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Battle Born (new The Killers album) |OT| We're all just runaways

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ThatObviousUser

ὁ αἴσχιστος παῖς εἶ
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3. The Way It Was - I wasn't feeling it at first but it got me by the end of the song... I feel myself singing this in the car a lot
4. Here With Me - I really hate the lyric "i dont want your photo on my cellphone" but my gf said we're "nuzzling" to the song so I guess I'm supposed to like it.
5. A Matter of Time - "whoaaaaohhohhoh".
6. Deadlines and Commitments - Starts slow again...doesn't really do anything for me.
7. Miss Atomic Bomb - God I love this. I love it so much. It sounds so good recorded
8. The Rising Tide - Love the synth and guitar...eh on the lyrics
9. Heart of a Girl - Mehhh...
10.From Here On Out - FLAMINGOOOOOOO
11. Be Still - Really fucking slow...almost making me fall asleep. Feels like Flamingo as well.
12. Battle Born - Good closing track. Esp compared to "Good Night Travel Well" which always left me sad.

Overall...I kinda love it. There are a couple meh tracks but the great tracks are sooo good.
 
As of now:

Hot Fuss > Sam's Town > Battle Born >>> Day + Age.

Battle Born gives me the same feeling as Hot Fuss. There are some alright songs mixed in with some great ones. Sam's Town is the most fluid album they have. Day and Age always felt like the Killers trying to do a Disney soundtrack
 

i_am_ben

running_here_and_there
I grew to love Day + Age.

Human, Spaceman, goodnight travel well, dustland fairy tale are all amazing.

I also like neon tiger and joyride more than I should.
 

ConfusedMan09

Neo Member
As of now:

Hot Fuss > Sam's Town > Battle Born >>> Day + Age.

Battle Born gives me the same feeling as Hot Fuss. There are some alright songs mixed in with some great ones. Sam's Town is the most fluid album they have. Day and Age always felt like the Killers trying to do a Disney soundtrack

Pretty much how I feel. This album really is brilliant.

And I'm off to see the Killers live in about 6 hours :D Cannot wait.
 
I didn't 'hate' Day and Age. I just think the styles they were going for is meant to be cherry picked...for playlists and such. I like listenings to albums as a whole.
 
Man, this album is sounding really U2-ish... and that's a good thing for me.

That's been their direction when Sam's Town hit. I also got the impression when I heard that link for "miss atomic bomb" in this thread.

And their cover of U2's Ultraviolet is god-tier. I think it might even be better than the original
 

Fry

Member
And it leaked to the internet, later i will give my opinion...

Oh shit.

Another review:

http://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2012/09/08/album-review-the-killers-battle-born/

Album review: The Killers – Battle Born

Formed in 2001, the success The Killers have achieved since, is indisputable. Emerging as a brazenly important band following the triumph of 2004 album Hot Fuss, expectation has been high by those looking forward to new material.

New album Battle Born is a refinement and crystallisation of all previous efforts. The result is a record with catharsis seeping through every note. The production on title track Flesh & Bone gives the instruments more space, which in turn accentuates skill and improvement. Although this track is reminiscent of earlier material, it seems older and wiser. More sophisticated. The Killers have honed their ability to be urgent and primitive and instead added nuance and depth.

At its peak, Runaways reaches greatness. The incongruous experimentation with modern tech is in stark contrast with the clean-cut vocals of front-man Brandon Flowers. This 4-minute opus counts easily amongst the best material The Killers have penned.

The hunger and passion that first excited us about The Killers is back in abundance on Battle Born. The silky smooth hook of Miss Atomic Bomb is balanced delicately atop electronic stutters. Its focussed melody reinforces the notion of The Killers as songwriters, as opposed to sonic adventurers.

Unfortunately, Battle Born fails to keep up this momentum and songs such as The Rising Tide and Be Still lack the ability to lock the listener as they wander aimlessly towards their long-winded conclusions. However, these shapeless tracks are just a small disappointment on an otherwise skilful effort.

From Here on Out awakens the slumping middle section. The stomping bass drum underpins a killer melody that’s not too overworked or overcomplicated. Manic and electrifying, it’s perfect glistening pop to a perfectly crafted album rich in just about everything.

Verdict: ••••

Standout track: Runaways
 

Medalion

Banned
That's been their direction when Sam's Town hit. I also got the impression when I heard that link for "miss atomic bomb" in this thread.

And their cover of U2's Ultraviolet is god-tier. I think it might even be better than the original
Maybe the album version, but live U2 still owns it
 

Sai-kun

Banned
I'd be fine never hearing Neon Tiger

If I could take your K away, I would ;(

Listening now.

Flesh and Bone...I dunno. Definitely gonna have to listen to it again.

Runaways has grown on me so much. I fucking love this track now. I can imagine it's gonna be fucking fantastic live. I love the arrangement of the bridge into the last chorus. The little break in sound as he says "Ain't we all -- just -- runaways!" is great.

The Way It Was is pretty good, on first listen. Very chill, totally getting some Day & Age vibes with the vibrant guitar and synth parts. I like it a lot!

Here With Me is okay, not really my kinda thing, but it's not bad by any means.
 

Medalion

Banned
No doubt, upon first listen Runaways didn't seem like much but became a real grower by the 2nd listen I heard on the Radio, I found myself going "Fuck yeah" in the car when I heard it again
 

Sai-kun

Banned
Day & Age > Hot Fuss > Battle Born > Sam's Town

I know, I'm the weirdest Killers fan ever. I might actually put Sam's Town and Battle Born as tied because they both have just a couple songs that I think are absolute gold and then rest is kinda meh.
 
Day & Age > Hot Fuss > Battle Born > Sam's Town

I know, I'm the weirdest Killers fan ever. I might actually put Sam's Town and Battle Born as tied because they both have just a couple songs that I think are absolute gold and then rest is kinda meh.
reaction.gif

God, I love that GIF.
 
So, two more songs to go, and as far as I remember for my first listen, there are no Hot Fuss-sounding songs. Some elements of Hot Fuss sure, but I wanted at least one of a dark-synth-y song.
 
So, two more songs to go, and as far as I remember for my first listen, there are no Hot Fuss-sounding songs. Some elements of Hot Fuss sure, but I wanted at least one of a dark-synth-y song.

Yeah, every album I hope for a bit of a move back towards Hot Fuss, and it doesn't happen.

Ho hum. They're a Springsteen/ U2 band now, and I've come to terms with it.
 
Yeah, every album I hope for a bit of a move back towards Hot Fuss, and it doesn't happen.

Ho hum. They're a Springsteen/ U2 band now, and I've come to terms with it.

Well Sam's Town and Hot Fuss switch as my favorite album, but Day and Age was such a drastic departure, so I figured they were either going to be Day and Age again, or go back to their first album. Then Runaways was released, and I assumed it was going to be more Sam's Town, but I was still holding out hope for half and half... and I was wrong. Oh well, it's still a damn good album.
 

Medalion

Banned
A band like The Killers didn't have time to progress naturally, the moment they touched ground with their debut, they were heralded alongside other big rock acts of the time when they sprang from the garage rock movement at the early 00's... they have no choice but to make more grander things that fit stadium rock than something a bit more modest
 
A band like The Killers didn't have time to progress naturally, the moment they touched ground with their debut, they were heralded alongside other big rock acts of the time when they sprang from the garage rock movement at the early 00's... they have no choice but to make more grander things that fit stadium rock than something a bit more modest

Yeah, but like the second half of the album isn't that.. especially if you consider the two bonus songs from iTunes.
 

Solo

Member
So, two more songs to go, and as far as I remember for my first listen, there are no Hot Fuss-sounding songs. Some elements of Hot Fuss sure, but I wanted at least one of a dark-synth-y song.

I think it's pretty clear at this point that Hot Fuss era Killers wasn't really The Killers. I don't know if it was their old management, or their label, or whatever, but I think that style was kinda pushed on them. Sam's Town, Day And Age and presumably Battle Born I think are them playing how they want to, for better or for worse.

Anyways, as I said earlier, I refuse to listen to anything until 9/18. Won't listen to leaks, won't listen to the album streaming on iTunes. Will listen to BB for the first time on 9/18, then watch the Youtube/Herzog concert after.
 
I think it's pretty clear at this point that Hot Fuss era Killers wasn't really The Killers. I don't know if it was their old management, or their label, or whatever, but I think that style was kinda pushed on them. Sam's Town, Day And Age and presumably Battle Born I think are them playing how they want to, for better or for worse.

Anyways, as I said earlier, I refuse to listen to anything until 9/18. Won't listen to leaks, won't listen to the album streaming on iTunes. Will listen to BB for the first time on 9/18, then watch the Youtube/Herzog concert after.
I guess so, there were still songs like All These Things I've Done that kinda showed the future Killers, oh well.

And as for the second part I had this same mindset, then I realized Borderlands 2 came out the same day, plus with a high quality stream...
 

Tashi

343i Lead Esports Producer
That's been their direction when Sam's Town hit. I also got the impression when I heard that link for "miss atomic bomb" in this thread.

And their cover of U2's Ultraviolet is god-tier. I think it might even be better than the original

Don't you dare think that! Lol that's my favorite song ever.

Will give impressions of the new album later.
 
I think it's pretty clear at this point that Hot Fuss era Killers wasn't really The Killers. I don't know if it was their old management, or their label, or whatever, but I think that style was kinda pushed on them. Sam's Town, Day And Age and presumably Battle Born I think are them playing how they want to, for better or for worse.

Anyways, as I said earlier, I refuse to listen to anything until 9/18. Won't listen to leaks, won't listen to the album streaming on iTunes. Will listen to BB for the first time on 9/18, then watch the Youtube/Herzog concert after.

Why are you waiting?
It's a not a movie, there aren't any spoilers. You're just enjoying it...early
 
Yeah I think Miss Atomic Bomb is my favorite track on this album, I love the chorus. Not as good as Hot Fuss or Sam's Town but better than Day and Age.

edit: and I take back the Ultraviolet comment, but damn Brandon Flowers made me long for the days when Bono's voice was strong as fuck.
 

Dies Iræ

Member
Sadly, this album isn't for me. I love A Matter of Time. Unfortunately the remainder is too downtempo / not as catchy as their earlier material. The album lacks momentum (track #4 shouldn't have even made the final cut. don't put ballads at the start of albums. jesus lol) and it lacks "fuck yeah" moments.

Hot Fuss >>> Sam's Town >>> Sawdust >> Day & Age > Battle Born

Yes, I prefer a B-side collection to their last two LPs. I rank Day & Age higher than BB because it has stronger writing and A Crippling Blow, one of my favorite Killers tracks.

Edit: Seriously though, A Matter of Time is fantastic. Also, I don't get the love for Miss Atomic Bomb.
 

Fry

Member
8/9 years since debut

Most bands change sounds or chill out, not surprised it turned out like this

Yeah, pretty much, it's not rocket science. I wasn't expecting anything like they've done before, and that's why I really liked Day & Age, and now, Battle Born.

Flesh and Bone, Runaways, The Way it Was, Here With Me, Miss Atomic Bomb, The Rising Tide, Be Still are fantastic. The rest are either great, good or didn't do much for me, but they'll grow on me, I'm sure.
 
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