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Post by JessieLou on Apr 8, 2015 20:12:13 GMT -5
"I haven't felt like this in a long time," Brandon Flowers says. It's a few weeks before the release of the Killers frontman's second solo album, The Desired Effect (due out May 18th), and he's all revved up when he calls from his Las Vegas home. "I'm not even going to lie – this record, man, it's relentless. "I'm not afraid to say it. I see the checkered flag in front of me, and I'm starting to get excited."
Brandon Flowers Brandon Flowers Debuts Triumphant New Songs at NYC Show » The Desired Effect arrives a little under five years after his solo debut, Flamingo, and Flowers says it's a big step forward. "On the first record, I was holding things back," he says. "I'm not holding back on this record. I just want to write the best thing I can and put it out right now."
That means more of the driving backbeats and anthemic choruses he might once have squirreled away for the next Killers LP instead of using them up on a solo project. "I want to tell the truth," Flowers says. "And the truth is, sometimes I love pop songs — I respect the craft and the history of that. But I also love telling stories and applying my experiences and observations. You hit a home run when those worlds can all work together."
Flowers began work on The Desired Effect while his bandmates in the Killers were on a break following their tour for 2012's Battle Born. "I was feeling pretty confident coming off the back of Battle Born, even though it wasn't a huge success," he says. "I felt like we were making a great rock record and that it would stand for something. It didn't work. But it was also fine that it didn't work — the gigs were the best they've ever been. And I just kept going. I feel like I have a job to do."
He spent a year recording the album in Vegas and L.A. with producer Ariel Rechtshaid (Haim, Vampire Weekend). They ended up calling in guest appearances from Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant and Haim's Danielle Haim, as well as session hands including Joey Waronker, Kenny Aronoff and Bruce Hornsby, who plays on two tracks. "Nobody plays piano like him," Flowers says of Hornsby. "There's a particular emotion that he conjures up, which I associate with being a teenager."
Another song samples U.K. synth-pop act Bronski Beat's 1984 hit "Smalltown Boy." Flowers' favorite tune at the moment is the dramatic "Still Want You." "It's fun," he says. "The chorus goes, 'Crime is on the rise, I still want you/Climate change is dead, I still want you/Nuclear distress, I still want you/Earth is heating up, I still want you/Hurricanes and floods, I still want you. . .' I love that chorus."
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Post by Lisa-Gail > Madonna on Apr 8, 2015 21:47:39 GMT -5
In reading this I was somewhat reminded of how he spoke about Sam's Town before it was released, although this isn't anywhere near that level of bragging. Also he seems much more mature nowadays so perhaps he's right. But if Flamingo was "holding back" then he can hold back forever because it was awesome. Can't wait to see what The Desired Effect has to offer though. Thanks for posting JessieLou
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2015 23:53:36 GMT -5
In reading this I was somewhat reminded of how he spoke about Sam's Town before it was released, although this isn't anywhere near that level of bragging. Also he seems much more mature nowadays so perhaps he's right. But if Flamingo was "holding back" then he can hold back forever because it was awesome. Can't wait to see what The Desired Effect has to offer though. Thanks for posting JessieLouI love how you effortlessly keep churning out possible quotes for the members awards! Since that contest you hosted here, your comical side is unleashed ajajajjajja I agree, if Flamingo was holding back, he can hold back forever ajajajajja But yes, I am so excited. I hope the addition of Joey Waronker is a sign of musical direction. I don't know anything about him, but he's worked with Lisa Germano, and wow, the music was flawless and dark, very dark. Something I would love to hear from Brandon. He might have teased at this change in attitude with Playing with Fire, which I found to be a bit dark. I will support Brandon even if he starts bragging even beyond Sam's Town levels. He, to me, delivered the goods in that album. I love Brandon and I know he will deliver <3
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Post by Lisa-Gail > Madonna on Apr 10, 2015 6:10:44 GMT -5
In reading this I was somewhat reminded of how he spoke about Sam's Town before it was released, although this isn't anywhere near that level of bragging. Also he seems much more mature nowadays so perhaps he's right. But if Flamingo was "holding back" then he can hold back forever because it was awesome. Can't wait to see what The Desired Effect has to offer though. Thanks for posting JessieLouI love how you effortlessly keep churning out possible quotes for the members awards! Since that contest you hosted here, your comical side is unleashed ajajajjajja I agree, if Flamingo was holding back, he can hold back forever ajajajajja But yes, I am so excited. I hope the addition of Joey Waronker is a sign of musical direction. I don't know anything about him, but he's worked with Lisa Germano, and wow, the music was flawless and dark, very dark. Something I would love to hear from Brandon. He might have teased at this change in attitude with Playing with Fire, which I found to be a bit dark. I will support Brandon even if he starts bragging even beyond Sam's Town levels. He, to me, delivered the goods in that album. I love Brandon and I know he will deliver <3 Well said. Although for me Sam's Town didn't quite deliver on his bragging since he said it was the best album of the past twenty years, but I preferred the two year old Hot Fuss. If he hadn't already been part of the best album ever then I could have completely agreed instead of having to limit Sam's Town to being better than anything anyone else had released. Also, there's a vocal teaser of the chorus of the Still Want You song he talks about in the above article and it does sound very dramatic. Cannot wait for this album, can it be May already!?
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Post by JessieLou on Apr 10, 2015 7:35:43 GMT -5
Whenever ANYONE says, "best album in 20 years", "album of our generation", etc., it doesn't live up to the hype so I don't know why artists say that.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2015 13:12:48 GMT -5
Whenever ANYONE says, "best album in 20 years", "album of our generation", etc., it doesn't live up to the hype so I don't know why artists say that. Best post in 20 years.
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Post by Cody on Apr 10, 2015 21:05:46 GMT -5
Whenever ANYONE says, "best album in 20 years", "album of our generation", etc., it doesn't live up to the hype so I don't know why artists say that. Best post in 20 years. Wes Scantlin - "I'm not holding back on the next Puddle Of Mudd Record. F*ck 20 years, it'll be the best album in 200 years."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2015 17:39:37 GMT -5
Still Want You seems to be leaked, or... released? If it's supposed to be the new single, it is coming WAY too soon after Can't Deny My Love! Still Want You is not on the same level, I'm sad to say, but it'll grow on me... maybe!
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Post by Lisa-Gail > Madonna on Apr 11, 2015 18:06:46 GMT -5
Since there's a video I assume it was released rather than leaked, in which case I agree that it's certainly too soon after Can't Deny My Love. I really enjoyed Still Want You though, with my first listen I liked it more than Can't Deny My Love on its first. That's grown on me more and more and I think Still Want You will too.
2/2 winners Brandon, keep them coming!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2015 20:15:37 GMT -5
What? Is there a video?? An official one? or... no... please don't tell me those black and white videos (clips of videos) are part of the video? NOOOOO; I want something amazing, not this weird song ajajjaa (oh, me not liking weird? ugh! I love Brandon at least ajajajja)
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Post by Lisa-Gail > Madonna on Apr 11, 2015 22:22:38 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2015 23:57:27 GMT -5
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Cuteness overload!!!!!!!! jajajajajaja I hope my constant remarks about how handsome Brandon is, do not bother you too much Brady! That said, he is soooooo cute! He is so so cute! It did the trick and now I LOVE the song ajajajajajjaja. What I didn't like much at the beginning, was the really loud female vocals (just like I was "wtf?'d" when I heard that female voice on "Right Behind You") but now I think they kinda complete the song. AHHHHHHH, anyway! I hope he isn't done with promo with these two amazing videos! He needs to save some songs for future singles. <333333333333333333333333
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Post by Lisa-Gail > Madonna on Apr 12, 2015 2:40:49 GMT -5
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Cuteness overload!!!!!!!! jajajajajaja I hope my constant remarks about how handsome Brandon is, do not bother you too much Brady! That said, he is soooooo cute! He is so so cute! It did the trick and now I LOVE the song ajajajajajjaja. What I didn't like much at the beginning, was the really loud female vocals (just like I was "wtf?'d" when I heard that female voice on "Right Behind You") but now I think they kinda complete the song. AHHHHHHH, anyway! I hope he isn't done with promo with these two amazing videos! He needs to save some songs for future singles. <333333333333333333333333 Haha, no it doesn't bother me when you talk about Brandon being handsome. I love how much you love him. And he is handsome anyway. I can see that. He's my answer when anyone plays the "Who would you turn gay for" game. I'm glad the video did the trick and you love it now. I'm sure there will be more videos, there would have to be at least one after the album release otherwise that's the strangest promo idea ever!
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Post by Lisa-Gail > Madonna on Apr 27, 2015 16:08:45 GMT -5
Hey @xfer there's a third song (and video) now:
I wonder if every song on the album will get a video by the time we're done. No Brandon in this one though. The song is good; I've only had one listen so far but not as strong as the first two yet.
Okay I tried to link it but I'm on my phone and it's not working. The video is on YouTube though: Brandon Flowers - Lonely Town.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2015 20:38:40 GMT -5
Yeah!!! I was wondering exactly that! What good can he get from releasing 3 songs with videos basically separated by a couple weeks each or so? I don't see a logic here.
As for the song... call me shallow, I don't know, but I suppose Lonely Town is less stelar than it would have been if Brandon was in the actual video. The video sucks. And the song is the weakest so far. I'd go beyond and say that it's his worst song yet, from Flamingo and the new ones. But if we consider he doesn't have bad songs, I can let this one pass. Did you hear the rumor (is it a rumor?) that the limited edition will include 2 new songs? I was hoping for 4 like last time, so we'll have to see.
And feeling inferior for not recognizing different kinds of music, to me, Can't Deny My Love sounds completely moder and current. Yet everyone says it's an 80's throwback. Still Want You does sound kinda old, and Lonely Town is the biggest offender.
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