The Killers - Wonderful Wonderful

The Killers
Wonderful Wonderful
2017
Spotify

The thing about the killers is that it always seems like they are right on the verge of being great. They have hits that are absolutely essential when talking about pop music, but then they also have a ton of stuff that is just ok. You find yourself only remembering the songs that bang though and The Killers keep a forever in the conversation stance. This album however is perhaps one of their best, it glistens and shines but has this sort of comfortable quality to it. For Me The Killers often felt forced which was due in part to Brandon Flowers' really unique vocals but now the music just pours out of them. "The Man" and "Rut" have this really wonderful electropop vibe and then "Rut" descends into this celebration chant about "climbing" out of whatever hole you might be in. It's about not giving up on yourself and not giving up on others when they try to change. The music is so glossy, and the use of electronics feels so easy for them like they have been doing it since the beginning. When it works it really soars, but when it doesn;t work it does fall a bit flat. "Some Kind of Love" just does not work with Brandon Flowers' voice. It is a really beautiful song, but one that Flowers should not be singing as his delivery sucks you completely out of this super ethereal vibe they create. That is just how it is with The Killers, you have to wade through some boring stuff in order to get a the chewy center, and often it's actually worth it.

"Out Of My Mind" suffers a similar fate, of being so close musically but lyrically missing the mark. Other songs like "The Calling" however never even get a start. "Money On Straight" is another track that feels totally like filler and it sort of just plucks along. The ending even feels thrown together just something they needed to do rather than feel passionate about. Yet there are those tracks that really push and the inclusion of two remixes at the end of the album is an interesting and welcome choice. Jacques Lu Cont turns "The Man" into an absolute dance banger that sounds more like Justice than it does The Killers. There is a great deal to like on this album but so much that just doesn;t connect. It's a problem The Killers have always had and seems like they will always be saddled with. For now we'll just have to enjoy the ones that bang and not listen to the others, maybe it's time for a Greatest Hits even though they already have one.

7.3 out of 10