Sam's Town

The Killers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 3, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B000GY729M
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (286 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,409 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #65 in Music > Alternative Rock > New Wave & Post-Punk > New Wave

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Killers five-million-selling debut, 2004's Hot Fuss, saw the stylish Las Vegas quartet mining inspiration from its favorite '80s British acts Duran Duran, the Cure, and the Smiths. On its follow-up, the group turns its focus homeward. First there's the album title, Sam's Town, which pays tribute to the old-school local casino where the band got its start. Then there's the music inside, a collection of windswept rockers in the vein of Bruce Springsteen that leave the indie-disco vibe of "Mr. Brightside" in the desert dust. Working with producers Alan Moulder and Flood (best known for their work with U2, Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails), everything here sounds bigger and shinier, with full-blown strings and choirs coloring epics like "When You Were Young" and "The River Is Wild." Coming soon to a stadium near you. --Aidin Vaziri

Product Description

It's been a long wait but a new Killer's album has finally appeared on the horizon, with preliminary reports suggesting they've dropped the fixation with English based Indie Rock n Roll to concentrate on a more homespun sound (having heard "Hot Fuss" it may surprise you to learn that they are actually Americans hailing from Las Vegas). With songs taking their cues from, amongst others, Springsteen, Johnny Cash, The Beatles, U2 and Iggy Pop this new musical offering should be ace.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

121 of 142 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Its Flaws Are the Right Ones October 6, 2006

By Jeff Benson

Format:Audio CD

When I first played this album I wasn't quite sure what to think. Brandon Flowers' voice sounds markedly thinner and more waver-y at points than it does on Hot Fuss. The immediate grandeur of the material, bookmarked as it is with the ornate, sometimes frilly intro / outtro combination, sets up this sophomore followup for polarizing reactions from the band's fans.

There were only one or two immediate tunes that caught me. I nervously listened to the album again. And a third time. And it is awesome. I do have some misgivings about the way it is recorded. (Unlike the band's stunning debut, there are some songs on Sam's Town that I will outright skip--they try too hard or just don't work for me. And there are some noticeable pitch problems with the vocals--baffling on a major-label, Flood-produced album.) But yet. It has not left my car stereo. There is some great, inspired work here. Stuff that draws me into its energetic, wistful, stylized vibe as skillfully as anything on Hot Fuss. Stuff that deserves repeated exploration. Stuff that rekindles my excitement about music.

This album is like a second date: you realize that your new crush has flaws you hadn't noticed the first time around, but you're just that much more endeared. And flustered. And optimistic for the future.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Different Isn't Always Bad. October 17, 2006

By A. Estes

Format:Audio CD

The Killers' debut album, "Hot Fuss," was such a phenomenon that it was nearly impossible to follow-up with something as good. Well, the Killers have tried and delivered "Sam's Town." For their second album, the foursome goes for a more rock-oriented approach, leaving behind much of the glam/disco undertones of the previous album. Is it better? Judge for yourself. One thing is for sure, though: It's different.

Sounds like: Queen, Bruce Springsteen and the Cars rolled into one.

The Good:

- They don't try to repeat themselves here. There are moments that somewhat callback to the first album, but for the most part, they took a real risk.

- The production and musicianship are much stronger than before.

- The album doesn't peter out on the second half like "Hot Fuss" did.

The Bad:

- Unfortunately, nothing here really leaves quite the impression that the strongest tracks on "Hot Fuss" did.

Hits: "When You Were Young," "For Reasons Unknown," "This River Is Wild," and "Bones."

Misses: "Uncle Johnny" a song that sticks out like a sore thumb and doesn't seem to go anywhere.

Future: "Sam's Town" most likely won't be the massive hit it's predecessor was, but at the very least, the Killers have proven they aren't just a flash in the pan or a one-trick pony.

Personally: There's nothing here that gives me the chills that half of "Hot Fuss" did, which is surprising. But the album is still good to listen too, especially where the first album is starting to sound a bit stale at this point.

Best Listened To When: "Hot Fuss" goes cold.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I did not like the killers, but then... August 8, 2007

By James Harrison

Format:Audio CD

I have to admit I was incredibly hesitant when purchasing this album. I had heard the singles from Hot Fuss and I was unimpressed. They were just another generic piece of whatever music happened to be selling at the time. Poppy, catchy, fun, but completely lacking any kind of depth that would make them worth listening to more than once. Then I was thrown a 180. I heard the first single, When You Were Young, and something about it grabbed me. Clearly the same band, but something about that song was sounding different then everything else I had heard by them. Then I heard another song off the album, I can't remember which, and I was surprised to find that I was really digging it. It wasn't long before I decided I might actually have to buy this album, and this would be no routine purchase, contemporary music is not my thing. The most recently released album I had purchased before this was Weezer's Green album, based entirely off the strength of the music they had released in the 90s, and it was a huge let down for me.

I started with the first three tracks, and they were good. I was surprised by how good they were, but I really wasn't liking the beginning of that 4th track, and I put the album away for a while. After a few weeks I put the album on again, for another go, and this time I actually listened to the whole thing. I was amazed. The fourth track isn't all that satisfying when it starts out, but it quickly develops into a very enjoyable song. I was surprised to find most of the songs had a very nice build up in a similar fashion. When I was finished I was convinced I had heard one of the best albums released in a very very long time. I jumped online to see what kinds of praise this album had received. Were the Killers everyone's new favorite band?

No, not at all.... Not even close. I was taken off guard when I discovered that the album was not well received at all, not even by their own fans, despite the huge growth in between the former album and the current. Everything about the album showed drastic improvement and maturity. These weren't songs written with the intention of getting two or three good singles, and there was no filler here. This was a real, cohesive album, like bands used to make in the glory days of music.

It's not hard to see why this album was dismissed so quickly by the general public. It's the same thing that happened with the Pet Sounds album by the Beach Boys back in the 60s. The music had grown far too complex for the pop loving fan base they had begun with, and anyone that actually would have enjoyed the brilliance in the music would never believe the group was capable of creating it. I have a feeling Sam's Town is destined to the same fate. It will disappear into obscurity, with only a small group of loving fans to keep the memory alive. Read more ›

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars What's all the complaining about? October 3, 2006

By ILOVEBEATLES!!!

Format:Audio CD

Just like everyone else, I've been anticipating this release for quite a while now, but unlike most other people, my first opinion of this record is actually a positive one. Yeah, they've kinda ditched the 80's synth sound that helped make "Hot Fuss" such a hit, but too me, it's still the Killers. It's still catchy and still has great melodies. It's just more "raw" i suppose and carries much more of a "fresh" sound. Too me, these are all good things. Don't get me wrong -- I enjoyed "Hot Fuss" just as much as the rest of you, but to expect musicians not to evolve and develop their sound is unreasonable. If you are only going to be happy with more Hot Fuss, maybe this ablum is not for you, but if you enjoy the Killers sound and crave something new, by all means, give this record a try! They are still a great band and, in my opinion, will continue to be for years to come. This album shows a band maturing and finding themselves. Don't listen to it once and give up on it. Long live the Killers!