The Killers - Day & Age
By Nick Manteris · 0 Comments · Leave a Comment
The Killers are a band from Las Vegas so it’s pretty much mandatory that I should provide a review for their new album, Day & Age…even though I never actually got around to hearing Sam’s Town. I have heard Hot Fuss though and their new sound is a bit different than I remember. Before I get into that, the first thing I need to mention is Paul Normansell’s cover art, which I like quite a bit…it’s got to be my favorite album cover of 2008. Now for the music:
Day & Age starts off with "Losing Touch," which has elements that remind me of something from The The, though the name of the particular song escapes me at the moment. That is followed by the first single, "Human," which has been (quite justifiably) criticized for it’s lyrics and I don’t care if the inspiration did come from a Hunter S. Thompson comment, I kind of hate the chorus. (If you like the song “Human” then take the exact opposite of this review and it will probably apply to you.) They try to channel David Bowie on "Spaceman" and even though the lyrics are a bit iffy, it works. I also like the funky groove of "Joy Ride" and it’s Saturday Night Live saxophone doesn’t really detract much at all. I don’t even mind the “Hooked on a Feeling” chant in "This Is Your Life" or the extremely U2-like sound of "A Dustland Fairytale." And aside from the previous mentioned exception the only other song that I don’t really care for is “Neon Tiger.” The Killers do, however, save the best for last with "Goodnight, Travel Well,” a slow, melancholy and very moody track that slowly builds up until I feel like I’m in a Cure song breaking apart my pictures of you.
- Score
- 68%
It’s a good thing that The Killers are named for a fictional band in a New Order video because they don’t sound at all like a group of people that kill. For the most part, they have a happy, cheerful sound that, I have to admit, isn’t really my thing (the music that resonates with me most is melancholy, dark and moody), but this is still a pretty good album and they make it up to me in the end.
