Looking more like a bunch of 1880s gay cowboys waiting to jump, hogtie and have their wicked way with you than the smart skinny tie mormon missionary boys we were introduced to a couple of years ago, B-Flo and The Killers talked to NME this week about their sophomore album - allegedly due the same day as Ta-Dah by the Scissters - and of course has attracted lots of bloggy interest...
I utterly adore the Killers. SomebodyTold Me and All These Things I've Done (just incredibly spine tingling live) are two of my favourite songs of recent years. The interview says that this album will not be as indebted to British influences as Hot Fuss was, but will be more of a love letter to America, inspired by wide open spaces and, er, Bruce Springsteen. (Brandon certainly seems to have borrowed his tunnel of love era style....)
The boys love of their homeland comes across in the interview and apparently the album promises to be bigger, more expansive, a little less full of itself and a little more human. Like Keane the recording sessions have been steeped in the band's adjustment to fame and all the baggage that brings with it. Luckily however, its not all serious soul searching...
B-Flo is still a delicate pretty fleur and -despite practising mormon status - the interview contains some delightfully catty sniping at Fall Out Boy/Panic! At The Disco... Can't those crazy kids just wrestle it out already??
Here is NME's guide to the completed album tracks:
WHY DO I KEEP COUNTING? ~ Concerned with Brandon's fear of flying, it's a sprawling mini-epic reminiscent of Bowie as much as Springsteen, opening with a twinkly synth part and culminating in the soaring climax of "If i only knew the answer, I wouldn't be bothering you." (thezapping note: I love a soaring climax!)
BONES ~ Possible first single with a definite Queen flavour running through it. Very catchy summery feel with Brandon saucily urging us to "Feel my bones/its only natural". Topped off by a brass section that will sound fantastic at next years festivals.
WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG ~ The album's most Springsteen-esque moment with lyrics relating to "A beautiful boy/he doesn't look a thing like Jesus but he talks like a gentleman was supposed to/When you were young!." Another possible single.
UNCLE JOHNNY DID COCAINE ~ The closest thing to classic Killers. Its blasted around a relentless dark and twisted guitar riff and almost sounds like 70s era Iggy Pop.
READ MY MIND ~ Almost unrecognisable as the Killers, this is a slow stately 80s mega ballad with Brandon delivering an impassioned vocal - perhaps his best to date. Definitely an anthem in waiting.
SAM'S TOWN ~ A raucous guitar intro gives way to a synth heavy verse before settling into a big singalong mantra at the end. Its a nastier sounding song than the others, but unbelievably catchy. Our ears may have deceived us, but we're sure there is a violin in there somewhere too.
Coming soon. My take on shayne ward and JK Rowling interviews...
and i like the music as well.
Hitched? Yes, indeed. Yay!