vocals
Jared Followill – bass, acoustic guitar {{small|(on "Supermarket")}}, vocals
Nathan Followill – drums, percussion, vocals

Additional musicians

Timothy Deaux – background vocals {{small|(on "Supermarket" and "The Bandit")}}
Liam O'Neil – piano, organ {{small|(on "Echoing")}}, mellotron {{small|(on "Fairytale")}}, acoustic guitar {{small|(on "Supermarket")}}, background vocals {{small|(on "A Wave")}}

Production

Markus Dravs – production
Iain Berryman – engineering
Sean Badum – assistant engineer
Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
Matt Wolach – assistant mix engineer
Ted Jensen – mastering {{small|(Sterling Sound)}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row" \| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA){{cite web\|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/10s/\|title=2021 10-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)\|language=lt\|publisher=AGATA\|date=March 12, 2021\|access-date=July 2, 2021}} \| 11
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Weekly chart performance for When You See Yourself ! scope="col"\| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
{{album chart\|Australia\|1\|artist=Kings of Leon\|album=When You See Yourself\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 13, 2021}}
{{album chart\|Austria\|1\|artist=Kings of Leon\|album=When You See Yourself\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 17, 2021}}
{{album chart\|Flanders\|3\|artist=Kings of Leon\|album=When You See Yourself\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 13, 2021}}
{{album chart\|Wallonia\|6\|artist=Kings of Leon\|album=When You See Yourself\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 13, 2021}}
{{album chart\|BillboardCanada\|6\|artist=Kings of Leon\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 16, 2021}}
{{album chart\|Czech\|70\|date=202110\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 15, 2021}}
{{album chart\|Denmark\|32\|artist=Kings of Leon\|album=When You See Yourself\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 17, 2021}}
{{album chart\|Netherlands\|2\|artist=Kings of Leon\|album=When You See Yourself\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 13, 2021}}
{{album chart\|Germany4\|4\|id=471135\|artist=Kings of Leon\|album=When You See Yourself\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 12, 2021}}
{{album chart\|Ireland3\|1\|date=20210312\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 12, 2021}}
{{album chart\|Italy\|32\|artist=Kings of Leon\|album=When You See Yourself\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 13, 2021}}
{{album chart\|New Zealand\|2\|artist=Kings of Leon\|album=When You See Yourself\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 13, 2021}}
{{album chart\|Poland\|7\|id=1350\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 18, 2021}}
{{album chart\|Portugal\|2\|artist=Kings of Leon\|album=When You See Yourself\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 24, 2021}}
{{album chart\|Scotland\|1\|date=20210312\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 13, 2021}}
scope="row"\| Swedish Vinyl Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{Cite web\|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/216?dspy=2021&dspp=10\|title=Veckolista Vinyl, vecka 10\|language=sv\|publisher=Sverigetopplistan\|access-date=April 18, 2021}} \| 9
{{album chart\|Switzerland\|3\|artist=Kings of Leon\|album=When You See Yourself\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 14, 2021}}
{{album chart\|UK2\|1\|date=20210312\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 13, 2021}}
{{album chart\|Billboard200\|11\|artist=Kings of Leon\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 16, 2021}}
{{album chart\|BillboardAlternative\|2\|artist=Kings of Leon\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 16, 2021}}
{{album chart\|BillboardRock\|2\|artist=Kings of Leon\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 16, 2021}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Year-end chart performance for When You See Yourself ! scope="col"\| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-rock-albums/\|title=Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2021\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=December 8, 2021}} \| 95

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Year-end chart performance for When You See Yourself

! scope="col"| Chart (2021)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-rock-albums/|title=Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 8, 2021}}

| 95

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for When You See Yourself}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=When You See Yourself|artist=Kings of Leon|type=album|award=Silver|certyear=2023|access-date=June 9, 2023|relyear=2021|id=19045-878-2}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true | noshipments=true | streaming=true}}

References

Category:2021 albums

Category:Kings of Leon albums

Category:RCA Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Markus Dravs