The Killers - Sam's Town

Sam's Town is The Killers second album and it holds a special place in my heart as the album I was listening to in late 2006: when I got my first job and was looking forward to buying the Wii. I'd compare this album to a second date: you realize that your new crush has flaws you hadn't noticed the first time around, but you're just that much more endeared. And flustered. And optimistic for the future. The band goes for a more rock-oriented approach, leaving behind much of the glam/disco undertones of the previous album. It's not as endearing as their debut showing, but its nonetheless, a thrilling ride. It instead showcases the growth of a more mature band moving forward musically. Flowers' voice is much rawer and emotional here, not buried under layers of modulation, and the band's sound is more vibrant and diverse. The band notes that this record was influenced by Springsteen, but this album does not have much of a Springsteen sound, at least, none that I caught.

The addictive opening track "Sam's Town" has the same punch rhythmically as "Somebody Told Me" from the first album, but is less reliant on synths and more on electric guitar. The piano-based "Interlude" showcases a softer sound with Brandon Flowers' voice fragile and emotional before it amps up and punches into the rocking first single "When You Were Young." Despite its title, the soaring "Bling(Confession of a King) has shades of the late 80's U2 musically but Flowers can't quite match Bono's vocal style. "For Reasons Unknown" and "Read My Mind" delivers a synth-heavy up-tempo sound that is somewhat reminiscent of the early 80's Talking Heads.

Grounded by a solid bass line, "Uncle Jonny" makes for a great track that thankfully is not overly commercial. Flowers' takes his vocals down a notch for the excellent "Bones" decorated with some great trumpet and sax. The sound of Queen returns with the bombastic track "My List" and "This River Is Wild" is hook-filled and rocking enough to make this a solid second single. "Exitlude" is a nice touch that speaks to the fans, "We hope you enjoyed your stay..it's good to have you with us, even if it was only a day." I do have some misgivings about the way the album was recorded. Unlike the band's stunning debut, there are some songs on Sam's Town that I will outright skip as the song tries too hard or they just don't work for me ("Why Do I Keep Counting" is the only song to really cover those two comments). And there are some noticeable pitch problems with the vocals--baffling on a major-label, Flood-produced album. But all in all, Sam's Town is a great album and while it may not be their best work, it will grow on you with every spin.

Songs I Like - Vol 4: "Neon Tiger" (The Killers)

Another song from one of my favorite bands, The Killers. I think this one is my second favorite from their recent "Day & Age" album.


Neon Tiger Lyrics:

Far from the evergreen of old Assam
Far from the rainfall on the trails of old Saigon
Straight from the poster town of scorn and Ritz
To bring you the wilder side of gold and glitz

Run neon tiger there's a lot on your mind
They promised just to pet you, but don't you let them get you
Away, away, oh, run
Under heat of the southwest sun

Took to the spotlight like a diamond ring
Came from the woodwork and the hopes they might
Redeem themselves from poor decisions to win big

Run neon tiger there's a lot on your mind
They'll strategize and maim you, but don't you let them touch you
You're far too pure and bold
To suffer the strain of the hand and its hold.

I don't wanna be kept, I don't wanna be caged, I don't wanna be damned, oh hell
I don't wanna be broke, I don't wanna be saved, I don't wanna be S.O.L
Give me rolling hills and tonight can be the night that I stand among the thousand thrills
Mister cut me some slack, 'cause I don't wanna go back, I want a new day and age

Come on girls and boys, everyone make some noise!

Run neon tiger there's a price on your head
They'll hunt you down and gut you, I'll never let them touch you
Away, away, oh, run
I'm begging you neon tiger run

Under the heat of
Under the heat of
Under the heat of southwest sun

Neon tiger
There's a lot on your mind

Songs I Like - Vol 1: "Spaceman" (The Killers)

This is the music video for "Spaceman", the recent video from my favorite band The Killers. I had been trying to catch this on VH1 in the mornings but I never lucked out like I did with their "Human" Video. I was able to just go to VH1 and it would be playing. I had no interest in sitting through tons of garbage videos just to see this so I broke down and just watched it online. This is the video I saw at the mall on Saturday after Jordan stood me up and it cheered me up. This just might be their oddest video, but at least they make their videos different.

Spaceman lyrics:

Next thing I knew they ripped me from my bed
And then they took my blood type
It left a strange impression in my head.
You know that I was hoping,
That I could leave this star-crossed world behind
But when they cut me open,
I guess I changed my mind.

And you know I might
Have just flown too far from the floor this time
Cause they're calling me by my name
And the zipping white light beams
Disregards the bombs and satellites

That was the turning point
That was one lonely night

The song maker says, "It ain't so bad"
The dream maker's gonna make you mad
The spaceman says, "Everybody look down
Its all in your mind"

Well now I'm back at home, and
I'm looking forward to this life I live
You know its gonna haunt me
So hesitation to this life I give.
You think you might cross over,
You're caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
You better look it over,
Before you make that leap

And you know I'm fine,
But I hear those voices at night sometimes-
They justify my claim,
And the public don't dwell my transmission
Cause it wasn't televised

But, it was the turning point,
Oh what a lonely night

The song maker says, "It ain't so bad"
The dream maker's gonna make you mad
The spaceman says, "Everybody look down
Its all in your mind"

The song maker says, "It ain't so bad"
The dream maker's gonna make you mad;
The spaceman says, "Everybody look down
Its all in your mind"

My global position systems are vocally addressed
They say the Nile used to run from East to West,
They say the Nile used to run...
From East to West.

And you know I'm fine
But I hear those voices at night
Sometimes...

The song maker says, "It ain't so bad"
The dream maker's gonna make you mad
The spaceman says, "Everybody look down
Its all in your mind"
The song maker says, "It ain't so bad"
The dream maker's gonna make you mad;
The spaceman says, "Everybody look down
Its all in your mind"

It's all in my mind
It's all in my mind
It's all in my mind
It's all in my mind
It's all in my mind

Let's Play Catch Up

My new years resolutions? Update this damn blog more often...I'm might not succeed at that.So starting with my last post about my life, let me play catch you up on my recent events.

Bought The Killers Day & Age CD. Loved it! Easily their most addictive release since their Hot Fuss debut. My 3 favorite tracks: Joyride, I Can't Stay, and The World We Live In.

My great grandmother passed away round the second of December. My only remaining great family members include 2 great aunts on my father's side. I never spent time with my great grandmother so I wasn't affected by her death, but my mother was devastated, which affected me.

I said in early post about my college classes that maybe a miracle would happen and I would pass my Algebra course. Well the miracle happened, I passed that class and my micro-economics course, but I failed the legal business course. No big loss, the teacher of that class was actually fired for receiving too many complaints from students. Works just fine for me.

Christmas was pretty good. I got a couple of surprise gifts like a new jacket and Guitar Hero 3. Among my gifts was Sonic Unleashed for Wii which, while not perfect, was easily the best 3d sonic game since Sonic Adventure 1 & 2.

New Years came and went without much interesting happening. The only thing that really hit me was how quickly the year went by.

I enjoyed the Wii version of Sonic Unleashed so much that I had to purchase the 360 version (which for those who don't know is actually a different game from the wii version). I enjoyed it, but it not as much as the wii version. The overall level design of the 360 was more varied than the wii but a lot less well put together. The only really big thing the 360 version has over Wii is more content and a better balance between the number of sonic and werehog levels. On the wii you get 3 to 4 werehog levels for every one sonic level. All in all though, I really enjoyed the game.

Lastly I started my next semester of college. I only have 2 classes this time and they are at night on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The classes I'm taking are extensions of one another: Small Business Management and Marketing Management. Same teacher for both classes and hot guys in both classes. The best part about this that these classes are really really easy. The teacher pretty much tells us exactly what will be on test. A nice change from my last few semesters.

Well that's it, that's everything that's happened since December. Like I said before, maybe I'll actually post more often.

Day and Age

Today is the release of the Killers' new album Day & Age. I'm really excited for it because the killers are one of my favorite bands. I still rank their debut album Hot Fuss as one of the best cds ever. However with their 2nd disc Sam's Town, They tried to change their sound. They were oringially a las vegas glam rock band but on this disc they sounded like a glam band trying to sound like typical American band. Sam's town was good but the change in style really dragged it down. I've heard a bit of the new album and it sounds like they got their act together and went back to their glam rock style. I still need to get down to curcuit city, that's where I can pick it up the cheapest. Since I still haven't found a new job I need to buy things as cheap as possible.