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The Killers -
- Can you call “Day & Age”, the new album by the Killers, the best of both worlds? It does blend the 80s-inspired rhythms of their 2004 debut “Hot Fuss” and the arena-rock sound of follow-up album “Sam’s Town”. But is it really the “best”?
It’s so close to being a seamless mix of tunes, but it stumbles towards the end. Everything about the Killers is there. Singer Brandon Flowers’s breathy, yet strong vocals are apparent throughout. The lyrics that could have a meaning, but don’t have to because the beat of the song is so good that it makes the lyrics not so important. If anything, the album is very Vegas. It’s sexy and mysterious, yet raw at the same time.
“Day & Age” begins on an upbeat start. “Losing Touch” has a very sultry sound, with lyrics like “Fill your crown with rumors/Impending doom, it must be true”. Then the album hits a good stride, with back-to-back singles “Human” and “Spaceman”. The tracks are strong and have the familiar Killers synth-beat. It’s a definite crowd-pleaser as they’ve played these songs live in concert.
“Joyride” is definitely a Vegas track with an almost 70s swagger to it. It sounds like it could have been playing on the Sin City strip decades ago, with mayhem going on around it. The lyrics offer these clues: “Stranded on the freeway burning with desire/She was on the sidewalk looking for a night light”. It’s a surprise to see hear a song like this from the band, and it’s a very welcome shock.
“A Dustland Fairytale” is also a little Vegas-inspired. A desert romance that follows a “slick chrome American prince” and a “Cinderella in a party dress” is soft and melodic and calms you after the energy of the previous four songs.
Then the album falters with “I Can’t Stay”, which doesn’t really belong on an album with such glittering rock. It’s makes you want to dance, but not rock out. “Goodnight Travel Well” travels, but very slowly. There are points in the song when the beat could pick up, but it just goes on for almost seven minutes. The exception to the last five songs on the album is “Neon Tiger”. “Strategize to maim you, but don’t let them tame you/You’re far too pure and bold” Flowers sings over a serene, soulful beat that works perfectly with the lyrics.
“Day & Age” will satisfy fans of the Killers because it’s a unique mix of sounds and thought-provoking lyrics. It isn’t strong, but smart trumps strong in this battle.
Reviewer: Jill Marino
new
Reviewer's Rating: 7
Reader's Rating: 0
Reader's Votes: 0
Added: 26-Nov-2008
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