footyfan asked: Hey i know this is gonna seem crazy but please take the time to read this, best answer will get 5 points now and every time they answer one of my questions guaranteed. I need to give this review in tommorow, but i **** at puncuation and all that, could anyone proof read, again it would be greatly appreciated. Here it is:
The Killers, what with their wacky front man (Brandon Flowers), liking for eyeliner and heavy British influences are, as pop bands go, pretty weird. The kind of guys you would more likely expect to find plying their trade in a freak show, not selling out the 02 arena. But hey, when did appearance mean anything? They can afford to prance about in makeup, and pressed suits, having produced sheer brilliant songs such as “Mr Brightside”, “Somebody told me” and “Read my mind” (to name but a few). As Flowers puts it “It’s part of the show… Vegas is about the show”. From the day they combusted onto the music scene with the galvanic glamour and electrifying exuberance of 2004’s debut album “Hot Fuss”, one thing was clear: they were destined for great heights. The four unlikely men from Las Vegas took the music world by storm, with their awesome lyrics, fun sound and energetic style. The band was instantly propelled sleekly into the big wheel of success. Unfortunately their second album 2006’s “Sam’s Town” did not have quite the same effect. If “Hot Fuss” was the newborn child then “Sam’s Town” was more like the moody teenager. Heavy and cold, it seemed that they had taken a page from Bruce Springsteen’s book, but forgotten to read it. They wanted to connect with people emotionally, like their heroes U2. But after “Hot Fuss” it lacked the colour and vivacity that everyone expected. Don’t get me wrong though, it’s a testament to their ability that it was still an amazing album, the glitz that they lost was, in my opinion definitely made up for in soul. But their previous glamour which had made them so refreshing, so appealing, was gone, it was as though they took themselves too seriously.
So then, what of “Day and Age”? Well, if “Hot Fuss” was the baby and “Sam’s Town” was the teenager, then “Day and Age” is probably alien. After their previous album I don’t think many people could have expected this. The Killers have really redefined the word unique with this one. “Day and Age” is a crazy mix of styles which can only be described as poppish disco rock. It is as though they have poured the energy and charm of their first album into a blender along with the soul and sophistication of their second to produce a giddy and outrageous concoction of oddness. Nevertheless like the band and Flowers himself, it is an odd brilliance. While some of their lyrics are fairly confusing and I can guarantee that on first hearing this album, the more extreme of you may be tempted to throw yourselves in front of a train, please don’t, after listening more closely, it sunk in that it does not matter that the words don’t make sense, because the songs certainly do. This Album, well it’s a grower and the beauty of “Day and Age” is that, unlike a lot of artists no two songs sound the same; each one is varied, some are vintage Killers, others definitely not. In short it is a compelling and mesmerizing album, which is not only one of the best I have heard this year, but maybe, for some it is better than “Hot Fuss”.
The album instantly leaps into life, with the groovy “Losing Touch”, a light, placid song, which to the “naked” ear sounds pretty friendly, but, like “Jenny was a friend of mine” has an underlying darkness. Flowers care freely sings of “impending doom” with saxophones blaring fuzzily in the background while the rising and falling keyboard provides the song with a great melodic sensation. Oddly enough, the sax works well, booming throughout and guitarist Keuning wraps it up nicely with a roaring guitar solo. Ultimately you are torn between whether to pinch yourself or go with the flow, but more to the point, “Losing Touch cleverly sets the tone for the rest of the album. Later on renowned producer Stuart Price makes his presence known with lead single ”Human”. Amazingly though, this tune has induced nearly as much scandal amongst the literary world for its infamous lyrics “Are we human or are we dancer” as it has received attention for the actual song. According to the boffins out there “dancer” should be plural, whatever! I mean really do any of you guys care? So then onto the actual music. Baffling lyrics and grammatical confusion aside, this is the perfect disco song. The divine synth atmosphere brings back memories from “Hot Fuss” and the gentle beat is catchy, the kind of melody which invades your brain. It’s one of those songs that play in your head for days on end, so it is just as well it sounds pretty good. Simple and melancholic, with a great chorus, you can’t help but be “dancer”.
Well if you thought “Human” was good, then wait till you hear their second single, “Spaceman”. Frantically
Frantically paced, upbeat and brimming with energy, it makes for the perfect driving song. After kicking off the album with two pop songs, they go for a bit of rock; with loud crashing drums and lively guitar playing, this may very well be the best on the Album. Unlike a few of the other songs, you fall for this one straight away, after all nothing beats a good old tale of alien abduction. Flowers sings with so much passion and conviction you just have to wonder whether he actually making a confession when he sings of being “ripped from my bed” and explains that “they took my blood type, it left a strange impression in my head”. I mean it all adds up, but if it helps him make songs as addictive as this, maybe it was a good thing. Of course it wouldn’t be their style not to give it their own uniqueness though, and the harmonious chanting at the beginning, definitely adds to the atmosphere. Next up “a Dustland Fairytale”, this sounds as though it has come straight out of “Sam’s Town”,
Frantically paced, upbeat and brimming with energy, it makes for the perfect driving song. After kicking off the album with two pop songs, they go for a bit of rock; with loud crashing drums and lively guitar playing, this may very well be the best on the Album. Unlike a few of the other songs, you fall for this one straight away, after all nothing beats a good old tale of alien abduction. Flowers sings with so much passion and conviction you just have to wonder whether he actually making a confession when he sings of being “ripped from my bed” and explains that “they took my blood type, it left a strange impression in my head”. I mean it all adds up, but if it helps him make songs as addictive as this, maybe it was a good thing. Of course it wouldn’t be their style not to give it their own uniqueness though, and the harmonious chanting at the beginning, definitely adds to the atmosphere. Next up “a Dustland Fairytale”, this sounds as though it has come straight out of “Sam’s Town”,
The rest of the Album certainly doesn’t disappoint. “The world we live in” provides us with yet another addictive melody and the funky and sensuous “I can’t stay” provokes images of lying on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean underneath the blazing sun-that always works for me. Elsewhere “Neon Tiger” sounds so like U2 I had to double check and “A Crippling Blow” is another loud and energetic rock song. That’s all without mentioning the harmonious “This is your Life” and the cheesy but colourful “Joy ride”. Finally 7 minute long “Goodnight Travel Well”, is a beautifully deep song with great lyrics, “Stay, don’t leave me the stars can’t wait for your sign don’t signal now” written for guitarist Dave Keuning’s late mother. Much like “A Dustland Fairytale” it comes from the heart, a terrifically touching and tragic gem of a song, in my opinion one of the best. Like “Extilude” on “Sam’s Town” this is a fitting way to top of the album.
Whether you’re a Killers fan or not it’s difficult not to admire them for their versatility, I mean you don’t see Fallout Boy doing this kind of thing. Many bands play it safe doing the same old, same old, but the Killers, oh no. The truth is that their ambition to be better, to be different, yet still appeal to their fans is one that succeeds. Weird and outrageous, they achieve the unachievable, no matter how crazy, saxophones, violins they pull it off,“Day and Age” really is out of this world
Katherine
