I am so proud of myself everytime I walk into a record store and actually purchase a new album. It means real commitment; and shouldn't be taken lightly. Usually it takes me a good 2-3 months of wanting an album before I actually cough up the $12-15. I know. I'm a fickle music purchaser like Sally was a fickle eater. It's a big deal for me to get an album, not just because of my lowest-tax-bracket student status, or my lack-of-storage-space-NYC-resident status, or even my still-afraid-to-use-itunes-online-for-more-than-just-listening-to-music late adopter status. It's because when you get an album, you have to put it on your shelf. And if you put it on your shelf then you have to stare at the spine everytime you're typing and your eyes wander up to your bookshelf. And if something is going to be on my bookshelf, it'd better be a good representation of my character. What if you died tomorrow, and the police inspector is going through your room to find clues? I always watch those scenes on CSI and wonder what kind of conclusions Grisholm would come to when inspecting my personal belongings or even - gasp - my trash. I don't want them to think I'm an Atomic Kitten fan, or worse yet - a die hard Kate Voegle follower. No. If a cd is going to grace my bookshelf then it'd better be a decent buy. If only to justify not buying that Joseph Stiglitz book over the music.
But I digress. Back to the Killers. To be honest, I wasn't a fan of the Killers until I saw them in concert. They're really one of those bands that needs to draw you in with more than great marketing, a few radio blockbusters, and that "cool rock band" feel. If you're actually going to invest in more than just downloading a few of their hits, you have to really experience them live. They're fantastic live. Even though 88% of the concert was seen through this tiny triangle space between someone's neck and someone else's shoulder that kept swaying back and forth in a tiny sweaty room packed with other sweaty college kids, I still became a believer in their talent and their music.
So what's the verdict on their new album, Day & Age? Honestly, a little slow. Not the same pull in bite as Sam's Town's opening and closing numbers, and the first record "Losing Touch" has a little Miami Vice / Las Vegas kind of feel to it...but it warms up later on. Halfway through the album on "This is Your Life" starts out with these voices that reminded me of when Boyzone went to Africa. Decent bass, lyrics, rhythm (and harp?) resurrect in "I Can't Stay" with something finally new, something I haven't heard from them before and yet is characteristically Killers. It's good. A couple other better numbers near the end of the album, but I swear they're trying to do what Leona Lewis did on her first album: bring back the 80's.
It's weird, but I'll take it. Decent, but I give it a 7 out of 10 overall. Let's see if the Fray surpasses with their next album, set to be released early February 2009. What's with the uber early pre-order date?
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