Album Rating: 3.5

I said metaphors on purpose Davey; I was testing you and you avoided my trap.

Well done.

Oh G-unit. Wangsta was a pretty good hit

Album Rating: 3.0

"i don't understand why this isn't just a Killers record, is there a reason behind it? I feel like I'm missing something"



Because Flowers got impatient waiting for the guys who wanted to take a break. Only the drummer plays on a few songs here, so he couldn't really call it a Killers album if The Killers weren't on it.





"I said metaphors on purpose Davey; I was testing you and you avoided my trap. Well done."



I'm a slippery little snake.

When I was 10 and was learning the guitar I learnt a tune called Pink Flamingo...not really relevent but I thought y'all might like to know.

I do like the single from this (although it's getting horrifically overplayed on the radio) so I guess I should probably give it a go? It got 5 stars in the Telegraph!!!

Album Rating: 3.0

5 stars... No way... Not possible.



And thanks for the useless info.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

"The missing ingredient could in fact be Flowers’ three band-mates..."



This. This x 1,000.



I am a huge, huge supporter of Brandon Flowers, but in the end The Killers are great because they're not "Brandon Flowers and The Killers." Every member of the band is absolutely crucial to their success, and so this album is really exactly what I was expecting - pretty good, but not capable of reaching "great" without the other members.



I can definitely see how some could expect this to be incredibly over-the-top and bombastic, but I think this release clearly shows that Brandon Flowers achieves that on tracks like When You Were Young and This River Is Wild because of his band, not despite them.



I can't wait to hear music from The Killers again, but for now this is a pretty good album and about what I was expecting. Good review, I'm sure it would be easy to just blow through reviewing this album without much care so I appreciate your work here.



p.s. I have to respectfully but strongly disagree re:My List. I honestly believe the first 2 minutes of that song are among the very very best in the entire Killers catalogue. His delivery of those 2 verses is just incredible.

Album Rating: 3.0

tflynn, you make really good points re: the band providing the sonic bombast, but considering his lyrics, hot pink leather jackets, lip gloss and general aesthetic in the Hot Fuss era I think we can agree it was primarily directed by Flowers.



I think we just have to agree to disagree on "My List" because, though I like a good demure Killers song, that's not one of them. The best Killer song will forever be "When You Were Young" or "Mr. Brightside" though I'm sure both have considerable backlash due to oversaturation.

Album Rating: 3.0

Yep, very well said tflynn. And your comments re: my review are in turn appreciated.



I don't think there is any doubt that Flowers is the largest piece of The Killers puzzle, but (while they suggest otherwise) I am also certain that there was some disquiet amongst the ranks over the direction/sound of 'Day & Age'... & that played some part in the hiatus... & this album being recorded.



Hopefully, it all plays out for the best & The Killers come back stronger & more focused than ever.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

morrissey: oh I have little doubt Flowers is the one driving the Killers' standard go-for-broke approach, I'm saying I don't think he has the means to convincingly achieve his goals by himself - ie. he provides the ambition, the other three members provide the means to realize that.



daveyboy:Yeah I would definitely attribute the largest slice of the Killers' success to Flowers, but from reading some reviews it seems that a lot of people were under the impression he could have done just as well all these years with just any 3 studio musicians behind him, which is pretty clearly not the case.



I too want to see the Killers release the album of the decade one day, and so I eagerly await their return. I feel like the general lack of sharp criticism for this album is promising for Mr. Flowers and I do hope he will move beyond the "competent material" next time around.

Album Rating: 3.0

We're all agreed then.



Except on 'My List'.

Album Rating: 3.0

If it's any help the album has grown on me and really other than the tired "On the Floor" it's a charming little effort. Musically it's different and quirky in the right ways, as opposed to Day & Age which had this bizarre lounge/latin/disco tug and pull. "Playing with Fire" is a little bit gorgeous too.



Am I the only one getting some vivid Southwestern imagery throughout the album? It's less hamfisted than Sam's Town's preoccupation with Americana, but he seems to find great lyrical resource in cliched imagery.



I know I shouldn't keep comparing it to the Killers.

I am the only...

Album Rating: 3.0

Agreed again Amanda. And my words for "southwestern American feel" were "alt-country" & "gospel drenched".

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

On The Floor is so bad.

Because Flowers got impatient waiting for the guys who wanted to take a break. Only the drummer plays on a few songs here, so he couldn't really call it a Killers album if The Killers weren't on it.

Album Rating: 3.0

"...I feel like the other members of the Killers should feel cheated..."



It would be interesting to know actually what they did think. They may feel that way... Then again, they may feel this album isn't good enough anyway. Who knows.

Yeah, that's very true.

Album Rating: 3.0

I was actually a little surprised the drummer played on some songs on this, because I had the feeling he was most annoyed with 'Day & Age'.

Album Rating: 3.0

Not as bad as I thought it would be. If anything, working with Daniel Lanois will hopefully rub off on Flowers when he reconvenes with the Killers.

Album Rating: 3.0

Yeah, Flowers could probably learn a little from working with all those producers associated with this LP.