By Kaitlyn Mullis
Staff Writer
The Killers, a band hailing from Las Vegas, first burst onto the music scene with 2004’s “Hot Fuss.” The first catchy single “Somebody Told Me” and the renowned “Mr. Brightside” made the album their biggest success, with sales soaring to 3.3 million in the United States and 5.5 million worldwide. In 2006, the anticipated sophomore album “Sam’s Town” was released, riding on the first single “When You Were Young.” Although the concept album was not as successful in the U.S. as “Hot Fuss,” it still sold 4.4 million copies worldwide. “Sawdust,” released in fall 2007, is a collection of B-sides from both “Hot Fuss” and “Sam’s Town,” as well as a remix of “Mr. Brightside” and an alternate recording of the song “Sam’s Town” from the Abbey Road recording sessions. It also included cover songs from Joy Division and Dire Straits and a brand new song called “Tranquilize” featuring Lou Reed.
The band, whose members are lead singer Brandon Flowers, guitarist Dave Keuning, bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci, have faced criticism in their move from “Hot Fuss” to “Sam’s Town.” Not only did their sound change from synthesizer-laden pop alternative to Bruce Springsteen-esque anthem rock, but their entire look changed as well, going from clean-cut suits and ties to more laidback cowboy attire. “We were tired of having our pants pressed,” Vannucci told People Magazine in 2006. The band believes that the criticism is for the good of the band. “We learned that you can’t please everyone,” Flowers told The Rolling Stone, “but we’ve got faith in what we do.”
After touring the world for the past months after the release of “Sawdust,” The Killers have announced that they are ready for a brand new album. The band’s front man, Brandon Flowers, 27, was interviewed by NME.com after finishing their headlining set at the Leeds Festival, a weekend-long concert held in the UK. He announced that the new album would be called “Day and Age” and named a few of the song titles that could be included in the lineup. “Spaceman” and “Neon Tiger” are potential singles that The Killers have already played at select shows, including the Leeds Festival and a concert at the Highline Ballroom in New York. Other song titles that Flowers named were “Joyride,” “I Can’t Stay,” “Tidal Wave,” “Losing Touch” and “Goodnight Travel Well.”
“The lyrics are slowly but surely coming along,” he added. “The music is about 95% done and the lyrics are 30% done.”
The first single off the new album is “Human” and was released worldwide September 25. The digital single will be available September 30.
After four years of constant touring and recording, The Killers finally had the chance to take a three month break. Flowers, however, brushed aside the opportunity for rest and wrote almost thirty new songs. He admits that there was a lot of pressure to have their second album, “Sam’s Town,” become a huge success, but that he feels like that pressure would always be there.
“It’s our job, after all,” he said.
In an interview with The Rolling Stone, Killers bassist Mark Stoermer said that the new album would be different from the previous debut “Hot Fuss” and the stadium-rock sound of “Sam’s Town.”
“This record is stripped down in a lot of ways. Each instrument has its place, and things aren’t clouding anything up.”
The Killers will be working with producer Stuart Price, who is well-known for his work with music legends Madonna and Seal. “Day and Age” is slated for release on November 25.
