Track Listing
Sam’s Town
Enterlude
When You Were Young
Bling (Confession Of A King)
For Reasons Unknown
Read My Mind
Uncle Jonny
Bones
My List
The River Is Wild
Why Do I Keep Counting?
Exitlude
My Rating
8/10
Average Critic Rating
7.5/10
Overview
‘Sam’s Town’ feels like the moment The Killers realised just how big they could be. The Indie Rock foundations of their debut are still there, with a bigger sound and choruses built for a crowd to throw itself into. They’ve always had something of an English Indie band about them, making it easy to forget they’re from Las Vegas - here, they bring the two together brilliantly, blending that Indie English energy with the style and swagger of their hometown. They really settle into a style of their own here, with a sense of scale and drama that suits them so well. The album has some prorper iconic tunes, and I’d argue a good chunk of their best material lives here. Brandon Flowers gives the softer moments real feeling, making those explosive bursts of energy hit even harder. The band sound completely invested, with huge choruses that practically demand you join in. A record that cemented their place among the big names, with the songs to back it up.
Recommended for the Indie faithful who still need reminding that Las Vegas isn’t somewhere just outside Manchester.
Featured Song
Read My Mind
Most Streamed
When You Were Young
Least Streamed
Why Do I Keep Counting?
Underrated
Bling (Confession Of A King)
TVV Top 3 Songs
Sam’s Town | Read My Mind | This River Is Wild
Singles
When You Were Young | For Reasons Unknown | Read My Mind | Bones
TVV Top 3 Non-Singles
Sam’s Town | Bling (Confession Of A King) | This River Is Wild
Listen to Again?
Yes
No-Skip Album?
No
Album Artwork Rating
6/10
It has that classic, carefully staged Indie Rock cover feel. It doesn’t quite do it for me, but it somehow captures the album’s mood really well. I’m always a fan of bands adding personal touches to their artwork, so including Nevada’s state animal, the desert bighorn sheep, is a nice nod to their roots that ties in neatly with the Vegas-inspired ‘Sam’s Town’ title.
Genre
Indie Rock
RL
Island Records
Recording Studio
Criterion Studios (London, England) | Studio At The Palms (Las Vegas, Nevada)
