Sams Town

Product Details

Artist : Killers
Binding : Audio CD
EAN : 0602517026759
Label : Universal Music Group
Number of Discs : 1
Product Group : Music
Release Date : 2006-10-03
UPC : 602517026759

ASIN : B000GY729M

Track Listings for

Disc-1
1. Sam's Town
2. Enterlude
3. When You Were Young
4. Bling (Confession of a King)
5. For Reasons Unknown
6. Read My Mind
7. Uncle Jonny
8. Bones
9. My List
10. This River Is Wild
11. Why Do I Keep Counting?
12. Exitlude

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Killers five-million-selling debut, 2004's Hot Fuss, saw the stylish Las Vegas quartet mining inspiration from its favorite '80s British acts Duran Duran, the Cure, and the Smiths. On its follow-up, the group turns its focus homeward. First there's the album title, Sam's Town, which pays tribute to the old-school local casino where the band got its start. Then there's the music inside, a collection of windswept rockers in the vein of Bruce Springsteen that leave the indie-disco vibe of "Mr. Brightside" in the desert dust. Working with producers Alan Moulder and Flood (best known for their work with U2, Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails), everything here sounds bigger and shinier, with full-blown strings and choirs coloring epics like "When You Were Young" and "The River Is Wild." Coming soon to a stadium near you. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews

Welcome to Sam's Town! (2007-03-19)

The Killers were the biggest indie rock deal when their major label debut "Hot Fuss" hit stores. With the lyrics everyone knew ("somebody told me you had a boyfriend who looked like a girlfriend") and the melodies everyone loved (the victorious swelling march of "All These Things") they were on top of their game. Enter Sam's Town, a less valiant effort that still maintains the spark and excitement of "Hot Fuss" with a more mature idea. In Pink Floyd fashion, Brandon Flowers and the gang released a coherant and clever concept album. Welcome to the mythical and apparently racuous Sam's Town. What's interesting about the album is that unlike Hot Fuss, the songs are not nearly as enjoyable to listen to on their own but rather, as a part of the whole album. While not any of the songs are terrible and only one or two are terrific (especially the fun, sweet, exciting 'Read My Mind')as a whole, Sam's Town simply works, with enough fun to drive a party, with enough wit to make you both smile and think, and with enough edge to make you feel good whilst walking to work in the morning with your headphones on. While not quite perfect, Sam's Town is well worth investing in if you enjoyed the grooves of Hot Fuss or the Montreal sound.

A good second album, but too ambitious (2007-02-22)

It's with mixed emotion that I write this. I really loved The Killers' album "Hot Fuss". The fun, the retro synth sound, the confessional and personal style of music, the urgency - everything! As the music and band became more popular, I think The Killers made a big mistake that I see a lot of in bands today - they started to believe their own hype. In the months following Hot Fuss, gone were the endearingly awkward moments and interviews, and the playful banter of guys that were surprised and amused at being thrust in the media spotlight. Replaced by almost arrogant sound bytes and petty band rivalries, the innocence was lost. I think a lot of the character of a band can be told by how they handle success - I was really cheering for them when they first hit the scene, as their music was amazing and the sound was fresh. I was really looking forward to this album with equal parts excitement and dread. I read early reviews and interviews where the band seemed intent on making some kind of opus and concept album that would eventually be Sam's Town. I wish I could have called them up and told them to stop right there - a band should not be fixated on making an opus out of their second album. A band should just strive to write good songs and entertain as the carve their niche and grow as artists and musicians. Give it time. You don't create your pinnacle after a debut flash.My initial reaction to the album was pretty good - I generally liked the new songs and the lead single "When You Were Young" was excellent. I only wish they had not tried so hard to create the concept album. Trying to recreate Sgt. Pepper when you're still just learning the chops and settling in is simply too ambitious and comes across as arrogant. Some of the songs attempt to take on a "larger than life" feeling in a contrived kind of way that takes away from the enjoyment of the good songs on the album. I really started to miss the energy and effort that sounds like it was behind "Hot Fuss". In that album, the songs were urgent and well crafted - with an almost "welcome to The Killers - this is what we do I hope you like it" kind of way that helps to define a band and set the stage for great things down the road. This follow-up sounds like it could have been a stellar "we are willing to try hard and be the best we can be because we believe in the music and we're here to stay", but instead feels more like "we are the best band in the world and we write the best songs and you will love us" kind of boasting that falls short. I still think these guys are talented and write great songs - I just wish the ego was out of the equation and they learn that being popular is not what makes a band great. I would welcome another attempt at Sam's Town maybe 5-10 years down the line when they truly know what they are doing.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (2006-12-30)

Hey guys! i need help i downlloaded the killers album cause i liked the song bones but i really hadnt heard the killers before. so i put it in my player and started to listen. but some of the songs sounded like they were being sung by a different artist. does the killers have 2 singers or did i download the wrong version. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!! i want to download more killers but i have to know my mistake in order to not make it again. ThanX <3 it was a good cd otherwise.

But Hot Fuss gets 5 stars. (2006-12-27)

Although perhaps it isn't fair to even compare the two because despite being the same band they are completely different albums. This album seems to be sending a message that the Killers are not British but indeed American, and they have reconstructed their image from glamrock, new wave, synth rock/pop into....well simply...new rock. Thankfully the Killers are talented enough to make this transition work. Long gone are the hard hitting, high tempo songs like "Somebody Told Me" and the delightfully playful and catchy songs like "Mr. Brightside", but despite Sam's Town not having as many great songs as Hot Fuss, it has more good songs and less filler. "When You Were Young" is easily the best song on the album and is only behind the aforementioned "Somebody Told Me" and "Mr. Brightside" for best Killers' song ever. And while that may be the only truly great song on this CD, there are other bright spots.The opening track "Sam's Town" easily equals "Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine", and being one of the better songs on the CD, it is a good way to start things off. Ignoring the pointless Enterlude, next is "When You Were Young" which is the instant hit on this album. "Bling (Confession of a King)" is really the first song you can tell that The Killers really have changed. This song sounds nothing like you would hear on Hot Fuss, so depending on what you thought of Hot Fuss this could be a good thing or a bad thing. "For Reason's Unknown" reminds me of a "Mr. Brightside" who is clinically depressed. The imagery is there, the meloncholy verses and catchy chorus is as well, but there is something missing in this song. Nevertheless it is still one of my favourites on this album, in fact I prefer it to the second single "Bones", which is just good. "Read My Mind" is the closest thing to the old Killers. It has that late eighties new wave feel to it, and because of that it is also one of my favourites on this album. "The River is Wild" and "Why Do I Keep Counting" are two good songs, but not great, but they are still a nice way to end the CD (again ignoring the Exitlude). So by my count there are 6 or 7 good songs on here and 1 great song. Not too bad for a sophomore album. However The Killers are no longer the uniquely, original sounding band that attracted me to them in the first place. They sound, look and act just like every other band out there nowadays. But even if they have just become another new rock band, at least they are the best new rock band out there.

Ladies and Gents...I give you the Killers! (2006-11-09)

The Killers' follow up to Hot Fuss isn't what many expected and so I think they will lose some of those fans who want more of that heated, fast pop and fresh sound that the Killers completely embraced on the first record. However, Sam's Town is a solid record. It flows when played in it's entirety and has songs that can stand on their own, "Read My Mind", "Bling" (my personal favorite), and the title track "Sam's Town" are perfect examples of such. Much has been made about this record not being as good as the first or not being as catchy as the first. My first impressions of Hot Fuss were not favorable. It took a well-meaning best friend to keep playing it whenever we were driving for the songs to start to click with me. Sam's Town is different for me, maybe because my expectations weren't as high as others, and also because I hoped this band would show more edge, more teeth, because they have the talent and the song writing chops to be something better in the world of rock and roll--and the Killers have achieved all of this on Sam's Town. Maybe this isn't 'one of the greatest record to be made' in the last 20 years, but one couldn't deny that it's a good record and a solid effort towards artistic maturity. It's lush and at times dark and beautiful. It won't be all things every one, and it may not be for everyone...either way, the Killers have proven that they are here to stay.

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