Superlatives
A Vulture series in which artists judge the best and worst of their own careers.
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Brandon Flowersis aware thatthe Killershave a sound, even if he cant quite describe it.
He knows that you know it, too.
I just know that we have a specific jot down of song that we create.
Nearly 20 years on,people are still attracted to it.
The bands latest album,Imploding the Mirage,will likely go No.
1, just like their last,2017sWonderful Wonderful, did.
Flowers is just relieved that its being released at all.
A planned European tour has been rescheduled for summer 2021.
Dont expect any sort of drive-in Killers show anytime soon though.
Well just kind of see how this plays out, he says, and pray for a vaccine.
Ive seen people do karaoke of it.
Ive been in restaurants and heard it, but nothing thats stood out as being really bizarre.
Ive had those kinds of strange experiences, but never anything that was pretty wild.
I feel like Human?
Theres a little bit of mystery around it.
I think it achieved that.
Most misunderstood Killers album
Oh, hell.
Im not sure what everyones understanding is.
In the early days,Sams Townwas definitely underrated and misunderstood, by critics at least.
We did start noticing more male fans coming around at that time.
I dont think people were prepared for us to make such a 180 from the record before.
The way our aesthetic changed, and the sound changed and kind of toughened up a little bit.
There was also this newfound heart that I dont think was really onHot Fuss.
I thinkSams Townis definitely that record.
We have a soft spot for that one.
Killers song you never want to hear again
I gotta be careful there.
Ill just plead the fifth.
Best new song
Currently, Id pick Blowback.
Im proud of the storytelling.
It just feels like its existed.
And when you have a song out in the universe like that, its a nice feeling.
We had about eight months of stuff that was okay but that wasnt feeling great or good enough.
Once we really went with [producers] Jonathan Rado and Shawn Everett, things started to open up.
This was one of those songs that just came really quickly.
It just kept its head above water the whole time and were grateful for it.
Its that sort of arms-open, on-top-of-the-mountain kind of a feeling.
Album cover thats caused the most drama
I think maybeWonderful Wonderful.
It was the first time that we didnt have our logo on the album cover.
I guess that became a little bit of a controversy.
There were actually a couple of versions that we were pulling around with.
It was a transitional time for the band, so I thought it appropriate to do something different.
But there was such a female component about the record that it ended up being on the deluxe version.
I was just really thrilled, and it holds up still.
Also, on that record, Only the Young.
I tapped into someplace that I had never gone before.
On the second record, Lonely Town and Between Me and You.
I heard Between Me and You the other day and I just … strange that its my own song.
I really like that song.
The agendas the same.
Thats always the goal, whether Im with Mark, David, and Ronnie or not.
I sort of attempt to check those boxes.
Its not really too far off, the two worlds.
I just gotta write songs.
Theres something really gratifying about being able to go full voice that high.
I have those capabilities and Im thankful Ive been able to do that.
Its something that I work on.
I see a voice coach every now and then and practice at home.
Caution has a gratifying chorus,bathroom or not.
I pay attention sometimes to live reviews.
I remember reading once about how there wasnt enough of a journey.
It was all just banging people over the head.
It can be a positive thing.
But we were really beaten up, byRolling Stonein particular, forSams Town.
We elevated as a band.
We wanted to show the world that these songs were better than what was being said about them.
Most meaningful praise youve received
Its a tough one to answer without being braggadocios.
Ive received compliments from people that I admire thats kind of blown my mind, and thats been nice.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
