Brandon Flowers solo album, "Flamingo"

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And now I've heard it.

It really just solidifies the fact that I love the Killers. I know this is Brandon solo, but Brandon's such a huge part of the band, and as we all know, it's could easily have been a Killers album.

I've only heard it once, so I'm going to try not to be all HYPE, or anything, but it was an amazing listen. Haven't quite had the reaction to any other album this year like I did to this one. Is it my favorite? I'm not sure yet. We'll find out
 
Sigh. One step forward, another step back. This is probably the best set of songs Brandon has had at his disposal since Hot Fuss, but I really miss the rhythm section. The production and performances are so dull and streamlined that I can't glean much from the songs, nothing to return to, at any rate. Again, with more lively production, better beats...a fucking bass line or two...anything would help. This could have been better than D&A and Sam's Town in my eyes, but right now I'm just thinking the latter. It also doesn't help that nearly every song in the first half is essentially the same. Tracks 5-8 are a great time, I got really excited during that stretch. Sadly, On The Floor bores me to tears, and Swallow It is just...well, it's a letdown. I expected something sprawling and truly different, not a slightly eccentric sketch.

1. Playing With Fire - 8.5/10
2. Crossfire - 8/10
3. Magdalena - 7.5/10
4. Only The Young - 7.5/10
5. Was It Something I Said - 7/10
6. Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts - 7/10
7. Hard Enough - 7/10
8. Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas - 6.5/10
9. Swallow It - 6/10
10. On The Floor - 4.5/10

That averages out to a 6.2, but I like it more than that. Even with all the bitching I did, I would still give it about a 7 overall. It really is a solid collection of songs, just...I do miss the Killers. Fucking terrific rhythm section, and they bring out the ambition in Brandon. He aimed low here and yeah, it came out fine, but this could have excelled with someone to push him that one step further.
 
Not sure how you could think the first four sound exactly the same. Especially when they're four of my favorites

I think I'm ready to rank

Best (Like, good enough to top some of my favorite Killers' songs):
Hard Enough
Crossfire
Only the Young

Still great:
Jilted Lovers
Magdalena
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas
Swallow It

Good:
Was It Something I Said?

Ok:
On the Floor

Least Favorite (but that's still like a 7/10 (I REALLY like this album):
Playing with Fire
 
in case anyone is interested... BBC - Radio 1 - Events - Brandon Flowers

On Monday 6th September, BBC Radio 1 will be bringing you a very special performance from Killers frontman, turned solo artist, Brandon Flowers, live from London's legendary Maida Vale studios.

You'll be able to hear the gig live on Radio 1 in Zane Lowe's show that night.

We're filming the session, so you can watch exclusive highlights the next day and also listen back to the whole show online

i think this is the link to BBC Radio 1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/
 
Love the album, but I have the Deluxe edition, and those bonus 4 songs are actually my 4 favorite songs on the album.

"Jacksonville" is beautiful.
 
Considering the involvement of both Stuart Price and Daniel Lanois, I think this album's a severe disappointment. There are a few entertaining ones - like "Magdalena", "Was It Something I Said?" and "Jilted Lovers and Broken Hearts" - but it seems like Brandon Flowers opted to make a trip to an adult contemporary version of "Sam's Town" for this one.
 
Must say – LOVING the album.

I am glad Brandon went solo with this, because the stripped back arrangements let the strengths in the songs shine through. Some excellent melodies, and Lanois is a dream on the tracks he plays in/produces.

These lyrics are his most well-developed and thoughtful. He melds the urge to tell epic stories with his dry wit and cynicism perfectly.

WTFLV – Nice opening – sets the tone well. Gets you immediately interested, and gives you plenty of the albums strengths (great melody, perfect instrumentation, and lyrically strong). – 7.5/10
OTY – Fantastic slow burner. This was the one I found myself singing constantly after my first listen. 8/10
HE – Jenny Lewis shines. The amazing thing about this track is that it raises the bar from an already cracking start. 8.5/10
JLABH – Currently my favourite on the record. The most ‘killers’ tune on there. Sorry to all die-hards, but the track is no poorer for their absence. 9.5/10
PWF – Wasn’t overwhelmed early on, but listen to this track at volume in the dark on great headphones. Haunting, acheing and perfectly emotive. 8.5/10
WISIS? – Takes the album in a different direction. Fun, playful, but doesn’t degenerate into kitsch or cheese. A fantastic lyric, and Brandon really shows his vocal range. 8/10
Magdelena – My least favourite, which shows the strength of the album, rather than the weakness of the track. 7/10
Crossfire – The perfect pick for first single, opens the door for JLABH or HE to explode on radio as a follow up. Infectious chorus melody. 8.5/10
OTF – Along with Magdelena, probably could have been a bonus track, with The Clock Was Tickin’ a stronger cut for the album. 7/10
SI – A nice closer, without being as memorably epic as it could be, but definitely a satisfying way to close a wonderful, cohesive and well-planned album. 8/10

Overall 8.5/10
 
Interesting to see the chasm of opinion here. Even those who don’t like it at first, I do definitely think it has enormous grower potential, and the production argument bewilders me. On good quality headphones you can really hear that the production is a major strength. PWF I was certain was going to become an Interference favourite!
 
bono_212 said:
Where is Daniel, he needs to go buy this, asap.
Click to expand...

I Gots it.

If Brandon Flowers isn't already Vegas' answer to the RHCP ...I don't know whats going on :wink: Purchased the deluxe edition on my way home today. Gave it a spin in the car, good. Not terrible. some songs will grow on me. Already like it more than Day & Age....which somewhat restores my faith in future Killers releases.
 
dan_smee said:
PWF I was certain was going to become an Interference favourite!
Click to expand...

Yeah, but I'm not surprised it hasn't caught on immediately. If the album as a whole is a grower (wouldn't surprise me at all, but I certainly wasn't blown away immediately), Playing With Fire is Flamingo's best representative. lt's shockingly low-key, but there's a lot to listen for, and the lyrics hold up to scrutiny. I think it's his best song since When You Were Young. even better than the more obvious Crossfire, which is good in its own right.

Early reviews for the album are mediocre. Based on the reviews I've seen, a 60 or so metacritic score can be expected:

BBC Music - Mixed
Drowned in Sound - 6/10
The Guardian - 3/5 stars
The Independent - Positive
musicOMH - 3.5/5 stars
NME - 5/10
The Observer - Mixed
The Scotsman - 3/5 stars
Spin - 5/10

I'm not really surprised, but I was expecting maybe a 0.5-1 point increase across the board. I don't think I'll ever love this album, but it is good, and I certainly think it deserves better press than Sam's Town, which was a complete clusterfuck. Flamingo isn't all that ambitious, but he deserves credit for its execution.
 
I am very surprised by the feedback. I would have expected a lot higher. I am hugely impressed with this album. If it was a Killers album, it was EASILY slot into 2nd best
 
Very, very good album. I saw him play the new material live last month, and now 've heard all 14 tracks for a few days now and the record grows on me even more with each listen. Not as good as Day & Age or Hot Fuss, but there are some fantastic tracks: On The Floor, Magdalena, Hard Enough, Crossfire and Only The Young are my favorites.
 
After a few more days, loving:

Only the Young
Hard Enough
Jilted Lovers
Was it Something I said
Cross Fire
The Clock was Tickin
 
I just heard "Playing With Fire" on youtube now. Fking brilliant!! I have to get this album soon!!
 
LemonMelon said:
Playing With Fire is Flamingo's best representative. lt's shockingly low-key, but there's a lot to listen for, and the lyrics hold up to scrutiny. I think it's his best song since When You Were Young. even better than the more obvious Crossfire, which is good in its own right.
Click to expand...

:up:
 
(Does anyone get the feeling that Brandon’s going to write an album about every casino in L.V. long before Sufjan ever puts out a third album in his United States project?)
Click to expand...

:lol: :yes: I like that line.

Nice review there! Mentioned the good, the bad, and everything in between, detailed enough-well done :). I still haven't heard any of the other songs off here yet, just "Crossfire" thus far, I'll have to check the rest out and see if my opinion matches yours.

Angela
 
A friend bought me the deluxe version of Flamingo as a birthday present and it arrived yesterday. Only had time to listen to the first few songs. Sounded great. I did listen to the "leaked" album (when it was released in Australia). But need to hear the whole album a few more times before I can say which songs I like best and which are my least favorite.

Also found out yesterday that the Northern American Tour Dates have been announced :

November 10 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
November 11 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
November 13 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
November 14 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo
November 15 - Vancouver, Canada - Commodore Ballroom
November 17 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
November 18 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
November 21 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
November 23 - Chicago, IL - Riviera Theater
November 24 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
November 26 - Boston, MA - House of Blues
November 28 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
November 29 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
December 2 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
December 4 - Toronto, Canada - Sound Academy
 
got my tickets for Philly! love the killers and brandon know how to put a good show.
 
i went to the jimmy kimmel taping last night, they played:


Crossfire
Magdalena
Hard Enough
Only the Young :)drool:)
Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts
On the Floor
Swallow It
Right Behind You (acoustic :up: )
When You Were Young (acoustic :yawn: )

they also soundchecked Clock Was Tickin' which was very surprising and sounded great



also, right behind you is a fantastic song.
 
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