The Killers - Pressure Machine (8.13.21) Album • Page 42

I've always felt like the changeup from the cohesive album statement of Sam's Town to what is essentially just a bunch of fun tracks smooshed together for the next album threw a lot of fans off, but those tracks are so damn enjoyable.

Definitely make sure you check out the b-sides as well. I feel like that is always good advice with this band, but particularly so here.

 

we disagree so much on this point that I don’t know where to start lol but it’s fine.

my main issue with goodnight is that it’s so completely out of place because A) they are not that type of band and B) D&A is definitely not that type of album

 

PS day & age is in my top 3 of anything Flowers has released.

 

Pressure Machine
Sam's Town
Day & Age
(Desired Effect)
Hot Fuss
Imploading the Mirage
Don't Waste Your Wishes
Sawdust
Wonderful Wonderful

 

Sam's Town
Pressure Machine
Flamingo
Don't Waste Your Wishes
Battle Born
Imploding The Mirage
Day & Age
Hot Fuss
The Desired Effect
Wonderful Wonderful

The Desired Effect just never clicked with me, though it has been awhile so I should give it another go.

 

I agree that both A & B are true haha

Not a whole lot about Day & Age makes sense to me, but I just enjoy the absolute hell out of it

 

Yes, you absolutely should considering your favorite albums from the band.

 

It’s a fun detour with the benefit of some distance and more records in their catalogue.

 

Man, I don't even know how to rank their albums haha. Maybe something like:

Imploding the Mirage
Pressure Machine
Day & Age
Sam's Town
Battle Born
Hot Fuss
Wonderful Wonderful

Even that doesn't feel right because putting Hot Fuss that low seems wrong.

 

Man, The Way It's Always Been is awesome! Maybe the best track on that album in my opinion. Also - agree that The Desired Effect (the song) is great and how on Earth did he leave that off ?

 

Been reading this thread lately and I'm going to go do a reverse discography listen of these guys, a band I really like but don't listen to much. All of your rankings have been fun to see

I listened to Pressure Machine once when it dropped on a flight and I cannot remember it so starting that now, gonna check it out before work!!! First track is amazing

 

I like that song; not upper tier on that album for me, but it’s solid. I just strongly prefer the title track and think it would have been a cool way to wrap the album.

 

Really hope they are about to announce an album and tour

 

Here we go!

 

out friday!!!!

 

OH SHIT

LETS FUCKING GO

 

Similar aesthetic to boy, hoping that means they’re both on an album.

 

I’m ready! The synth comment has me excited!

 

Right, you’re free to laugh as it’s probably my most out-of-step musical opinion but, back when I was 15, questioning things and trying to make sense of the world, Day & Age was honestly my OK Computer.

I wasn’t really ready for non-catchy music yet, and this album is bright and shiny - but it reveals quite dark and consistent themes of detachment and mortality if you give it time.

Losing Touch and Human as a 1-2 punch are all about feeling out-of-step with the world around you, as is The World We Live In and the bonus track A Crippling Blow. I think one of the big forces driving this is Brandon Flowers coming to terms with fame - Spaceman has always read better like that to me than an actual alien abduction, and I Can’t Stay is canonically about the guilt Brandon felt about leaving his family behind to tour.

This Is Your Life (which slowly snuck up on me and is my favourite on the record now) is similarly existentialist, while A Dustland Fairytale and Goodnight, Travel Well both concern death/terminal illness (namely that of band members’ parents). Even Joyride, the flimsiest song, can be read in a nihilistic, reckless-abandon sort of way.

It’s not perfect - I think The World We Live In is the sort of bland arena-bait that the band would do too often on Battle Born, and Goodnight Travel Well would work better as a standalone release like Land of the Free - but you can replace them with B-sides; the thematically consistent Crippling Blow, a quite masterful Four Winds cover which slots right into the synth-western vibe, and Tidal Wave which makes for a beautiful, hazey closer full of longing.

Also, does anyone think it’s their most unique sounding album? Hot Fuss is perfect new-wave, at least for the first half, and you can feel the heartland/Springsteen that a lot of their discography is going for, but what does Day & Age sound like exactly? There’s influences, sure; I hear Bowie, Roxy Music, Vampire Weekend, Pet Shop Boys, Talking Heads, maybe a bit of MGMT…but it comes together as a really distinct, weird pop album for me.

Maybe Sam’s Town, Pressure Machine and even Imploding The Mirage are better albums front-to-back, which is how I feel from time to time and I love those records - but my heart sinks when I see people underrate Day & Age. Give it another spin, you might be surprised!

 

Let’s gooooooooooooo

(also imploding is my favorite)

 

This is awesome. I don't agree with every single point you make here (for example, I just can't stand the song "I Can't Stay" and really do think it's just a bad song), but I love everything about this post.

I know Craig already wrote a damn fine 10-year retrospective on this baby, but I nominate you to write the 15-year one, and to lead the charge on its critical reevaluation.

 

The Killers

 

Gonna be a banger but that art is awful lol

 

It’s honestly mind blowing how there have become two completely opposite approaches to releases:

- drop it in a week

- months long roll outs