Can You Say Bowie?
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I've been listening to the new The Killers album 'Day and Age'. After all the thumbs down I've heard from fellow moggers, I just had to give it a listen and judge for myself. And after 3 full listens I've got to say, it's actually not all that bad. My first listen I was thinking to myself, what are those wacky Killers up to on this? But upon repeated listens I'm finding some interesting songs that are catching my attention. This is definitely a grow on you album.
I really like the first track 'Losing Touch' because of the saxophones on it which remind me alot of early David Bowie songs(and there's Bowie influences all through the album). I also like the purity of Flower's voice on the verses where his vocals slide into the notes in his high tenor. It's a really big sounding song.
They do some different and surprising stuff on this album, showing off their virtuousity as musicians. On 'Joyride' they launch into a bongo funk that gets you moving. 'I Can't Stay' is the most unusual track on the album with it's sunny harp and tropicalia that will shock the hell out of you the first time you hear it. This could be a Seu Jorge song. And it's quite good.
'The World We Live In' will probably be the next single to be released, it just has single written all over it. It's quite catchy, with shimmering guitar swathes, echoing background vocals and Brandon's gorgeous soaring vocals over it all.
Album closer 'Goodnight, Travel Well' is the dark spot out of the batch, with it's brooding majestic horns, tribal drumming, patches of electronic noises. It reminds me quite a bit of Depeche Mode's grander, dark moments or even Joy Division's. It's quite an epic song.
I'm finding the more I listen to this, the more I'm enjoying it. It's one of those albums that takes some time to fully take hold of you. So, don't take other's words about whether it's a good album or not, give it a listen yourself. You be the judge. . . .
Comments (18)
Just take some aspiring and lay down, you will feel better in the morning ;P
They've definitely matured musically since the days of "Mr. Brightside." The album has gotten some good reviews, so I think I'll have to go check it out for meself...
"My first listen I was thinking to myself, what are those wacky Killers up to on this? But upon repeated listens I'm finding some interesting songs that are catching my attention. This is definitely a grow on you album."
Those were my exact thoughts about Sam's Town, which I do like quite a bit now.
Thanks for taking an honest listen. :)
*Anna* wasn't aware I was feeling badly. What's 'aspiring' anyway? @;P
*Honeydoll* yes they have matured. And the album has gotten some good reviews in the press(Spin mag gave it a 4 out of 5 stars), so check it out, you might just like it!
*Sam* yvw. Sorry for the delayed response. I got distracted when I was responding to the other moggers. I was really into The Killers when 'Sam's Town' came out & actually bought an advance copy of it on a website 'cause they were having a ticket/poster giveaway to see them live(which I got thankfully, which was very cool). So I had the album the day it was released. This go around I waited & just dled it off the internet since I'd heard alot of bad stuff about it. That'll teach me to listen to others opinions!
I really liked 'Sam's Town' but this one not as much right off the bat. But like I said, it's a grower, I believe.
No worries - you know, I'm 3 songs in to my listen and I love it. This may shoot to my 08 best of list pretty fast! :)
6 songs in now and still loving it. Brandon is awesome.
Didn't love Neon Tiger, but that's about the only track that was lukewarm.
"Goodnight, Travel Well" sounds like a great slow Cure track off HotD or Kiss Me * 3
Have not listened to this yet, but like you I am always one to form my own opinion. I have loved their other albums so I am excited to hear this one on my own
I've heard a lot of people say the same thing about "Sam's Town", many blogger reviews have said that after repeated listens that they think it's better than "Hot Fuss" in many ways. I've got this new one on my iTunes and will give it a few turns to see for myself. I do find that despite the odd lyrics on "Human" I do tend to like the song.
I read somewhere that the song Human is in response to a famous quote by Hunter S. Thompson where he refered to "...kids these days" as a generation of Dancers. And knowing him the term Dancers was meant to be derogatory.
Liked some of the first album, mezzo-mezzo on the second, so rampantly unenthusiastic about the third. But I'll give it another go-round on your recommendation, August (and that of Sam the B, too).
*Sam* what a surprise to sign into my email & see 3 notifs. that you'd made comments here! Glad I could turn you onto checking this out & happy to hear you're enjoying it. 'Neon Tiger' I think is one of my least fave songs on this album, not exactly sure why.
I thought 'Goodnight, Travel Well' had more of a Depeche or Joy Division vibe to it.
*Dach* yea, that's true, the song was inspired by the Thompson quote I've read. Definitely NOT a postive reference, lol. I hadn't heard about people thinking 'Sam's Town' was better than 'Hot Fuss'. I really thought it was equally as good but they expanded into a different sound.
*Kev* I think you'll like it, since you're a sucker for good pop songs like me!
*Mike* 'so rampantly unenthusiastic about the third.' Why don't you tell us what you really think, ahahahaha! So you've actually heard it already? Seems to me that people are quite divided on it. If you don't care for it, then I doubt you'll warm up to it. I could be wrong 'cause it is a grow on you type album as far as I'm concerned. But as you say, your mileage may vary!
I think what I'll eventually do is listen to it more and see if I can explain what it is that I like about it - I'll probably do that in my end-of-year music post. I meant to listen to it last night, but forgot. I'll try to listen tonight on the way home.
Well, the end of the year is coming up FAST, lol.
I think the Cure vibe I get from Gn,TW is the toms remind me of Boris' drumming, and there's a couple of synth lines and the echo on Brandon's voice.
Yeah, this will make the list, for sure. I *really* like it! :)
Well, saw them on Tuesday and they were pretty good....Brandon certainly is an entertainer....but I didn't feel the need to stick around and see them on Thrusday. Skipped out after a couple of songs.
But their new stuff isn't the mess that others had said it to be.
Definitely no mess on this album, just branching out w/new sounds.