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The Killers - Wonderful Wonderful - September 22

capslock

Is jealous of Matlock's emoticon
The Man is better.

Run for Cover is the most generic sounding rock song I've heard in a while.
 
I can't believe the hate for Battle Born in this thread. What did people hate about it? To such an extent?!

It's one of my favourite mainstream rock albums of the last several years, a few cheesy cellphone lyrics aside...
 

War Peaceman

You're a big guy.
I can't believe the hate for Battle Born in this thread. What did people hate about it? To such an extent?!

It's one of my favourite mainstream rock albums of the last several years, a few cheesy cellphone lyrics aside...

I quite like it, but even Brandon Flowers said it wasn't that good.
 

Ninhead

Member
I can't believe the hate for Battle Born in this thread. What did people hate about it? To such an extent?!

It's one of my favourite mainstream rock albums of the last several years, a few cheesy cellphone lyrics aside...

With the exception of "Miss Atomic Bomb", "Flesh and Bone", and "Runaways", it's completely forgettable.
 

Angry Grimace

Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
With the exception of "Miss Atomic Bomb", "Flesh and Bone", and "Runaways", it's completely forgettable.
I mean, Battle Born has a ton of straight-forward arena rock tunes on it (which is what it seems like a lot of people want out of the Killers) but none of the stuff on BB is all that interesting unless it's really well executed like Runaways or Miss Atomic Bomb. I legitimately don't remember even the features of the other songs on BB unless its for a bad reason like whatever is on Brandon Flowers' cellphone.

WW has almost as many misses as BB does, but the things that do hit on WW are things where I at least get the impression the band (or maybe just Flowers) was trying to do something interesting. I mean, something like Rut fails almost immediately when you hear that dumb computer voice and Some Kind of Love is legitimately the worst song I've ever heard from the band.

I think the other thing that probably brings down WW is that you don't really expect the Killers to put out an album that's so, for lack of a better word, morose. "The Man" as lead single did not help at all because nothing else on the album even remotely comes close to doing what that song is doing. Almost everything else sounds rather somber to my ears.

It is rather weird that WW is reviewing better than it seems to be received by fans, that's kind of unusual.
 
It's an alright album.
Wonderful Wonderful is a very good track. I initially hated it but it's really strong.

The Man is fun, too.

Rut is so average.

Life to Come? is pretty good. The chorus is weak, however.

Run for Cover is good. A little overrated but a catchy chorus.

Tyson v. Douglas is a fun song. I can't believe it's actually real, though.

Out of My Mind is a pass for now.

Have All The Songs Been Written - I like this quite a bit, actually.

Some Kind of Love is a good song, once you get the context.
 

SilentMike03

Neo Member
Listened to the whole album a couple of times through today and it's totally forgettable. The Man and Run for Cover are the best songs off the album and the rest I couldn't tell you a single thing about.
 

TripOpt55

Member
I'm listening to the album now (need more time before I can give impressions) and I just searched to see if there was a thread. I was like there must be because I remember in the lead up to Battle Born a bunch of us "Killer-ized" our avatars! Here was mine (Killer-ized Olivia Dunham from Fringe).

HrIpQ.png


Pretty cool. I don't know just wanted to post a fun GAF memory. I know some others around here did the same!
 
I haven't finished listening to the album, but it seems to lack heart or drive to it. Like they made the album more to just make another album and not because they wanted to. I guess it's not bad, just mostly meh.

The fact that Dave and Mark aren't touring (or the fact that Dave couldn't even go to a fucking photoshoot) is pretty damning.

I think at this point it's just Brandon releasing some shit under the Killers name because his fanbase never latched onto his solo release
 
Lets be honest, nothing ever came close to matching the weird alternative magic of Hot Fuzz. Day and Age being the only thing that ever came close (I love This is your life)
 

Solo

Member
I've only listened to it once so far, but I don't think I can yet jump onto the dogpile. While the first listen didn't immediately blow me away, it also didn't immediately make me feel it was bad, either. My only real initial hot take is that the first 5-6 songs are a lot stronger than the last 4-5.

I'll need a lot more listen though before I have concrete opinions. Battle Born was the same way in that regard.
 

PepperedHam

Member
I've only listened to it once so far, but I don't think I can yet jump onto the dogpile. While the first listen didn't immediately blow me away, it also didn't immediately make me feel it was bad, either. My only real initial hot take is that the first 5-6 songs are a lot stronger than the last 4-5.

I'll need a lot more listen though before I have concrete opinions. Battle Born was the same way in that regard.
Yup, the last four songs kind of bleed into each other. Front loaded album but I really enjoy the first half of it so it isn't a total bust for me.
 

Angry Grimace

Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
Listened to the album and I really like it. Maybe I'm the minority in here...
You're not. As I said there's definitely skippable material but the stuff that's gold is really damn good.

I think it's one of those albums where people don't get what they expect and are upset, but there are multiple tracks that are Killers classics in here.

I've only listened to it once so far, but I don't think I can yet jump onto the dogpile. While the first listen didn't immediately blow me away, it also didn't immediately make me feel it was bad, either. My only real initial hot take is that the first 5-6 songs are a lot stronger than the last 4-5.

I'll need a lot more listen though before I have concrete opinions. Battle Born was the same way in that regard.

I feel like I'm being effusive but I really like the album. I'm mostly just glad the good ideas don't bleed into the bad ones, e.g. a song like "Some Kind of Love" (which is horrible) doesn't randomly show up in the middle of a great song like "Tyson v. Douglas." The fact that they have a great song about Mike Tyson makes me so happy though lol.

The fact that Dave and Mark aren't touring (or the fact that Dave couldn't even go to a fucking photoshoot) is pretty damning.

I think at this point it's just Brandon releasing some shit under the Killers name because his fanbase never latched onto his solo release

Last I heard his The Desired Effect was a pretty big hit in some territories.
 

Balphon

Member
The album is a little all over the place, with some reasonably high highs but quite a few lows.

Tyson v. Douglas and Run for Cover seem like the standouts. The Man is still weird and deceptively catchy, though I suppose that is to be expected on a song where The Killers are sharing writing credits with Kool & the Gang.

I also enjoy Rut and The Calling but I'm not sure I'm sold on them completely.
 

Esque7

Member
I think Some Kind of Love is the best song on the album. It's nothing like they've ever done before. Slow paced, kind of simple but repeating, but also its builds up to a haunting conclusion.

Album is definitely better than the last dad rock album, but not better than the first 3. Also, saw them right before Lollapalooza this year in a smaller, more intimate venue and it was among the best concerts I've ever seen. They played a song they've never played before live: Under the Gun (A B-side from Hot Fuss) as well as The River is Wild. GO SEE THEM LIVE.
 

PowderedToast

Junior Member
beautiful album

flowers goes from strength to strength as a songwriter and performer

they're not the same band, of course they aren't

I love the earnestness so much. concerns about looking cool are long gone. this is vulnerable music with a big heart

more diverse than battleborn, sonically and structurally. that one was perhaps was too preoccupied with being a pleasing arena album. but I hesitate to shit on past releases when a new record comes out, even if the band themselves do it. I've always liked BB.

but this is more eclectic and eccentric, which is an integral part of their appeal for me
 

Kagari

Crystal Bearer
You're not. As I said there's definitely skippable material but the stuff that's gold is really damn good.

I think it's one of those albums where people don't get what they expect and are upset, but there are multiple tracks that are Killers classics in here.

I went in with zero expectations or idea of what to expect so maybe that helped. I also really loved Battle Born and while the new album isn't quite as good as that one I still really like it. The Killers have probably been the most consistent modern band in terms of quality for me.
 

RobertM

Member
Lets be honest, nothing ever came close to matching the weird alternative magic of Hot Fuzz. Day and Age being the only thing that ever came close (I love This is your life)

Pretty much, a couple of new songs on Sawdust were good. Battleborn was so flat, no wonder I forgot all about it and forgot about the band in general.
 

Bridges

Member
I think it's a pretty good album, but it sounds so different than everything they've done before.

It's so weird though that they talked about going back to their rock roots for this and they said Battle Born wasn't as focused as this, but the album meanders about quite a bit and sounds more like Battle Born than any of their prior albums.

That all being said, it definitely is better than Battle Born, which is where my bar was set, and even though the best songs on the album are without a doubt the title track and the two singles, the deep cuts are a new sound from the band that works more than it doesn't. I have a strong feeling that much like "The Man" this whole album is going to be a grower for most of those who give it a chance.

Sad to see so much hate, hopefully opinions turn around, and I look forward to hearing the bonus tracks once my vinyl copy arrives.
 

Angry Grimace

Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
Interesting that despite the widespread dislike it's garnering around here, this album is actually tracking to be their first No. 1 album.
 
Interesting that despite the widespread dislike it's garnering around here, this album is actually tracking to be their first No. 1 album.

Very surprising, I really think this album is their weakest. Flowers is just counting the days before he gets a residency at a Vegas casino.

It's just so damn cheesy and sonically all over the place. And I know The Killers are cheesy but this just rubbed me the wrong way. That and the fact that Keuning literally couldn't bother showing up for a photoshoot? Cmon son.

On the upside, Franz Ferdinand is opening for them in Seattle so that's basically my high school dream come true
 

quesalupa

Member
I really liked all of their albums but this one is kind of disappointing.

Wonderful wonderful is a pretty good intro.
I adore The Man
I actually kind of liked the sappiness of Rut but it feels like it's missing something.
Life to Come is pretty damn forgettable.
Run for Cover is solid but like many of the songs on here it feels like it's missing a little something.
Tyson vs Douglas is my favorite song on the album and I'll definitely jam out to it a lot.
Some Kind of Love is a little lame but slowly growing on me.
Out of mind is even more forgettable than Life you Come.
The Calling is solid but not great.
Have all the Songs been written is ok but it sounds scarily close to what I thought it would sound like when reading the title.
Money on Straight is just weird but ok I guess.
Even the Jacques Lu Cont remix feels kind of empty this time around.

The Man and Tyson vs Douglas were the only great songs :/ but for the most part it's enjoyable. I loved almost every song on their other albums so it's sad to see the streak end for me.
 

TripOpt55

Member
It has been growing on me. Definitely one of their weakest albums, but some good songs. "Tyson vs. Douglas" is my favorite so far.
 

Bridges

Member
I think I already like this one better than Battle Born and Day & Age.
Battle Born I knew from the start I liked this more, but even though the highs of Day & Age are much higher, I think as a whole Wonderful Wonderful is the more consistently enjoyable time, but even as I type this I'm starting to rethink it. This one is certainly a grower.

Not sure they have it in them to ever put another one up there with Hot Fuss and Sam's Town, but that's okay.
 
When this album is good, it's good. I do find myself skipping songs here and there often. Tyson vs. Douglas, The Man, Wonderful Wonderful, and Run for Cover are my favorites. It's growing on me though.
 

Just_one

Member
After a couple of listens to the album , i gotta be honest this is the worst killers album to date.

Not that the album is bad , its just that Hot Fuzz , Sam´s Town , Day & Age and Battle Born are miles better than Wonderfull , Wonderfull.

Wonderfull , Wonderfull for start is a very uneven album. Until Run for Cover pretty much all songs are good (highlights Wonderfull Wonderfull , the man , run for cover and Tyson Vs Douglas) but then the quality drops significatly , there are some really bad songs like the calling and out of my mind.

I really hope they come to Portugal with this album because to be honest i think this will be the last killers album. The departure of dave is the nail in the coffin , if he doesnt go back i think brandon will go solo for sure after this album.
 

Bridges

Member
After a couple of listens to the album , i gotta be honest this is the worst killers album to date.

Not that the album is bad , its just that Hot Fuzz , Sam´s Town , Day & Age and Battle Born are miles better than Wonderfull , Wonderfull.

Wonderfull , Wonderfull for start is a very uneven album. Until Run for Cover pretty much all songs are good (highlights Wonderfull Wonderfull , the man , run for cover and Tyson Vs Douglas) but then the quality drops significatly , there are some really bad songs like the calling and out of my mind.

I really hope they come to Portugal with this album because to be honest i think this will be the last killers album. The departure of dave is the nail in the coffin , if he doesnt go back i think brandon will go solo for sure after this album.

Ah what a shame you didn't enjoy it, and "The Calling" is one of my favorites on the album personally. The only songs I think are really "skippable" are "Life To Come" and "Some Kind Of Love"

I think The Killers can definitely proceed without Dave, he's been phoning it in recently but I don't believe the departure will hurt the band's future potential. Even if everyone else left, would Brandon consider still making music under "The Killers" as a solo act? I think it's a thought to have, he already has an established solo career but while his music is good it certainly hasn't (and I doubt ever will) taken off in the way The Killers did and acquire that kinda fanbase again.

But also I really love the band so I just hope for whatever keeps them around and making albums.
 

groansey

Member
Will check this out, can't believe it's been nearly a decade since Day & Age - personally my favourite album of theirs, surprised they didn't continue in that direction.
 

PepperedHam

Member
I have really come around on Have All The Songs Been Written. I kind of let it get lumped in with the last few songs (which admittedly are the weakest on the album for me) but was giving the album another listen through today and that track lit up all of a sudden.

But yeah after sitting on it for a week the only three I don't dig that much are Some Kind of Live, Out of My Mind, and The Calling. Everything else I'm really positive on.
 
I have to say, after a little bit of settling in, i'm really digging this album. At first (and second) listen i thought at least half the songs sounded a bit unremarkable, it was like i couldn't find a line through to them, especially when listening to them out of context of the whole album, but slowly they all got under my skin. For example, i didn't think much of Some Kind Of Love at first, but now it just works for me, coming off the fast paced combo of Run For Cover (which has also really grown on me in the last few weeks, after being a bit meh on it at first) and Tyson Vs. Douglas, and i'm really into the Depeche Mode vibe of The Calling, which is imo a highlight of the album. While it's not a contender for my favorite The Killers album, i won't be skipping any tracks on this.
 

guybrushfreeman

Unconfirmed Member
It's alright, not amazing but I mostly like it. The whole neon Vegas aesthetic has been decent and led to some decent songs over the last few albums but I just so desperately want strong bass lines back. I would beg them if I could.

In the end this sort of feels only slightly different to Flowers solo album and I'm not sure the best songs here reach the best songs there.

Although the best song from The Desired Effect wasn't even on that album despite being the title track which just is a fact I can never get over.

Brandon Flowers - The Desired Effect

Anyway, Wonderful Wonderful is a decent Killers album but I just want great bass lines back so badly..... Maybe one day
 
But you'll never grow up baby if you don't look, WHEN I SAW HIM GO DOWN FELT LIKE SOMEBODY LIED

Tyson vs Douglas is lyrically a Weezer song and I love it
 
I've never been a fan of The Killers but they're my girlfriends favorite band and I bought her tickets to see them in January so I thought I would give their new album a try to expose myself to them a bit more. While there's a few songs that I can get into, the Majority of the album sounds like a generic Christian Rock band. It wasn't what I was expecting based on their music that I had heard in the past.
 

guybrushfreeman

Unconfirmed Member
I've never been a fan of The Killers but they're my girlfriends favorite band and I bought her tickets to see them in January so I thought I would give their new album a try to expose myself to them a bit more. While there's a few songs that I can get into, the Majority of the album sounds like a generic Christian Rock band. It wasn't what I was expecting based on their music that I had heard in the past.

This description is honestly more accurate than I'd like to admit. I look on most of the first album pretty fondly, Sam's Town as well I guess but after that there's a lot of filler that I don't feel really rises above a generic level. Overall though I feel like taking the best tracks together leaves you with a pretty decent set-list. Which in the end is true of a lot of bands
 
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