Killers slay the crowd with songs old and newBY RAFER GUZMÁNNewsday Staff Writer October 27, 2006
Halfway through The
Killers' show Tuesday night, singer Brandon Flowers wryly
insulted his band's new album. "We're gonna play another new
song," he announced, "one of those terrible things we wrote on
this album 'Sam's Town.'"
The song was "Bling (Confessions of a King)," and it didn't sound terrible at all. On top of a pulsing guitar line, Flowers played piping keyboards and sang a grandiose, evocative melody in his quavering voice. The refrain seemed to drive home his point: "It's not so bad/It's not so bad." Two years later, however, the surprisingly ambitious "Sam's Town" is meeting with almost unanimously lousy reviews. Critics have lambasted nearly everything about the album, from the literary lyrics to the arena-rock melodies to the overall "concept" (it's named after an out-of-the-way casino in the band's hometown of Las Vegas). The consensus is that The Killers don't have the chops or the vision to make big statements; they've gotten too big for their pop britches. But here's a different opinion: "Sam's Town" is far more interesting and distinctive than "Hot Fuss." For the first time, the band sounds original rather than derivative. The wide-ranging songs borrow from Spring-steen's tragic lyrics, Bowie's theatricality and Queen's fondness for overkill, but they come together cohesively. The multi-part compositions aren't exactly radio-ready, but they're catchy and propulsive. And there's a new conviction in Flowers' voice. It's anyone's guess what he's trying to say - but he sure means it. So, critics be damned: On a stage that resembled an old saloon, with dingy wooden crates and a puny neon sign blinking "Welcome," The Killers played nearly all of their new album, running through 10 of its 12 tracks. The fans seemed thrilled, singing along and pumping fists during the dramatic "When You Were Young" (the album's would-be single), a panoramic version of "For Reasons Unknown" and the stomping, sleazy "Uncle Jonny." Of course the band knew well enough to intersperse the new material with old favorites, including the bitter ballad "Mr. Brightside" and the rueful "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine." It all meshed seamlessly into a 75- minute soundscape of prickly guitars, oscillating synthesizers and chugging bass lines. (An additional musician provided extra waves of keyboards and fuzzy guitar.) Drummer Ronnie Vannucci ended the anthem "Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll" by hammering on a giant Zildjian gong. The Killers bookended the show with the ditties "Enterlude" and "Exitlude," whose simple lyrics sounded heartfelt: "We hope you enjoyed your stay/It's good to have you with us/Even if it's just for the day."
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