(Island/Universal)

The synths are back

When The Killers released their debut album Hot Fuss back in 2004, the perfect synthesis of indie guitar rock and ‘80s slinkiness a la Duran Duran had arrived. Eager to avoid pigeonholing, follow-up Sam’s Town delved into Springsteen-styled Americana. For the third album, the Las Vegas quartet have returned to the gaudy Vegas technicolour of their first album, and though frontman Brandon Flowers has described Day And Age as “their most playful record”, it lacks the euphoria and anthemic quality of the band’s previous work. Make no mistake, with producer Stuart Price, The Killers have certainly made a record that sounds fantastic, the synths gliding like garish sports cars along the Vegas strip and Flowers’ vocals a very comfortable blend of MTV pop idol and seedy lounge lizard. The singles Human and Spaceman encapsulate what’s best about the record, blending stadium disco choruses with likeable power pop punch. The stylistic departures aren’t quite as successful – the Kajagoogoo cheesiness and smooth sax solo of Joy Ride are fun but overly frothy, while bossa-lite shuffle I Can’t Stay sounds more slight than suave. Elsewhere, the album maintains The Killers’ penchant for hi-tech urban hymns, but the glitter is fading and melancholy is beginning to set in. As carefree as they may have intended Day And Age to sound, it ultimately comes across like a great pop band growing up a tad too quickly.

***

MATT THROWER

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