Sam's Town - Dark Publications

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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

Album Description
Import edition of the 2006 sophomore release from the hugely successful band from Las Vegas features one bonus track: 'Where The White Boys Dance'. 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. Island.

Customer Reviews: Read 263 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Its Flaws Are the Right Ones October 6, 2006
100 out of 121 found this review helpful

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.

4 out of 5 stars

The Killers: Sam's Town...Second full album shows growth and maturity. October 3, 2006
83 out of 103 found this review helpful

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

1 out of 5 stars

Cover bands admit their material October 5, 2006
21 out of 42 found this review helpful

I'm appalled that people might actually rate this album under five stars. Why? Because this is quite possibly the greatest sophomore disappointment since perhaps Audioslave's "Out of Exile" or Franz Ferdinand's "You Could Have It So Much Better"? Maybe. Instead of an all out fun and memorable album, like 2004's best selling "Hot Fuss", we get a mediocre attempt and shot at recreating Bruce Springsteen's landmark album, "Born to Run."

::avoids the bottles::

Look, for those hung up on The Killers and being the aging fan by sticking around and claiming they've "grown up" and "done something else", just stop. I went on this whole year ranting about the band, how important they were to modern music by having an album that stayed on the charts and had appeal for more than two seconds, while also maintaining a non pretentious sound too.

However...

This is just overbaked, overproduced, and yet undercooked material that seems patched together with q-tips, glue, and some celery sticks. Nothing holds and the songs that at least try, come off as cover band material for a New Jersey bar.

It's one thing to have influences, another to be them.

Brandon Flowers quivers his voice like a man on a tight rope making lame noises on a synthesizer, Dave Keuning plays some interesting things that hit walls head on, and while the rest of the band tries to keep up... eh.

"Bones", their next single, is kind of catchy if it weren't for the fact that it sounds like a She Wants Revenge track, which in essence sounds like Interpol, who sound like Joy Division or David Byrne. The whole thing is a large sandwich with some new meat and old meat... your stomach is going to hurt.

"When You Were Young" is nothing special, albeit the better song on the album. The "enterlude" and "exitlude" try and bridge a story together that inevitably goes nowhere.

I'd say the one salvagable track here would be "Why Do I Keep Counting?"

It's funny they try and make the "interesting second album", as even guru master David Bowie advised them not to do, yet end up doing what any band in it's genre has done for the past twenty years.

Let's put it this way, if there was no "Hot Fuss", these guys would be selling this album outside of the MGM Grand.

Sorry, but I find this to be an embarassing record. But, I digress.

2 out of 5 stars

Sad But True. October 4, 2006
14 out of 21 found this review helpful

Let me start out by saying im not the type to give negative reviews because i hate reading the typical slamming of new cds which is all to common on here.
However since Hot Fuss was such a classic' my expectations were pretty high.
With that being said this cd is just plain awful.
Other than the Lead off Single which took quite a few listens i really dont hear another single on this cd.
Its just missing great songs and Brandon's vocals are pretty poor on this release.
Play Hot Fuss again and listen to all the Killer...Pardon the Pun.. Songs on that cd.
Where on Sam's Town are the great songs like.
SOMEBODY TOLD ME... MR BRIGHTSIDE ALL THE THINGS IVE DONE and many many more.
I just dont understand the road they have gone down.
As most of the Mag reviews i have read confirm' this cd is just a big mess.
As for his claim its the best cd in the past 20 years.. Its not even the best cd out this week.
I really wanted to like this cd but im afraid after 5 plays i cannot.

5 out of 5 stars

I am Sick of Reading Most of Your Reviews October 5, 2006
11 out of 17 found this review helpful

I would like to begin this review by saying this: For all of you who are complaining in your reviews saying "Sam's Town isn't like Hot Fuss boo, hoo, hoo", try getting over it. I have a news flash for you! Sam's Town isn't Hot Fuss and it never claimed to be. It's Sam's Town! If you expect a band like the Killers to stay true to the sound of their first album then you might as well just enjoy your copy of Hot Fuss and listen to that. Bands, much like all of us, grow with time. With Sam's Town, the Killers still manage to sound like the New Wave revivals we originally grew to love, but added much bigger sound scapes.

The album, contrary to another listeners review, is not a concept album! In my opinion, Sam's Town is a fantastic album. The Killers have improved their sound by adding some more rock 'n roll into the mix (a little Springsteen here, a pinch of U2 there). The title track pulls you right in with fantastic drum roll and explodes into a rush of guitars and synths. "Enterlude" reminds us all of the Killers' fantastic sense of glamor. "When You Were Young" comes next, still sounding as epic and fascinating as the first time that I heard it.

Other highlights throughout the album include the future singles "Read My Mind" and "Bones". One of my personal favorite tracks off of the album would have to be "This River Is Wild". The song is simply brilliant and has an epic feel to it. Brandon's song writing talents shine in this piece with the alluring lyric "You better run for the hills before they burn. . .". "Why Do Keep Counting?", a song regarding Mr. Flowers' fear of flying, along with "Exitlude", provide great closings for Sam's Town

So here is the break down. If you are expecting Hot Fuss, Pt. II I would recommend that you don't by this album. Why? Beause you simply won't appreciate it. Bands are ever changing and you cannot expect them to stick with their hit making, traditional sound. I actually give the Killers credit for taking the risk of straying away from their poppy, Hot Fuss era sound. If you are looking for yet another great album from the Killers which takes you back to the days of The Cure and Springsteen, take a trip to Sam's Town. I "hope you enjoy your stay".

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