Premature Evaluation: The Killers - Day & Age
The Killers did good with Hot Fuss, their flashy debut of hooky Vegas new wave. Their look and glitzy synth tones were dialed directly into Indie '04, and after a few years of touring and fan base swelling, they talked big about the revolutionary nature of their sophomore effort. For all its strength, Hot Fuss wasn't any sort of grand conceptual statement, and somewhere along the way the Killers began craving grand conceptual statements. The Americana rock of Sam's Town wasn't an abject failure -- it spawned some of the band's best radio singles in "Read My Mind" and "When You Were Young" -- but as a whole, it felt clumsy and overproduced. The live debuts of material from Day & Age seemed to hint at less studio bloat. We quickly learned that wouldn't be entirely true.
The album's opening three tracks are some of its brightest moments and a well sequenced start, setting a template for Day & Age's sounds (synths, saxophones, new romantic redux) and themes: the Who Am I? ("Losing Touch"), the What Am I? (are they "Human" or are they dancer -- see: Hunter. S Thompson for support), the Where Am I? ("Spaceman"). They're on some existential shit, if expressed via typically banal prose. "They [the spacemen who abducted Brandon, that is] say the Nile used to run from East to West." What? He seems to litter his lyrics with meaningless turns so he can avoid actually dealing with real emotion. (See that Hunter S. Thompson reference, too; Hunter was experiential, that's how he became who he was. Flowers occasionally writes like he doesn't have first hand experience at all.) And if you still have a slot open for America's Rock Band, the Killers are still interested. Check the images of a "slick chrome American prince, blue jean serenade" in the swelling, orchestral, mid-album ballad break of "A Dustland Fairytale." So they're not over their Sam's Town aims after all.
Actually, not by a long shot. For better and for the worst, the Killers can't escape the clutches of their hometown. Try sitting through the cringy Vegas hotel "funk" and cheesy sax solos of "Joy Ride" (one of the most embarrassing songs of the year in any genre), and chase it with the shlocky cocktail lounge calyspo and steel drums of "I Can't Stay." Passable looks for dusty bars off the Strip, maybe. Here they inspire laughs. Take the bad and the forgettable ("Neon Tiger," "The World We Live In") with the good, though: What "Spaceman" lacks in lyrical punch it packs into its high energy, soaring synth hooks; "Human" is a successful step outside the new wave/Boss-loving mold (here a flirtation with Europop); and the galloping, infectious "This Is Your Life" does its work (but mostly because it's a good rip of this).
There might not be a clumsy set-piece introducing their current conceit (i.e. there's no "Enterlude" this time), but they make their overarching ambition clear with this album's "Exitlude," the exeunt "Goodnight, Travel Well." It's a sharp break from the rest of the album, sounding less like Duran Duran or Bryan Ferry than Björk (cue the "Dull Flame Of Desire" horns) and Radiohead (the second half is pure "Climbing Up The Walls"). However, cinematic exit music does not an album make. Three full-lenghts into their career, the Killers confirm their essence: a band capable of surefire radio singles, seemingly incapable of turning out a full-length without grievous missteps. They admirably, desperately want to be an outfit capable of The Great Album, but they let that ambition sink half their songs. They're a singles band. In this day and age, that's probably enough.
Day & Age is out 11/25 via Island.
Posted at 6:52 PM in Premature Evaluation
Tags: Stuart Price | The Killers
Good review, it's been all downhill since Hot Fuss.
Score = -1
haha I actually fucking love Joy Ride and I Can't Stay. They're out there and they make you laugh, but in a good way.
Score = 3
sorry, as you can see from the comments the manager that watches the monkeys that type this shit is drunk off his ass. this has apparently lead to this horrible review of a band that does nothing but bring fresh music to the scene. we all know that you can only be cool if you've got a band with the following:
dude with beard
dude with and art degree to create crappy album covers
drummer farting on a snare drum
person of color so you seem to be on the pulse
well, just wanted to put out this apology and let you know that the manager below will be fired. i will shortly have the monkeys back in their chairs writing non-creative album reviews as usual.
- thanks management
Score = -25
I ain't fartin' on no snare drum!
Score = 3
You neglected to mention the following in your report:
- Band MUST have some kind of animal in name...or the word "Crystal"
-Stay fresh by playing cutting edge folk
-The lower the production value, the better
-Scribbly font! Outsource your art department to local third grade class.
Score = 7
Elvis vs. Shark pretty much just had the best response of the year. haha. While this album is all over the place, It has the overall theme of "Hey, it must be 1986", which gives some really interesting results. For Example "I Can't Stay" is a fantastic tack that sounds like it was written by David Byrne himself. Human is still Awful, Spaceman is still the best track on the album, and overall this is an enjoyable album, but nothing Superb upond the first listen. But for the Record, Sams Town is Much better than the Rough Hot Fuss. But they released Hot Fuss as a small band, and small bands are cool. Big Bands clearly suck, unless your name is Radiohead. Damn Pitchfork Elitism,
Score = -2
The album art is cool. I hope the killers start to do acid.
Score = 2
i'd be inclined to disagree with you guys for being such cynical pricks, but this time you're right. it's a somewhat enjoyable record, but it's basically ten more songs with the same formula they perfected with their best song, "read my mind." and they fell in the same trap they did with sam's town: all the songs are four minutes of a different shade of gray.
Score = 4
I have never liked the Killers. I have never been a believer. This album changed my mind.
"Try sitting through the cringy Vegas hotel "funk" and cheesy sax solos of "Joy Ride""
Wow, really? Hotel funk? Cheesy sax solos? This song could have been a B-side to Talking Heads Naked album. I think this latest release pays homage appropriately to some of the new wave giants that made music interesting 'way back when'...not that it rips the brand - it simply reinvents it in a way that's relevant in a modern sense (and mixed lightly with their own distinct sound).
I'm more than pleased with the album and I hope this shit review doesn't scare anyone off.
Score = 4
I really hate that you chose to rip on Joyride. That song sounds like it could be on Talking Heads' Naked album.
I must say, this is the first time I've been utterly disappointed with Stereogum. I've never been a fan of The Killers. This album has made me a believer. I feel this album pays homage to the new wave giants that at one time made music interesting...but not by stealing the brand. Rather they incorporated stylistic traits of that era while still committing to their signature sound. Not an easy task.
I hope the faux-litists don't get scared off by this shit review.
Score = 2
This album sounds like a really long, really crappy european ringtone.
Score = 7
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Score = 1
"sorry, as you can see from the comments the manager that watches the monkeys that type this shit is drunk off his ass. this has apparently lead to this horrible review of a band that does nothing but bring fresh music to the scene."
Learn how to write dip-shit. What does that even mean? What you just wrote makes no sense. Who's drunk now?
Score = 4
I don't agree with Dustin's assessment of the album, but his is the first comment in a long time that made me literally laugh out loud. Less is more, people. That is the most clearly expressed sentiment in this thread. Tip of the cap to you, sir.
Score = 3
"In this day and age, that's probably enough" -- Oy vey....
Score = 0
i love animal, thats all i got currently.
Score = -1
I mean really, does anyone want to sit through a show by the Killers?
Score = 4
I really like this new album. It might be one of my favourites of 2008.
Score = 9
A big disappointment!
[and stealing from radiohead for the last track
not cool,plain stupid!]
Score = -5
Does no one else hear them trying REALLY hard to be The Cars...but failing?
Score = -4
can't wait for the album. in regards to them being a singles band, Hot Fuss is a singles album, Sam's Town is great. i dunno what the big deal is about Hot Fuss, it's pretty average to me. I think Sam's Town is fantastic.
Score = 3
I'm disappointed. I thought it would be better but I heard nothing original in the entire album. Shame. Although I did like Shadowplay.
Score = -2
What an awful review. This site blows.
Score = -3
What an awesome review. This site rocks!
Score = 5
this album is really good. this is just one assholes opinion, as was the review above. go listen to the music for yourself and never trust an asshole with nothing new to say.
Score = -4
An asshole with nothing new to say, you're talking about brandon flowers right?
Score = 1
i'm quite partial to a stuart price production (especially his jacques lu cont and les rythmes digitales aliases, and his band, zoot woman). and, hey, earworm songs will always sell by the bucketloads.
the thing is, now that brandon flowers dropped his moustache and had another implant of baby buttocks on his cheeks, irrelevance seems closer and closer. i mean, listen to 'human' and think of german 80's band alphaville... 'are we human or are we forever young remix?' no, but hey, as long as lou reed keeps picking up the phone... besides, if all else fails, i'm sure keane will be game for a duet or two. their singer also has a babyface, so...
'the killers'... i bet they fail to see the irony. almost cute. just not enough. lolol
Score = -1
SHUUT UUUUUPPPPP
ugh.
Score = 1
HUMILIATION.
Score = -1
OF THE TEENAGE STATION.
Score = 2
joy ride is dumb but i cant stay is actually good. i mean if you dont like it you dont, but i dont know if you guys are even trying to hear it objectively..this seems to have some good songs but lower highs and more lows than sams town. didnt expect much though.
Score = -1
I really like Hot Fuss, really hated Sam's Town with the exception of two songs and starting listening to this album expecting it to be complete crap. I actually think it's pretty good and the songs this review ragged on the most were the ones I liked the best. I think some people need to just listen to the record with an open mind and they will find themselves enjoying it quite a bit if they give it a chance.
Score = 1
your reviewe basically says everything i felt when i heard i leak
"Try sitting through the cringy Vegas hotel "funk" and cheesy sax solos of "Joy Ride" (one of the most embarrassing songs of the year in any genre), and chase it with the shlocky cocktail lounge calyspo and steel drums of "I Can't Stay.""
SO TRUE. god Joy Ride. GOD
Score = -3
Am I the only one who liked Sam's Town?
It's my favorite, actually...hahaha.
but, yes, this album was pretty bad. SIGH.
Score = -2
Like Hot Fuss and Sam's Town, it took me a couple of listens to really like Day & Age. I didn't like it at first, just as I didn't like the other two. But now I think it's great and has some really catchy songs. I like Joyride, even though I don't know why, and agree that Spaceman may be the best song on the album. However, I really can't stand Goodnight, Travel Well.
And for the record, I did really like Sam's Town. I still listen to it pretty often, probably more than Hot Fuss. So there you go.
Score = 3
Go back to ripping off Springsteen for the next album, then return with a full blown Cars meet Grand Funk meet Sly and the Family Stone, except drop tons of acid before and record it in the basement of the Mirage in two and a half hours. Borrow William S. Burroughs for the songwriting and MGMT for all musical duties, and have it mixed by Rza. Call it something Vegas-ey... Deserted in the Desert, Hooker Handjob HoDown, the Clamydia Calamity. Only then will I listen to another Killers album.
Score = -1
I personally, felt that Joy Ride was one of the best songs on the cd. It reminded my of the Clash's song "Rock The Casbah". If you don't believe me, look it up. I love all of the Killers' music. They're simply just evolving their sound in this album and I welcome it. His lyrics aren't exactly up to par, but I can look past that easily with the great composition of the songs. I hear a lot of Talking Heads, The Cars, and New Order on this cd. It's a great throwback to bands from the '80s.
Score = 0
After listening to this album for over a month now, I can safely say that this is a good album. Not great, but good. This album demonstrate that The Killers definiately know how to write a good pop song,but they're also not breaking any new ground here. Then again, do we listen to these guys because we want to hear something new and fresh? I don't. I kind of look at The Killers as being a guilty pleasure anyway. My rating: 8/10
Score = 0
This album, and all killers albums, is really weird. Some of their best stuff has been B-sides and they are all over the place.
At their best they are experimental new-wave dance rock. At the worst they sound like bad lite electro-jazz claypso weirdness.
They also like to change keys, but sometimes miss the resolving notes. Yet I often come around to songs that I had previously dismissed.
I have very mixed feelings about the Killers
Score = 0
Joy Ride is one of my fav. records on the album.
Clearly someone was drunk while writing this garbage.
Score = -2
Good review. I agree with him.
Score = 0
Clearly someone was drunk while writing this garbage. - Yes )))))))))))))
Score = 0