The Killers remain one of my favourite new acts of the millenium, and one of my favourite groups ever. Hot Fuss was a glorious romp through British pop, synth and indie with a vaguely mormon/vegas twist - and B-Flo being the only person in the world who looked foxy in a bright pink blazer. All These Things I've Done is one of my top five songs of the past five years. Fast forward a couple of years and Sam's Town drops. It's distinctly American, yet still very Killers and When We Were Young is an epic pop song for the ages. People grumbled it wasn't quite the Killers, but i loved it and how really did anyone know who or what the Killers were after just one album? B-sides collections and Christmas songs followed, and finally a third album is in the offing...It's preceded by the A.Maz.Ing. new single "Human". It's been descriped as an epic Pet Shop Boys type song, and that's probably not far wrong. It's a synth filled track that builds up a la Read My Mind (their "poppest" moment from Sam's Town) until a disco beat drops at the start of the second verse and it's practically orgasmic. The lyrics are somewhat existentialist - something about referencing cold hands seems rather forlorn; and "will your system cope if you dream of home" really resonates with me. It's been a tough year for family relationships and there is something touching about B-Flo's need to find something more in life, grasp that real purpose of living. Stuart Price, who famously produced Confession's On A Dancefloor for Maddy has sprayed his scent all over this, yet The Killers are strong enough musically to let their own sound carry them through. It's definitely a Killers track rather than a Stuart Price track. I may need to come back to this in a few days. I eagerly downloaded it on the train today and listened to it 6 times in a row, before writing this review. It's quite an enchanting tune, and definitely a grower. Cue many many reviewers who will start their reviews "Well it's not Sam's Town is it?" which will be this months "It's the album Madonna should've made instead of Hard Candy" i.e. a bit of a lazy way to describe it and showing a lack of originality (unless of course you are one of the early few to get in with the 'not sam's town' thingy, then of course you are slightly ahead of the game :P ). However, all that aside (and really, describe it how you want!) for me on my 7th,. 8th and 9th listen- utterly glorious.
Important links:
- Adem loves it. And me a little bit. It's the best verbal wank i've had in ages :) It's completely mutual of course.
- Somewhere you might possibly be able to download it. External link, not my responsibility, etc etc.
- I'm hoping XO and Dluv will write about it very soon so keep clicking!
- My "Sawdust" review
- My "Sam's Town" review
- My "Don't Shoot Me Santa Claus" review
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13 comments:
It's the song Madonna should've made instead of Four Minutes.
heh heh.
I love it.
I heard it this morning, sitting at a gate in O'Hare, and I started to tear up. I may have gotten it on my iPod by the time I boarded the plane, and I may have had a moment as we flew over Lake Michigan. I'm still working out the true depth and meaning of the song, but it has instantly become my theme song. The new record cannot hit soon enough.
I woke up this morning and was hoping to hear two songs, one of which I did not get to hear...and one, luckily, that I did.
I do want to also weigh in and say that I loved "When You Were Young" too, though!
I've listened to it several times now, and it grows on me more every time I hear it. It's exactly what I hoped, can't wait for the new album.
It really is very brilliant isn't it. How i chuckled gently at Xo's comment :) I'm so excited for their Night and Day album. I thought britney was going to "leak" today also, but i guess that's been put on hold for another week...
Love, Love, Love it - so beautifully sad/happy a la Pet Shop Boys! Wish I'd written it myself!
Camera Shy x
Count me in as loving "Human" too! I had it on repeat and looped it like 10 times in a row right after I d/l it. Sublime, really.
I'm really glad it's not a cover of or samples the Human League. Love me some HL too, but I'm glad da Killahs have a brand new song!
Bring on the album!
brandon and mr . price have truly flowered....
XO - oh you little wag... but actually, can you imagine?? Then followed up with the orchestral voices?
John - well your plane story trumps my train story, but oh well :P It is rather magical and glorious is it not? I love it more each time I hear it...just epic. In the true sense of the word...
PG - so you like Human? Yay! And When We Were Young was rather splendid was it not?? Have to wait another week for womaniser though :(
Anon - yes, it's a grower not a shower (rhyming not obviously a shower as in what you have to keep clean, etc) as SeXO would say...
Ben - it's exciting to see that so many people are in love with the tune... I think this may be their finest album yet, and i thought their previous two albums were actually pretty fine :P
James - your time will come!
Yuri - it does sort of compel you to have multiple listens. Not like "the power of Christ compells you! Be gone devil child" but more a subtle seductive compulsion...
Glossy - and deflowered hopefully :P
I thought The Killers were supposed to be a rock-n-roll band? Human is terrible. I can't hear a guitar being played in the entire song. I've been a fan since 2005, but if this single indicates what the album will sound like, I can't support it.
It's quite different isn't it? And doesn't exactly scream Stuart Price. Nonetheless, well done. They should easily grab a big slice of that Coldplay pie.
x
W
Okay, I still love it, but my adoration has cooled down a little since that first day of repeated listens.
Again though, i still love it, but it's certainly not as intensely kicking as I had originally believed it was. Still incredibly excited for the album though...
As for not screaming Stuart Price... really Will? I beg to differ; this has Stuart's production stamps all over it from start to finish.
The - I think The Killers aren't really defined by whether there are guitars in their music or not, but i guess if you are fans of the guitars you may be a little blue over Human!
Will.1.Am - Hmmm I think it is very Stuart, although the Killers shine through enough to put their own stamp on things. And I think they have their own pie, no need for Coldplay :P
Adem - i have to say it's still rather amazing. However, The Promise is rapidly catching it up. Love. Both.
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