★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 out of 5
With a music obsession that truly took off in 2004 with the release of an indie album titled Hot Fuss from a new band called The Killers, lead single Brandon Flowers has always been under this blogger's radar.
From the four solid albums with his underrated band to a solo album that unfortunately had no solid roots, the artist seems to have only been preparing himself for this current project.
Now, while the thought of an official end to The Killers is devastating, Flowers' work on his sophomore solo album, The Desired Effect, opens the door to possible future solo endeavors. Good endeavors at that. With a distinct, exciting 80s pop inspiration, the Las Vegas-native delivers a 10-track effort filled to the brim with nostalgia and numerous potential singles.
Preceded by four tracks, including the insanely catchy lead single "Can't Deny My Love" and equally as great "I Can Change", the new album represents the totally unexpected from Flowers as he does not shy away from the album's purpose to find traction on the radio airwaves. People may have had their idea of the artist and what he was capable of, but he has truly wiped the slate clean and presented one of the better albums of 2015.
The album opener, the dazzling "Dreams Come True", plays like a campy, old styled, rock-tailored, Broadway production with literal glitz added to the song's production in the form of soft chimes. Flowers' always-impeccable vocal delivery takes center stage, in his best Bruce Springsteen impersonation, that comes off strong and controlled even with the pop beat overdose. Great start for the anticipated album.
Lead single, "Can't Deny My Love", is a bold, 80s retro rock, synth-pop creation mixed in with some 70s disco inspiration and a supporting layered choir just for the hell of it. Within the first few notes, listeners could expect the typical alternative rock sound of The Killers, but Flowers' seductive vocals paired with those of his backing female vocalists has the song tailored for massive crossover potential.
With an innovative sample of "Smalltown Boy" by Bronksi Beat, the haunting and somber "I Can Change" find Flowers willing to bend and break in order to win back the heart of his former lover. "I can shift, I can shake, blaze a trail through the driving rain, girl I can change for you," the artist sings on the 80s synth-tailored chorus that pairs well with the mixed emotions that inspired the songwriting.
"Still Want You" is a catchy and charming track, released prior to the parent album, where the artist sings that he still wants his lover no matter the circumstance. While the verses of Flowers confessing his love are cute and adorable, it's the energetic chorus that brings the song together. For some reason, The Rocky Horror Picture Show comes to mind with its eerie background support, but that's not a negative.
The first traditional ballad on the album comes in the form of piano-driven "Between Me And You", a sincere apology from Flowers to his lover for letting work and pride get in between their relationship. "The first time that I saw your face, time stood still, I found my place, now I'm watching it tear out of my arms," Flowers lovingly sings as he realizes the importance of what is sadly slipping away.
As it fights to stay lodged in the head of the listeners for days, the retro-pop styling of "Lonely Town" becomes a throwback to the romance films of the 80s. On the surface, the tune is an adorable love song, but with a few more close listens the track takes on a stalker-like approach. Though his performance is flawless as usual, Flowers incorporates Auto-Tune for the first time to his advantage for a fun, whimsical listen.
Flowers embodies full on rock-n-roll for "Diggin' Up The Heart", a fast-paced telling of a boy coming back home after some time away. The artist has always taken a narrative approach to his songwriting, and the old-school, throwback tune is no different. While the song is a intriguing pace for the album, the finished product is not as thrilling or groundbreaking as the preceding tracks. Good, just not great.
The Killers' frontman sings of loving someone afar on "Never Get You Right". The heartfelt mid-tempo ballad is supported by 80s rock-leaning instrumentals and electronic beats as Flowers feels for the girl who is misunderstood by most. "Don't give into the pressure, cause it isn't gonna stop, the world goes on around you, whether you like it or not," the artist sings on the heartfelt number. It's one of those precious moments, most listeners will come back to.
"Untangled Love" is yet another 80s rock-inspired ballad where Flowers sings of hoping to break the constant string of bad luck in his life and see the light as stadium-worthy instrumentals support the talented vocalist. The artist really lets the restraints on his vocal performance go this time around, as he hits impressive notes towards the end of the four-minute track. The performance is the highlight, but the track as a whole is a solid addition.
The new album closes out with "The Way It's Always Been", which stands out for Flowers' effective songwriting and references to an older Las Vegas and his own religious upbringing. "Try to live up to, what she's got in mind, sometimes the pressure's so heavy, I feel like leaving it all behind," the singer contemplates on the slower number. The added horns and "ahas" tagged on towards the end only strengthen the closing track.
The Desired Effect is not ashamed to have itself labeled as a commercial pop/rock release borrowing heavily from the 80s era. Synths, piano and guitar support the always on-point vocals of Brandon Flowers, a man who has made some questionable statements about his own music in the past. However, when Flowers stated that every track on the album could be a successful single, he wasn't playing around. With only a slight fumble or two, the Las Vegas native has found a way to make captivating, meaningful pop music that deserves to be blasting on every radio station. Whether he is singing of his own rise to the top or from a stalker POV, Flowers' sophomore solo effort proves you should never count the artist out, even after over a decade in the business.
Tracks to Hear: "Can't Deny My Love", "I Can Change", "Between Me and You", "Lonely Town" and "Never Get You Right"
0 Yorumlar