Artist of the Day: Brandon Flowers

The Killers have run the gamut of musical influences, from the electronic heavy pseudo-Brit pop of Hot Fuss and Americana roots rock of Sam's Town. But frontman Brandon Flowers has always preached from his own gospel, one that's neon-soaked and leaving last call in the rain after closing time for Las Vegas's last bar. He's a non-confrontational lover, a self-professed sinner, one of the last of the great jukebox romantics. He's got soul, but he's not a soldier.

His first, and only, solo album is Flamingo, an open love letter to his native Sin City. His best works are almost psalm-like in nature: "Crossfire" is a hymn, complete with a wailing chorus and slow, pulsing synthesizers. "Only the Young" dazzles with ethereal radiance and "Magdalena" is a Latin-tinged love ballad.

But Flowers isn't solely religious on his solo effort. He's still infatuated and enamored with the American West. "Hard Enough" has a subtle country twang and even "Playing With Fire" has its roots stuck in sepia toned nostalgia. Not all of the memories are fond, but Flowers keeps listeners enraptured by his troubadour act. Barring Hot Fuss and half of Sam's Town, Flamingo is some of the Killers' best material, even if it wasn't recorded as a full-band album.

Flamingo is Brandon Flowers' sermon on the mount, if the mount was a sleazy Las Vegas Strip casino. It's a look at the creative force that drives the Killers, and if it's any inclination, Battle Born should be one heck of an album.

Facebook

The Daily Blair: An NFL Playoff Musical

Hey the NFL Playoffs are coming up! So I am going to compare every NFL playoff team to a 2012 album.

1. SUPER BOWL CHAMPION: New Orleans Saints

2012 album that reminds me of the New Orleans Saints: Fun.- Some Nights

On Aim and Ignite, Fun. was the Pittsburgh Steelers: they combined old school influences (Beach Boys and Queen) with new school ideas and execution. The Pittsburgh Steelers love to run the ball and deal out helmet to helmet hits like it is 1965 (Beach Boys and Queen) but they also have one of the best passing games in the league led by nightclub enthusiast Ben Roethlisberger (new school ideas and execution.) A&I had something for everyone to love just like the Pittsburgh Steelers have something for everyone to hate.

This year Fun. seem to be focused on perfecting a modern sound: "We Are Young" is a beat driven anthem that kind of sounds like a tamer version of "Baby Girl, I'm A Blur," "WTF" is a five minute uncensored version of "At Least I'm Not As Sad As I Used To Be," "Carry On"sounds like a 2011 remixed song off of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and "It Gets Better" has the chance to have the generational impact that "Imagine" had over thirty years ago. So while Fun. has not totally forgotten their old school influences they seem to be using less and less of these influences to make their next modern masterpiece. The new fun. album is the Saints modern offense that passes over fifty times a game then sneaks in a draw to Darren Sproles to keep the defense on their toes. Some Nights will make Fun. the biggest band in the world just like the Saints passing offense made them the best team in the National Football League.