Sam's Town

iTunes Review

The Killers have been whipsawed by the hype machine since the 2004 release of their debut, Hot Fuss, which sounded similar to the old new wave of Duran Duran and The Cure. This time, under the pressure of expectation, they go for a bigger, brighter sound that brings to mind more recent arena bands such as Oasis and Coldplay. In fact, Sam’s Town sounds like it was recorded in an arena. The pounding guitar riffs and swirling keyboards fill up every inch of space, leaving little room for subtlety or dynamics – which is partly the point, of course. This is a grandiose album, both musically and thematically, from the faux operatic backing vocals and horns of “Bones” to the ever-earnest vocals of Brandon Flowers to the synth strings that punctuate the choruses. They are clearly aiming for epic, with lyrics focused on various methods of escape, the liberating effects of cruising down the highway, weather metaphors, and the good/evil paradox of America that is reflected in Las Vegas, the band’s hometown. They may not hit the lofty heights they’re reaching for, but you can’t say they lack ambition.