release date: Oct. 2, 2006
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: Flood, Alan Moulder, The Killers
label: Island Records - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Sam's Town" (live) - 3. "When You Were Young" (4 / 5) - 4. "Bling (Confessions of a King)" - 5. "For Reasons Unknown" - 6. "Read My Mind" - 8. "Bones" (4 / 5)
2nd studio album by The Killers following the acclaimed Hot Fuzz (2004) brings in two major British capacities as sound engineers and producers: Flood (aka Mark Ellis) and Alan Moulder.
The style has changed slightly to be more alt. rock leaving the post-punk label behind them.The album was highly expected, and many found it just as great as the debut but I think it's a lesser release. Not that it's not interesting, original, or very good, I just don't find it quite as great. Best tracks here are "When You Were Young", "Read My Mind", "For Reasons Unknown" - all of which appear on the band's best of album Direct Hits (2013) - and "Bones", a song that somehow didn't even make it to their compilation album but was released as the album's second single.
The reception of the band's music is very bland, and that's really a characteristic thing that has stuck with the band on later releases. All their albums have been criticized by many for being unoriginal (comparing the band to either Depehe Mode, New Order, or U2 and Bruce Springsteen), having very bad lyrics, and being highly praised by others. Regardless the varied reviews, all their albums have sold 'platinum' or more in many countries all around the world.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5, Rolling Stone, The Times 2 / 5, Q, The Guardian 4 / 5 stars ]
