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Reviews \\ Brandon Flowers - Only The Young
 
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By Marc Barlow, Sunday 14th November 2010 03.52pm (10766 views)

Brandon Flowers
Brandon Flowers - Only The Young
Released: 29th November 2010
Label: Island Records

When it was announced that Brandon Flowers was to release a solo album, it’s hard to see one of them, do it by themselves when you’ve watched them develop from the beginning. Also many (including myself) were hesitant towards the idea of this venture as the songs maybe the fat, cut off from the meaty, previous Killers albums. Though the majority of the songs on the record are ‘edible meat’, there still are some chewy bits of fat. One of these being Flowers’ next single, ‘Only The Young’…

What a disappointment for a second single this is, making fans, listeners, and critics consider not buying ‘Flamingo’ when it is actually first-class album. This slow, emotive song doesn’t really work and tie in with the rest of the Alternative, Red Neck sort of sound and feel to the album.

This sort of cosmic, atmospheric sound seems to gradually develop, to something quite special. But of course, it conveys nothing but a couple of techno beats and weak lyrics. It seems to be a failed and quite miserable attempt to reflect the magic that is ‘Space Oddity’ by Bowie. To me, the song doesn’t beacon or scream neither a Flowers nor Killers song, but more suited for Coldplay or Take That. Nevertheless it does show familiarities to ‘A Dustland Fairytale’ by The Killers and even so, this has a lot more personality and punch!

For all those Killers and Flowers fans, don’t be disheartened by his unquestionable ability to produce worthy songs, fit for any album he does, either for himself or with the band but the three lost components of the group, are highlighted in this song. I hope with his next single, he releases something more risky, edgy and sassy, unlike this boring and unfulfilling record.
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So far there have been 5 comments posted...
View Darren1naudi's profile
Darren1naudi says: 15/11 @ 19:26
I actually heard this single for the very first time today on a loacal radio as I was driving and made it a point to review it on internet as soon as I return home,and thats exactly what I did. Music is art.It's subjective.It either touches you or it doesn't.And when it does, then it might touch you differently than it does to the next person next to you.

I agree with Marc Barlow in one main thing. Perhaps Brandon Flowers may be regarded as a "cut-off from the meaty, previous Killers...". However, I feel that it is a mistake that is more often than not made by most fans of a certain band that ends up splitting and individual members going their way.It is often expected that the individual member produces the very same style of music as the band he was part of. To expect Brandon Flowers to be a continuation of The Killers is the same as expecting Angels and Airwaves to be a continuity of Blink 182, or Paul Mcarthy a continuity The Beatles. To these we can add so many others,including several project-bands such as The Gorillaz. It simply doesnt happen.

When I had heard The Killers for the very first time (Mr. Brightside-Hot Fuss),when the music scene was raving about both song and band, in all honesty I was personality not impressed. I didn't think much of both. I was one of the few in that sense. As time went by, and new singles being released, the band's talent hit me with a vengeance, and this culminated with the release of "Smile like you mean it" and then "All these things that I've done". Yet, in my humble opinion, the band reached it's apex in Sam's Town with the release of "When you were young",which, in my opinion remained the most powerful, energetic and awe-inspiring piece of work ever produced by the band. The whole album was what can be, once again in my opinion, the epitome of The Killers, and worthy of Flower's statement expressing the band's objective of bringing back the spirit into rock.

With all this in perspective, personally, I felt Day and Age a let-down. I felt it lacked the punch of the previous two albums and a far cry from the level achieved in Hot Fuss and most especially in Sam's Town. I felt something lacking. It seemed as though the album was more the product of necessity, rather than passion. Perhaps it takes a band like Radio Head to put art before pressure and tell EMI that it is not yet time for another album. Unfortunately it appears that more often than not Record Labels miss the wood for the trees and fail to realise that music is art, and that art and deadlines simply don't relate.

Having listened to "Only the Young", discouraged certainly I'm not. I loved it. It's simply a matter of taste. Subjectively, I dare say that Barndon Flower's works so far have been even better that the material in Day & Age. As I said,this is merely my humble opinion. It's a matter of taste. The point I'm trying to make is that The Killers have come and gone,they were great while they lasted. Any appreciation of Brandon Flowers should not be measured on the basis of comparison with the band he made part of. It simply doesn't exist anymore.
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View MBarlow95's profile
MBarlow95 says: 16/11 @ 18:16
I agree with you about Sam's Town being the peak of The Killers career, however i believe that there are simply better songs on Flamingo than Only The Young. It sounds like an attempt of the advert tune for British Gas or something. It's just such a disappointment!

Being a fan from the beginning, it's hard to see one of them, flushing his and The Killers careers away before they have even started to write the highly anticipated fourth album. Don't get me wrong, i'll be buying the next album, but will the quality and depth of the song be better than Only The Young? High Likely...



attempted British Gas advert song
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View Darren1naudi's profile
Darren1naudi says: 16/11 @ 20:10
In that sense I must agree with you. I think that any "negative" reaction to Brandon Flower's works as solo is more the result of the fact that we still can't get over the fact that The Killers, as a band, is no longer there. And, as you said, at such an early stage of their career, especially considering how promising they were. Personally I saw them becoming something more akin to U2. Not music-wise, but in the sense that I truly believed that they would be there for a long time and I was very keen to see the way they mature and develop as a band. Unfortunately it didn't happen. On a more positive note though, I'm happy to see Brand Flower's enthusiasm for producing new work, and that, within itself, is proof of his passion for music. I simply wish that he doesn't follow in the steps of the band itself and vanish into thin air, as often happens. It would be a great pity. The man has talent, and his style is unique. He still carries the "trademark sound" which distinguishes him from other singers/bands, in the same way as Red Hot Chilly Peppars, Placebo, Muse, The Strokes and others, have their own distinctive sound.
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Darren1naudi says: 16/11 @ 20:30
Another thing which I think we should bear in mind is that, people "grow". Artists, whether solo or as a band, change as they grow older. They mature, and so does thier music. My question is, had the band still been together, would their fourth album been the same as the previous three? Or would Flower's work as a solo been the work of The Killer's fourth album?
Day & Age, when compared to the two previous albums, was rather "mellow". If it was to be taken ans an indication of The Killer's future works, then I wouldn't be surprised if Flower's work as a solo artist would have been precisely the work released as The Killer's fourth album. It appears to be a general trait of male-bands. They start off rather "aggressive", and then they tend to evolve and adopt a more "laid-back" style, yet still retaining a subtle punch. To mention just one band I refer once again to U2, when one compares their style in the 1980's and the way they evolved into the style they adopted in the 1990's.

One last thing I wish to say, Brandon Flowers has one unique characteristic-his voice and way of singing. It's there where his "trademark" lies,more than the style of the music itself.
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View MBarlow95's profile
MBarlow95 says: 16/11 @ 22:56
Defiantly! That man is talented, but I just don't think he realises that some of the songs on the album do sound like the ones that never made the cut. I think in some ways it was clever them having this 'hiatus' because it gives them time to develop, as you said, as people, not only artists. But it's a huge risk, because not only are you testing the water with your own material, but what if that didn't work? Would it of be a waste of time, when they could of used this time to perfect their new album?

Let's be honest, they'll never stop making music, people will just eventually get bored with there approach. But hopefully, the fourth album will be better than Day and Age and Flamingo. I think this experience will give them, new purpose to write and perform.
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