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The Killers

Day & Age

  • AMG Review of Day & Age

    Amg
    Stephen Thomas Erlewine
    All Music Guide

    The Killers' great gift is that they -- and in particular their frontman, Brandon Flowers -- have utterly no recognition of the ridiculous. More than that, they're drawn to the ridiculous, piecing together sounds that don't belong together, reaching far beyond their grasp, aiming for profundity and slipping into silliness. All this weighed the band down mightily on Sam's Town, their convoluted Americana theme park of a sophomore album, all false façades and paper-thin pretension, but on its 2008 sequel, Day & Age, the Killers shrink the canvas and brighten their palette, opting for a big sound over big themes. Since the Killers are at their core poseurs and not prophets, style over substance is the right move and Day & Age has style for miles and miles, exceeding even their debut, Hot Fuss, in its stainless steel gleam. If anything, Hot Fuss was a little too monochromatic in its obsession with '80s synth rock, a criticism that can hardly be leveled at Day & Age, a record that stitches together sounds with an almost blissfully idiotic abandon. Anchored in dance-rock though they may be, the Killers no longer sound like mere disciples of New Order and Duran Duran: emboldened by the left turns of Sam's Town, no matter how misguided they may have been, the Killers will try anything, goosing "Losing Touch" with growling saxophones, creating a Strokes disco for "Joy Ride," flirting with worldbeat ŕ la Vampire Weekend on "This Is Your Life," dancing the bossa nova on "I Can't Stay," and riding a tight soulful rock & roll groove on "The World We Live In," bringing it close to a mad fusion of Steve Miller's "Abracadabra" and Hall & Oates' "Private Eyes." Like before, it's impossible to tell if such improbable juxtapositions are intentional or accidental, but given the overall tightness of Day & Age, it feels as if the Killers do indeed mean to create these odd, often pleasing, pop pastiches. And the emphasis damn well should be on the sound and melody, for Flowers remains a downright goofy lyricist, whether he's misinterpreting Hunter S. Thompson on "Human" or recounting an alien abduction on "Spaceman." Ridiculousness is much harder to stomach in words than it is in music, but the nice thing about Day & Age is that not only is Flowers' voice relatively buried, the Killers are unwittingly comfortable with their ludicrous, outsized pop, which turns the album into terrifically trashy pop. Not the serious rock they yearn to be by any means, but these fashionable threads fit them better anyway.

Can You Say Bowie?
11 months ago
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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 t...

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Goodnight, Travel Well Killers!
11 months ago
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Over the past weekend I've listened to pretty much nothing else but The Killers 'Day And Age' album. I simply just can't get enough of it. I've tried to listen to other music but no, my brain has their new songs firmly embedded now into my psyche. And the odd thing is, I didn't think I'd fall in love with it to the point of obsession! Wtf! It seriously has caught my attention to the exclusion o...

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Watch The Killers Perform Two New Songs (Personally I Think One's WAY Better Than The Other)
about 1 year ago
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The Killers have been keeping a low profile this summer, barely hitting any festivals as they put the finishing touches on the follow-up to 2006's Sam's Town. This week the Vegas-based band hit up Osheaga Festival in Montreal and played a secret fan show in New York City where they previewed two new songs - "Spaceman" and "Neon Tiger."According to Uncut, frontman Brandon Flowers revealed that ...

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[NEW Leaked] The Killers - Joy Ride
about 1 year ago

Someone gave me the heads up about this Killers song that will be on their upcoming new album Day & Age. Apparently the album is leaking one by one. The new song is called Joy Ride and it rocks. Gotta live that bass line. This is getting me really pumped for the new album! [MP3] : The Killers - Joy Ride | (ysi) Make Sure YOU Purchase Day & Age!

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The Nile used to run from East to West...
6 months ago

I'm not really a Killers fan, but damn I love this song!

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New The Killers track Day & Age artwork
about 1 year ago

Hey! The Killers' upcoming album Day & Age (out 11.24) is available for pre-order in iTunes now! iTunes has also put up a new track available for purchase titled "Spaceman" which is rumored to be the 2nd single! Stream below & buy here ."Day & Age" The Killers | Myspace | Buy

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New The Killers - Spaceman (’Day & Age’ Version)
about 1 year ago

I posted an mp3 rip of The Killers performing "Spaceman" on SNL a while back, but the final album version of the song has finally leaked. "Spaceman" is the second worthy ("high-quality") sample of the magic to emerge from a Killers and Stuart Price collaborative album. Much like Day & Age's first single, "Human," the new [...]

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Sunday – The Killers, Of Montreal, The Maccabees
4 months ago

A lot of Sunday is spent at a relaxed pace and wandering in and out of tents to check out stuff just because it’s nearby. This pot luck approach leads to a minor revelation with THE MACCABEES, a once jaunty, but lightweight Brighton based guitar band who have recently recast themselves as a more aspirant…

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On SNL last night.. Off their new EP- "Day & Age"
about 1 year ago

are those feathers on his jacket??

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My Most Played Songs Of The Week
about 1 year ago

Here are the tunes that helped your blogger get through the past week. I think they can help give you some pleasure as well! Check em out! [MP3] : The Killers - Spaceman | (ysi) [MP3] : Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire | (ysi) [MP3] : Cut Copy - Feel The Love | (ysi) [MP3] : Kaiser Chiefs - Never Miss A Beat | (ysi) [MP3] : Deerhunter - Never Stops | (ysi) [MP3] : Blitzen Trapper -...

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[NEW] The Killers - The World We Live In
about 1 year ago

You getting excited for Day & Age yet? You damn well should be. If not here is a great track off the album that found it's way over here. Great melodies, horns, and a really big anthematic sound that isn't overdone. Cheers Brandon, this is some quality stuff. [MP3] The Killers - The World We Live In | (zshare ) Purchase Day & Age, support the Killers!

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The Killers - "Spaceman" Video
10 months ago

Spaceman Something about the video makes me uncomfortable, I think it's because Brandon Flowers seems like he's on the verge of laughing. It's entertaining/interesting to watch though. Obligatory

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Video! The Killers - "A Dustland Fairytale"
5 months ago

The Killers' new video for "A Dustland Fairytale" follows a loner as he remembers a crucial night in his past. There was a knife fight! And a girl! So it's easy to see why he's looking back on the late 50s/early 60s – while taking us along to revisit rockabilly hair and cars with faces. The "Rebel Without a Cause" era isn't the video's only retro touch point. The clip's present is actually.

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Being Human
10 months ago

Forgive me if this has been posted already...OR if you've had it up to here with the Big Lovefest that is the USA right now...don't press the PLAY BUTTON! I warned you!here it is on vimeo with a little backstory...

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[NEW] Killers- Spaceman
about 1 year ago

Brugo has posted the brand new Killers song "Spaceman" and it is pretty great. It was played live a few weeks back on SNL and it can be downloaded on iTunes right now when you pre-order the album. This polished version sounds a lot more like The Killers that we all grew to love with Hot Fuss. Brandon's vocals still sound to me like they are in the same form as they were on "Sam's Town". A l...

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