The Killers - Wonderful Wonderful (September 30, 2017) Album • Page 8

Yeah that Pitchfork article is real weak. Take a random quote from another publication's interview and blow it up into a headline and a two paragraph story like it's news.

 

I read the interview, don't worry. I found the remarks even more off-putting in context. Flowers saying "I would know about it" if there was a rock band playing good music, basically. And he was talking about Interpol, who weren't a band that had mainstream traction anyway. I didn't get the sense he was saying "there aren't bands that can capture the public consciousness"; I think he was literally saying "there aren't good rock bands."

The first statement would be fine, because you're right: there is not a rock band that has formed since 2005 that has been able to hit all the check marks that would be necessary to have four or five hit singles off one record. The second statement is kind of bullshit, because there are plenty of good rock bands out there that aren't even trying to have hits because there isn't a format for that.

Ultimately, I think he used the wrong words. "Good enough" is a value statement that comes across as holier than thou from a band that just happened to hit at the perfect time. "Good enough" also implies that getting on the radio and gaining mainstream traction is the only correct goal for a rock band, which is an irritatingly narrow-minded viewpoint.

So no, there are no rock bands right now that are going to do what The Killers did in 2004. But The Killers also can't do what The Killers did in 2004, and probably wouldn't be able to if they were breaking through right now. If Hot Fuss comes out in 2017, would they even have hits? I'd like to say that "Brightside" is just so undeniable it would have been a hit no matter when it came out, but I feel like the mainstream is at such an odd, rock averse place right now that I'm not sure.

 

Mr Flowers always has such hot takes. Must be drawing from his Morrissey influence.

 

I agree with pretty much all of what you're saying, so I'm just gonna leave it there. Otherwise we're just arguing semantics over what someone else said. The dude definitely has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth, so it's no surprise there. But I often feel like he's misinterpreted a lot, as well. When it comes to this statement, I'm in the latter camp. Both he and Ronnie showed awareness of how fortunate they were to come in when they did, so it would just seem weird to me that they would seemingly reverse on that two questions later. Especially when I've heard them speak up for newer bands more than a handful of times.

I just think it's a more complicated answer than the clickbait-y headlines are making it out to be. But yeah, given the reaction... definitely worded poorly, haha.

 

I think he's definitely a guy who means well, and just says stuff that get misinterpreted or blown out of proportion with some degree of regularity. But yeah, the way publications ran with the "story" made things worse. Such is the state of music journalism: maximum controversy, minimal reporting.

 

Well, looks like it's the Brandon and Ronnie show going forward. What a bummer.

 

Noooooo

 

Yeah, I think this band is pretty much done. Sucks.

 

Yeah, probably their last record. Hope it's a good one.

Honestly, though, as much as I love these guys, I'd be okay with Brandon devoting full attention to his solo work going forward. I'd rather have a new Brandon record every two years than a new Killers record every five years.

 

the desired effect is the best killers album anyway

 

also quite funny of brandon to make those statements the same week brand new hits number 1

 

I'm sure they'll still tour as the Killers with those backup guys they've built over the years, but yeah. I'd be okay with it, since Mark is essentially still with them in the studio and part of all the photoshoots and everything, but the Q article (which is really great) makes it seem like Dave was hardly a part of even recording the album at all. So, I think he's mostly out. Which is a shame. He's not even on the back of the album cover.

 

Yeah, I thought it was extremely strange when he wasn't in the promo photos. That's really too bad. He was always so integral to their appeal, for me. I remember when Flamingo came out I really felt like it was missing something because Dave's guitar parts weren't there.

 

Even though it sucks he'll be leaving, I'm glad the band has stayed on good terms with each other, even with departures. I'm curious to see if Brandon will continue to make albums with Ronnie under the Killers name to garner more attention to it (sort of like a Panic at the Disco thing) or continue releasing solo records.

 

Brian Wilson was a member of the Beach Boys without touring with them for years, different circumstances obviously but the studio and touring incarnations of bands being different isn't unheard of

 

Man, that's a huge bummer to announce after the tour is already on sale. I don't really mind either way, but that's really my only complaint.

 

It was already odd that he wasn't in promo photos, but to not even be on the back of the album is extremely strange

 

Well, new single sounds like Mark Ronson's Uptown Funk. Is it The Killers 2.0?

 

Speaking of Dave, I recently watched their Live From Royal Albert Hall show from 2009, and Brandon told a story about meeting Dave for the first time and jamming together. Dave gave him a tape afterward with some song ideas on it and the first idea on the tape was "Mr. Brightside". I think it's pretty cool to hear stories like that about the origin of a band's biggest hit.

 

Here's the whole Q article (they also gave the album a 4/5). The whole thing is really worth the read for anyone interested in the band.

https://m.imgur.com/a/4Os5j

 

wow, I was definitely gonna give this a listen but the title track actually has me really excited.
Probably like this better than anything on Battle Born.

 

"Some Kind of Love" is out there.

 

S'OK. Pretty music, not much going on lyrically.