Skip to main content

Our Guest Writer Rips the Killers a New One


I still have a crush on him. Is that weird?- BK 
The Killers “Battle Born” Review.
By Zach Marmolejo (guest writer) 

2/5

When The Killers first hit the scene in 2004 with their album “Hot Fuss” I was really excited about them. Here was this band that seemed to have captured the catchiness of 80’s songs and turned them into great pop rock songs that most everyone enjoyed. 
Then lead singer Brandon Flowers discovered Bruce Springsteen’s back catalogue and wanted to somehow capture that for today’s audience. That effort turned into 2006’s “Sam’s Town” which left critics divided, but the fans ate it up. They returned to back to their 80’s synthy sound with 2008’s “Day and Age” and critics seemed to welcome them back and the fans once again ate it up.

After 4 years of side projects and solo albums they are back, which is unfortunate for listeners. It seems that Flowers is trying to combine the sound of Springsteen’s early 70’s albums with what they were known for when they first came out. The results are as terrible as the idea sounds trust me. There is a reason why there is only one Bruce Springsteen and music critic’s let him get away with his wholesome slice of Americana Jersey heartland rock because he has earned it. Most the time when other people try to duplicate what The Boss does they usually end up sounding like Bon Jovi.

To say that the Killers sound like Bon Jovi on their latest effort would be an insult not only to Bon Jovi, but his millions of housewife fans who are well past their prime, but they still try to hang on by spray tanning and going out to clubs at night when they should be in bed watching “Matlock.”

On “Battle Born” Flowers belts out scenes that would make anyone from the garbage state say “Man that stinks.” He sings about being his girlfriend’s prizefighter on the album's last song “Prizefighter” that tells the story of you guess it Flowers being a prizefighter just trying to make a better life for him and his gal trying to reach “that golden door,” and he can do it as long as she is by his side. He also manages to swear on his unborn child’s head that he is going to take care of the three of them on the lead single “Runaways.” It doesn’t get much better on any of the albums other 13 tracks either.

I understand what Flowers was trying to do with this album, but the problem is it feels like the album never figures out exactly what it wants to be. Does it want to be a tribute of sorts to the Boss’s heyday, or does it want to go back to the 80’s sound that The Killers are known for.. The album ends of being a mess of so many sounds that are not pleasing to anyone but Mr. Flower’s ears. I was a pretty stern defendant of “Sam’s Town” when critics loved to bash the hell out that, but I cannot in my heart of hearts defend whatever this album is. Somewhere out there Bruce is sitting naked in his golden bathtub weeping while eating a gallon of Ben and Jerry’s because “Battle Born” is stuck on repeat.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

"Mon Soleil" - Ashley Park

If there's anything people take away from my piss-poor legacy, I hope it's what a huge, unabashed fan of "Emily in Paris" I am and will continue to be. People love "90 Day Fiancee," "The Bachelor," and other garbage - allow me "Emily," which is at least harmless, kind of goofy fluff (which does, unfortunately, lean into some stereotypes, as the country of Ukraine knows ). I have already watched Season 2 twice. And honestly my favorite part of this show (despite my crush on Camille Razart and Lily Collins channeling Audrey Hepburn hardcore ) is Ashley Park. This woman has superstar written all over her. She's a bona fide Broadway star, and "Emily in Paris" has served as her pivot into the zeitgeist.  "Emily in Paris" is also showcasing her vocal prowess front and center this season, with her covering BTS, "All By Myself," "Sympathtique," and Marilyn Monroe. But the real standout performance is th

Appropriate Holiday Gift Ideas for the Single Lady

While some people may see it as a drag, there are plenty of benefits to being single during the holiday season. During this time of the year, there are tons of parties you can attend that you may not have had the opportunity to if you were in a relationship. There’s also not as much stress on you as a single gal during the holidays because you don’t have to shop for your partner and extended family members  or  stress over where to eat Christmas dinner.  Not everyone sees the bright side of being fancy free during the holidays, and, tragically, they aren't afraid to let us single ladies know. Not only are single women subjected to even more harassment and ridicule during the holiday season, they’re also given the most obnoxious gifts by those who can’t comprehend how anyone can be both happy and single. Whether it’s a self-help book (desperately) trying to reinforce how great is to be single or the gift of a year-long subscription to Match.com , single women are presented with

"High Tide, Storm Rising" - Skinshape

A new Skinshape LP is on the way as of October 28th! "Nostalgia" promises to delve into the world of motives and motifs. Will Dorey (AKA Skinshape) has described this particular track "High Tide, Storm Rising" as "the main theme song of a movie." And if you have read any of my prior posts, you know I'm a sucker for anything cinematic.  Here's a full look at the Skinshape "Nostalgia" track listing: 01. Theme For Lazarus 02. Better Chances 03. Dreams of Panama 04. Moonlight Walk  05. Albion 06. High Tide, Storm Rising 07. Turn Away 08. Bohanon's Cornucopia 09. Bad Dreams 10. Fish & Chips 11. Dawn I would try to include something about live shows, but the soulful likes of Skinahape simply prefer to record and NOT perform live, which is an interesting choice in today's world.  Once again, "Nostalgia" is out everywhere as of Oct. 28th.