Holy Roller Novocaine released on February 18 2003, was the debut EP of the American rock band Kings of Leon.
Holy Roller Novocaine was released a few months before Kings of Leon's debut Youth and Young Manhood hit the shelves, and it garnered significant attention from music critics and music fans alike. The song "Molly's Chambers" even appeared in a Volkswagen Jetta commercial, and the song "Holy Roller Novocaine" is used at the end of the "Playing Tight" episode of The Shield (season 3). The songs range from bluesy sounds to organ-induced ballads. One of the largest factors to their sound is the unpolished way in which they play and record their music, preferring to keep everything basic with minimal overdubs, if any at all. This way of playing would be further explored with their two later albums.
This EP, while not thrusting them into complete stardom, gave them much attention in the music world. Soon they would find multi-platinum success in Europe with their later albums. However, they weren't the same rock stars in the U.S. as they were in Europe, with only a portion of the attention they received overseas translating into success in their homeland.
Holy Roller Novocaine also contains alternate takes of songs found on the follow-up Youth and Young Manhood. The version of Wasted Time is different than the same track off Youth and Young Manhood, with the EP version having a more tense riff and different vocal stylings. California Waiting is also different. The version of California Waiting found on the Holy Roller Novocaine EP was recorded in a rush to finish the record. The band didn't like the outcome, so they wrote a new version, which is found on Youth and Young Manhood. Wicker Chair is also somewhat of a rarity, as it is not found on any later major releases, besides a few singles and the Japanese import of Youth and Young Manhood.
