Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
109 of 130 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Its Flaws Are the Right Ones, October 6, 2006
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.
|
|
|
86 of 107 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Killers: Sam's Town...Second full album shows growth and maturity., October 3, 2006
Returning to their home town of Las Vegas must have re-energized The Killers. Recorded in the Palms Hotel recording studio, the new release Sam's Town showcases the band's growth with a stronger and more musically diverse sound while still retaining the commercial viability and energy of Hot Fuss. Brandon Flowers and The Killers have created an interesting and creative album that avoids the dreaded sophomore curse and positions them well for future growth.
The addictive opening track "Sam's Town" has the same punch rhythmically as "Somebody Told Me" but is less reliant on synths and more on electric guitar. The piano-based "Enterlude" showcases a softer sound with Brandon Flowers' voice fragile and emotional before it amps up and punches into the rocking first single "When You Were Young." Despite its title, the soaring "Bling(Confession of a King) has shades of the late 80's U2 musically but Flowers can't quite match Bono's vocal style. "For Reasons Unknown" is a low point, but the fun track "Read My Mind" delivers a synth-heavy up-tempo sound that is somewhat reminiscent of the early 80's Talking Heads.
Grounded by a solid bass line, "Uncle Jonny" makes for a great track that thankfully is not overly commercial. Flowers' takes his vocals down a notch for the excellent "Bones" decorated with some great trumpet and sax. The sound of Queen returns with the bombastic track "My List" and "This River Is Wild" is hook-filled and rocking enough to make this a solid second single. "Why Do I Keep Counting?" is much like "My List" in overall sound, but a solid melody keeps this from veering wildly off track. "Exitlude" is a nice touch that speaks to the fans, "We hope you enjoyed your stay..it's good to have you with us, even if it was only a day."
Clocking in at just under 45 minutes long, Sam's Town is a slick-sounding album. Well produced by Flood and Alan Moulder, the average song length is 4 minutes. The album is vastly different in sound from Hot Fuss, which for me makes it that much better. It is less overtly commercial and instead showcases the growth of a more mature band moving forward musically. Flowers' voice is much rawer and emotional here, not buried under layers of modulation, and the band's sound is more vibrant and diverse. The band notes that this record was influenced by Springsteen, but this album does not have much of a Springsteen sound. What it is, however, is an album that will grow on you with every spin. Recommended.
A.G. Corwin
St.Louis, MO
|
|
|
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Different Isn't Always Bad., October 17, 2006
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.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
is The Killers' 
