The Killers

Sawdust - Island 2007

Tracks: 1. Tranquilize / 2. Shadowplay / 3. All The Pretty Faces / 4. Leave The Bourbon On The Shelf / 5. Sweet Talk / 6. Under The Gun / 7. Where The White Boys Dance / 8. Show You How / 9. Move Away / 10. Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll / 11. Who Let You Go? / 12. The Ballad of Michael Valentine / 13. Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town / 14. Daddy's Eyes / 15. Sam's Town / 16. Romeo And Juliet / 17. Mr. Brightside

Comments:

I had heard The Killers several times on radio, and actually thought pretty good about them, without noticing any specific song-titles. My first impression was that they must be British, reminding me a lot about groups like Blur and Starsailor. It was only when I heard The Killers' version of "Romeo and Juliet" that I became seriously interested. A fantastic version that deservedly brought new focus to one of Dire Staits' best songs.

When I searched on the net I also discovered that the group had recorded a new interpretation of the classic "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town", which for me clearly surpassed previous versions. I had to find out where these numbers could be found on CD . It proved to my luck to both songs are found on "Sawdust, " which is a collection of outtakes and assorted oddities that have not found their way into the official albums. The music is recorded in the period 2003-2007.

Fortunately, and of course, there are also many great songs among The Killers' original material. Being brought forward deserves alternate version of "Sam's Town", a great song. The opening track "Tranquilizers", which features guest appearance by Lou Reed is another of the pleasant surprises - having both Bowie and Sparks elements. The same can probably said about "Where the White Boys Dance", an outtake from "Sam's Town".

Brit- and Indie-Pop is focused on "Glamerous Indie Rock and Roll" - could well have been a Blur song. Magnificent but more traditional is "Daddy's Eyes". Solid straightforward rock can be found on "Change Your Mind ". A beautiful and a worthy final to the set is "Mr Brightside", which in glimpses contains techno elements.

Finally "Show You How" which, with its catchy guitar theme is a song must return to. A very fine CD which actually works fine as a whole - a real album.

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