Pairing with of-the-moment pop/indie production wizard Ariel Rechtshaid has served Brandon Flowers well: Before the initial singles, nobody would’ve expected the Killers’ frontman’s second solo offering to have any business being this good. Flowers has actually called every song on The Desired Effect a single, and while he might be overstating that a bit considering the album’s slower-burn second half, for once his customary self-aggrandizement is well-deserved. “Can’t Deny My Love,” “I Can Change,” “I Still Want You,” and “Lonely Town” are all driven by monstrous hooks, and they stay infectious after a ton of listens. –Ryan

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