Flowers’ CD blossoms

By Jessica Pickens

pickensj@thejohnsonian.com

Jessica Pickens - Arts & EntertainmentKillers lead singer impresses with new album “Flamingo”

 I’ve been waiting for it since May. 

Brandon Flowers’ solo album “Flamingo” was the fiber of my being all summer. 

I listened to the single “Crossfire” on repeat during my hour commute to my internship, constantly looked online for news about the album and listened to all four Killers albums this summer.

My Killers and Brandon Flowers obsession all began last March when I bought “Day and Age,” the band’s fourth album featuring the single “Human.” 

It quickly became my favorite CD, and I listened to it every day. Then, in early May while researching the CD and upcoming Killers events, I saw that the Killers announced on April 29 the band was going on hiatus and Brandon Flowers was working on a solo album.

My heart stopped. 

What did this mean? Was hiatus another word for the band’s break up? 

Nevertheless, I was excited about Flowers’ solo album because I knew it would be great.

During the summer, angry fans on message boards insulted Flowers by calling him selfish and greedy for using “Killers’ songs on his new album” (In reality, he said his songs could easily be Killers’ songs, not that they had been intended for the Killers). 

However, I think it’s necessary to clear his name.

In interviews and articles, Flowers said the rest of the band wanted to take a break after the “Day and Age” tour; the tour ended early due to the death of Flowers’ mother. But Flowers wasn’t ready for a break and produced the album “Flamingo.”

The album was released on Sept. 14, and I was at Best Buy by 10:30 a.m. to snatch up a deluxe edition of the CD.

Some songs on the album sound similar to what the Killers might sing. Other songs have a soulful feel, while some are even country western-like. 

My favorite song is “Only the Young.” The lyrics and music make me melt into a dream-like state, and I enjoy the space-age sounding keyboard.

Other songs to make sure you listen to are “Magdalena,” “Crossfire” and “The Clock was Tickin’,” which I think is about his parents’ troubled relationship.

Flowers was on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Sept. 14, when he told Kimmel the Killers would be coming out with a new album in 2011.

“I think the other guys just wanted to dry out after the ‘Day and Age’ tour,” he said to Kimmel. 

If you are a fan of the Killers or just think Brandon Flowers is attractive, buy his new album “Flamingo.”

You won’t be disappointed.