Album Review

Brandon Flowers – Only The Young

• 14th Nov 2010

When it was announced that Brandon Flowers was to release a solo album, it’s hard to see one of them, do it by themselves when you’ve watched them develop from the beginning. Also many (including myself) were hesitant towards the idea of this venture as the songs maybe the fat, cut off from the meaty, previous Killers albums. Though the majority of the songs on the record are ‘edible meat’, there still are some chewy bits of fat. One of these being Flowers’ next single, ‘Only The Young’…

What a disappointment for a second single this is, making fans, listeners, and critics consider not buying ‘Flamingo’ when it is actually first-class album. This slow, emotive song doesn’t really work and tie in with the rest of the Alternative, Red Neck sort of sound and feel to the album.

This sort of cosmic, atmospheric sound seems to gradually develop, to something quite special. But of course, it conveys nothing but a couple of techno beats and weak lyrics. It seems to be a failed and quite miserable attempt to reflect the magic that is ‘Space Oddity’ by Bowie. To me, the song doesn’t beacon or scream neither a Flowers nor Killers song, but more suited for Coldplay or Take That. Nevertheless it does show familiarities to ‘A Dustland Fairytale’ by The Killers and even so, this has a lot more personality and punch!

For all those Killers and Flowers fans, don’t be disheartened by his unquestionable ability to produce worthy songs, fit for any album he does, either for himself or with the band but the three lost components of the group, are highlighted in this song. I hope with his next single, he releases something more risky, edgy and sassy, unlike this boring and unfulfilling record.