I actually think Reasons Unknown in the most Hot Fuss song in the whole album:thinking: Maybe its just me?

Pomp and Significance, Tempered by a Twerpy Side

 

 

After graduation, life can get complicated. When the Killers performed on Tuesday night at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, they were a band caught between two personas that might be described as high-school and sophomoric: self-mocking versus earnest, self-obsessed versus lofty. Brandon Flowers, the Killers’ lead singer, wore a silvery suit that proclaimed him a showman and performed under a sign proclaiming the title of the band’s new album, “Sam’s Town,” surrounded by the little triangular flags seen at the opening of used-car dealerships. But he was making a show of sincerity.

 

The Killers’ 2004 debut album, “Hot Fuss,” sold three million copies by plunging into the torments of high-school romance, particularly the way it can feel devastating and absurd at the same time. Like high schoolers, the Killers — Mr. Flowers is now 25 — tried on others’ styles. Although the band is from Las Vegas, it was drawn to the shameless artifice of British glam, new wave and the grander Britpop that followed it; with borrowed sounds, the Killers tapped into the gawky self-consciousness, the mixed yearning and irony, of adolescents grappling with grand passions.

 

“Sam’s Town” (Island), strives to address a much wider world — a hometown, family memories, even the nature of America. It cranks up guitars instead of synthesizers and sets aside any second thoughts. Along with the Cure and David Bowie, now the Killers’ models are U2, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen and, for pop underpinnings, the Cars. The lyrics strive for significance and mostly succumb to clichés: “Higher and higher, we’re gonna take it/Down to the wire, we’re gonna make it,” Mr. Flowers sang in “Bling (Confession of a King).” With his voice rising to try and sound heroic, he was like Bono recast as a twerp.

 

But his twerpy side is the promising one. With a sound that hints at doubts and insecurities — the sound that the new songs suppress — Mr. Flowers can temper the music’s pomp, lending the songs some depth. When the set began, it seemed that the Killers were going to play “Sam’s Town” from start to finish, but they knew better and split their 75-minute performance about evenly between the two albums. That had Mr. Flowers ricocheting between guises as mixed-up kid and American bard, and mostly falling back on the competence of the music.

 

The Killers have learned their pop mechanics well: the pealing guitar lines, the big crescendos. Fans were singing along on all the older songs and some of the new ones, too. It’s not that the songs aren’t catchy; it’s just that their sources are painfully obvious. Midway through the set, the Killers played their most knowing anthem: “Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll,” which sets lyrics about the low-budget realm of indie-rock to an old-fashioned arena-rock buildup. It’s the Killers’ reminder to itself of how easily grandiosity can turn into parody.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/26/arts/music/26kill.html

I actually think Reasons Unknown in the most Hot Fuss song in the whole album:thinking: Maybe its just me?

 

I thought "Read My Mind" was more like Hot Fuss than anything, though "For Reason's Unknown" [sic?] is pretty reminiscent, too.

I was listening to the album again today on my way home from having dinner, and I had to prevent myself from starting to sing and dance on the street :P I got goosebumps with most songs, like For Reasons Unknown, Bling, My List, Sam's Town.. What a brilliant album!

 

I hated it in the beginning but now I can't stop listening to it! It's one of those albums you appreciate more and more with each time you listen to it.

i wouldve picked sams town, uncle johnny, reasons unknown and bling for the singles i think those would be great radio play i loke the song bones but i dont think people would get it to be honest but i love the cd all together

I hated it in the beginning but now I can't stop listening to it! It's one of those albums you appreciate more and more with each time you listen to it.

Same here. I think at first you're expecting to hear Hot Fuss all over again, and when you get these different songs it kinda throws you off. But the more you listen the more you love it. That was my experience with it, anyway. Now I totally adore Sam's Town and I completely get what they were trying to do with it. I think it's brilliant.

 

It's funny because the first reviews from the U.S. were not so good, but the reviews from Europe were much better. And now it seems like there's a "second wave" of reviews from the U.S. that are pretty good. I think more people are realizing that this album is gorgeous. :heart: Fuck the critics. :P

^ Well, if I'd have to write a critic after listening to the album just once, I'd probably slag it off as well :P

Critics get more publicity if they get a bad review, simple as that.

 

I figured as soon as I bought it that it would be a grower, and Bones has done just that. It turned me off the first listen or two, but now I find myself singing "Don't you wanna come with me, don't you wanna feel my bones..."

 

Such a fantastic song.

 

And the Burton video is fun. It's sort of a cheesy 80's video with (surprise) lots of skeletons. I won't say much more other than that Ronnie Vanucci still has a drummer's face even as a skeleton.

^ Well' date=' if I'd have to write a critic after listening to the album just once, I'd probably slag it off as well :P[/quote']

 

Exactly :heart:

So, they played Vegoose the other day...

 

any word on how that went?

^^ I was wondering about that too.:thinking:

 

OMG, I might, might go see them in mexico city!! But I'm not sure yet, I told my dad and he said I could go but I wont belive it till I have the ticket in my hand. And a way to get there because its kind of a long way from where I live. But I'm so excited I had to tell someone!! :dance: *prays*

Good luck...if you do go, you should tel us about it...try to get backstage and all...;)

Wooooo! I got a ticket!!!

 

I just have to figure out how I'm going to get there, lol, but at least I got a ticket! :dance: :dance: I'm so happy! I just hope nothing goes wrong, 'cause I have such bad luck when it comes to concerts. I gotta think positive! :D

 

I'll totally try and get backstage;) l

Great!!! Sure you'll have a great time!! I'll be seeing them in January for the Big Day Out festival here in Australia...still havent decided yet whether to buy a ticket for their own side show...we'll see....anyway so when is the concert for you Wendy?

The concert is december 13, I'm so glad I'm on vacations on that time. I'm so excited! God, I must be crazy to be doing something like this, so not like me to go to a different city far away just to see a band! :lol:

Thats so cool you're doing that though!!! It will be even more fun going away I reckon...so you going with a few friends?

Actually I'm going by myself to the concert:uhoh:(my friends don't like them that much) but I do have family there, so I'm going to visit them and get to know the city. It is going to be so much fun!! :dance:

excellent...you will have the best time!!! make sure you come back with reports!

Thanks Carole!. I'll bring back all the detalis :D

Oh wow. Now I'm jealous. You get to go to the big city and explore it, PLUS see the Killers whilst doing so.

 

Argh, if I could be so lucky. I got to see a little bit of another city when I saw Coldplay, but it wasn't a great city...

 

Enjoy it for all of us, though!

Does anyone have the song Daddy's Eyes that they can upload? It's the B-side to the new single Bones. I can't seem to find it anywhere. Thanks in advance.

I have the same problem! I can't find Daddy's Eyes anywhere. I remember coming across the song on You Tube and really liking it, but now I can't find the vid that had the song. Ugh! If anyone has the song please pm me! thanx

Actually I'm going by myself to the concert:uhoh:(my friends don't like them that much) but I do have family there' date=' so I'm going to visit them and get to know the city. It is going to be so much fun!! :dance:[/quote']

 

You're basically going to have the best time ever. I went to both of their opening dates in Los Angeles and it was amazing! They're such nice guys.

 

I can pretty much play Sam's Town straight through without skipping a song, I love this album.

 

*edit: I didn't notice your avatar til now... VERY nice : )

Hi everyone ...it's the first time i post here ...

 

i love the killers a lot ...their last album rocks !

 

hope there are a lot of fans here :)

Sam's Town

 

 

 

They appeared as if from nowhere (the cultural wasteland that is Las Vegas) to became the brightest young things of 2005. Their irrepressible songs that nicked the best of Duran Duran, New Order, Depeche Mode and vintage U2 became so ubiquitous that their signature lyrics “I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier” even infiltrated Robbie Willams’ Live8 set.

 

Some bands cope with such early success by repeating the formula, recording a difficult fuck you album to kill off the fan base, or just imploding. But these four boys from Sin City did the only thing they know how: go bigger. In every way. The songs, as a result of singer Brandon Flowers’ newfound obsession with Bruce Springsteen, are bolder, more epic. The music sounds sweeping and massive, courtesy of the only producer to have worked with both U2 and Depeche Mode. Even the album artwork, by the photographer behind U2’s ‘The Joshua Tree’ cover and most of Depeche Mode’s sleeves, is more brazen.

 

On ‘Sam’s Town’, the band are going in for the kill. And they’re clearly not afraid to reveal their intended victim: the biggest band in the world today (aka U2, if you fell asleep during the previous paragraph).

 

So the clinically addictive first single ‘When You Were Young’, apart from featuring another iconic Flowers line: “He doesn’t look a thing like Jesus”, sounds even more like Bono and co than Chris Martin and Coldplay could ever hope to. Just listen to that guitar — if imitation is the greatest form of flattery, The Edge must be justifiably chuffed.

 

But, similarities aside, the big, bright, glossy song is a killer — and an excellent introduction to an album that just keeps on coming. A journey of sorts, bookended by an intentionally hokey “enterlude” and “exitlude”, it’s the musical equivalent of driving a big American convertible down one of those straight desert roads from the movies. With the top down, and the wind blowing in your hair.

 

The pedal-to-the-metal title track, with Flowers’ machine gun vocals losing the affected English accent he once favoured, is effectively a warning to buckle up — you’re in for one helluva ride. The keyboard and synth heavy ‘Bling (Confessions Of A King)’ may start off as a ballad, but by the time it reaches the prerequisite Big Chorus you can almost see the packed stadium crowds with their fists in the air. “It’s not so bad,” Flowers repeats throughout. Damn right, man.

 

‘For Reasons Unknown’ again begins tentatively before kicking into gear, the simplest and most direct track on an album that’s more complex, less instant than their debut. Songs like the comfortable, effortless ‘Read My Mind’ and the slow march of ‘My List’ take a while to reveal their charm. And ‘Bones’, with its blend of gospel and ‘Born To Run’ era Springsteen (check out that saxophone and trombone backing), initially seems like a potholed stretch on that straight desert road. But then no trip is complete without a couple of detours.

 

Or a bit of roadkill. Less gritty than grating, jarring rather than jagged, the plodding ‘Uncle Jonny’ gets the Clunker of the Album award for desperately trying (and failing) to capture a garagey sound that really doesn’t suit them. Like Elvis trying to pull off a glittering jumpsuit.

 

The suitably raging ‘This River Is Wild’, with the biggest chorus this side of ‘When You Were Young’, gets the trip back on track though — a glorious epic that truly shows how the subtlety and oh-so-British irony of their debut has disappeared off the map.

 

But the new destination The Killers take you is so much better. It’s ‘Sam’s Town’ or bust.

 

http://entertainment.iafrica.com/music/latest/417838.htm