Brandon Flowers
Flamingo

Brandon Flowers is quite a character by now. A practicing Mormon and at the same time an eccentric songwriter for the Killers, a Californian band that has shown great love for their homeland, California, a land of dreams and vices, the same vices in conflict with his religious beliefs.

These are the two faces, different yet complementary, of the "Flamingo" coin. I must admit that to appreciate this album, I had to give it quite a few listens, as Flowers wanted to do something different, which is reasonable for a side project, and this probably led Killers fans to an incorrect approach to this album. It won't be a memorable album, but certainly more than enjoyable. As mentioned, the love for one of the cities that never sleeps, so there is inevitably a dedication to Las Vegas "give us your dreams", he repeats in "Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas". Pleasant and digestible tracks like the Synth Pop that is never garish in "Only The Young" and "Hard Enough" alternate with less fortunate episodes but still appreciable in intention. There are even New Wave contaminations as in "Playing With Fire" or dives into the past as in "Was It Something Said" and "The Clock Was Tickin'", where the always bright voice of the 30-year-old American songwriter alternates with old-fashioned rock probably entirely put down by Flowers himself, given his multi-instrumental vein. The lead single can’t help but be a chart piece, direct, melodic, and catchy "Crossfire", gets into your head quite easily and Flowers, constantly dealing with what I like to call "hints of falsetto" delivers an effective chorus, pulling out of the hat one of his pieces, but not forgetting to release one of his (many) messages as the good church pastor he is: "tell the devil that he can go back from where he came". The album continues and ends on a high note with the good little tunes of pieces like "Swallow It" or "Jacksonville", the latter strongly referring to his latest works with the Killers. For critical spirit, you can feel the absence of Robbie Vannucci and Mark Stoermer (Killers’ drummer and bassist), but one can only speak of an album certainly interesting for its supporters, and which contains in its 14 tracks (of the deluxe edition) the most carefree, most direct, and most personal side of the American singer-songwriter.

Probably pushed to the creation of a solo work also by sponsors and majors, Flowers may not have further fueled his image as a sexy icon for women (and gays), but he has given us a nice page of music without particular excesses, perhaps the same ones of the wild and 'fabulous' Las Vegas.

Rating: 7