The Killers’ lead singer Brandon Flowers is now all on his own with the September 14th release of his solo debut album, “Flamingo”. The sound of the overall album is a departure from the sound of his band’s previous work but Flowers’ excels in both. Many genres get mixed into this finished product, but all come together to provide a cohesive piece of work that will attract many new fans for the singer. Preceded by first single, “Crossfire”, the album is a fresh, new sound in the world of throwaway pop and rap. A great top ten debut for a man with a killer voice.
The album begins with the introductory track, “Welcome to Las Vegas”. Immediately this track captivates the listener by the amazing vocals of Flowers that come pouring out. The song really sets the tone of the album, almost like a mixture of his band’s last two records. The track contains great lyrics about the city of sin that are put onto a soft, slow beat that works for a listener wishing for an escape. The album continues with my favorite track on the album. “Only the Young” keeps the soft pace of the album and I feel a sense of empowerment when it plays. It leaves a very hopeful message that I think anyone can relate to. The song is very simple with not much going on in the background. The lyrics are perfection and I don’t think anyone but Flowers could really give the song the justice it deserves. The only collaboration comes from “Hard Enough”. It is a track that I could not get into at the very beginning. The song comes off a bit country, a genre I am not too fond of, and even though the album has a slow pace, I feel that this song could have been delivered a bit faster. The featured guest, Jenny Lewis, does not really work for me either. Her vocals are not bad but they do not compliment Flowers’ very well. For the first time the album’s sound changes up a little with “Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts”. The track reminds me one of Flowers’ band’s single “Bones”, in the delivery, but the end result is something much better and more enjoyable. Flowers’ rocker side oozes out a little here as his vocals progress from beginning to end. The change in pace was much needed for those who are not familiar with the artist. “Playing With Fire” is the most emotional song on the album and I think Flowers’ experiences allow the song to make a huge impact on the listener. What allows a song to become great is not only the beats or a catchy chorus, but the strong lyrics, Flowers’ proves this. There will be many interpretations of the lyrics, but all that matters is that the performance is amazing. A song with a theme of broken love is what you get with “Was it Something I Said?”. With a more upbeat tone than the rest of the album, the song shows a different sound which is a pleasant thing. Again, the final product is almost pure perfection and really shows off the immense talent that Flowers’ has. The track is one that would not feel out of place on a Killers’ album, but Flowers’ vocals make it a beautiful solo effort. “Magdalena” is a good song, but it is nothing memorable which is a disappointment. As usual, the vocals that come out the speakers are great, but the background production causes those vocals to get lost most of the time. I applaud the track for being something different, but I feel that it needed more time to be album ready, just does not fit with the rest of the album. The first single off the album, “Crossfire”, was a good choice to get Flowers’ fans acquainted with what to expect from his album. The song is one of the few that actually have a distinct chorus that works with the rest of the lyrics that play. The track has a fast enough pace to grab the attention of those listening. It is a beautiful piece of work. “On The Floor” sounds like it would fit perfectly in the gospel genre. The choir in the background justifies that statement. My only negative critique about the song would be that it seems so short. The lyrics are good but there isn’t much to them. The delivery is stretched out which allows it to sound airy and majestic. The album finishes with a great closing track, “Swallow It”. The song is a wonderful experience for the listener, amplified by the background singing. The song has a meaning that really comes out very straight forward compared to the rest of the track list. The beats, the pace, the vocals, and the lyrics all come together to really tie the entire album together and leave a lasting impression. The album is a wonderful listen for those familiar with Flowers’ and those that are not.
“Flamingo” is a great debut by an artist that has been releasing albums since 2003. Brandon Flowers’ solo effort is a completely different piece of work that will please his fans. Flowers’ released music that he wanted to and I think it is a nice departure from the rest of the records out there now. The vocals featured on this album are some of the best, but the lyrics work as well. For having great production, great vocals, lyrics that tell a story, and the tracks “Only The Young” and “Crossfire”, the album as a whole receives an 86%.
Tracks to Hear: "Only The Young", "Playing With Fire", and "Crossfire"
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