The Killers - Sam's Town

This album gets a lot of flack, and I have no idea why, though I am comforted in knowing that I am not alone on this issue. In a December 2009 poll of Rolling Stone readers, Sam's Town was hailed as the most underrated album of the decade. (And just when I think Rolling Stone has completely lost its sense of good music! See their review of this album from 2006 for evidence.) Aside from being somewhat of a complete departure from the band's glam-emo-electronic debut album, Sam's Town is somewhat of a complete departure from everything else that was released by any artist at that time. With this release, The Killers gave listeners something of a back-to-the-drawing-board approach to the traditional rock n roll album, which sounds like it would be right at home in a 100,000+ arena setting. All of the songs have such a huge presence, it's as if the band were building a town of their own, and this album is their account of the town's journey from birth to death. You can't help but settle in and start to feel right at home in the howling dust winds swirling all around this hot desert wasteland. What I love about The Killers is their ability to take simple parts and put them together in complicated and completely new ways, so that a single-note guitar strike looping over and over suddenly becomes the spine of an epic swell of sound that sweeps inland, gathering emotional intensity from each new inch of the world it washes over. Make no mistake about it: This is not just a record; it's a ride - so buckle up. Borrowing a bit of inspiration from the greatest American artists of their time, Sam's Town sounds at times like a really good Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, or Neil Young album that you've never heard before. The songs are genuine in theme, yet unapologetically grand in style. Don't sell this album short by sticking to the singles; Sam's Town is meant to be heard in its entirety - one track followed by the next. Welcome to Sam's Town; I hope you enjoy your stay.

Highlights: "When You were Young" and "Read My Mind"