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We took a walk that night but it wasn't the same...
These are the 11 words that open an album produced in the Year of Our Lord 2004, which has unmistakably marked the artistic and musical career of four boys from Las Vegas: we are talking about the alternative rock band known as "The Killers". In the same year when a production of the caliber of American Idiot was garnering recognition and certifications from the mainstream, these young men were slowly climbing the ranks until they offered a confident, proud album full to the brim that reached the record figure of 5 million albums sold.
Those 11 words are part of the opening track named "Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine" which perhaps wasn't chosen at random as the album's opening track (memories of the demo proposed to the label Island Records); it features a solid rhythmic structure dominated by a damned funky bass riff and the guitar doing a lot of dark work, except in the choruses where it takes the spotlight it deserves, keyboards that feel like cream on a cake, and lyrics that tell the final episode of the so-called "Murder Trilogy" (that is, three songs about the murder of a girl, Jenny, precisely) where the murderer brazenly denies to the police officers that he committed that crime.
The following song is the one that more than any other represented the turning point for Brandon & Co. namely "Mr. Brightside", an interesting punk-revival experiment where the lyrics depart from the verse-chorus structure and instead use a classicist "start to finish" form that well expresses the redundancy that the writer feels inside once he encounters his ex with someone else, and going home, imagines the two of them in intimate attitudes drawing through self-love the strength to say that he is the light, Mr. Brightside. With the third track, we stroll through the streets of Orange County with "Smile Like You Mean It" (chosen as the soundtrack for the TV series The O.C.) and from certain points of view presents the continuation of the theme of Mr. Brightside, with very melancholic singing and a vocal timbre that perfectly expresses the resignation of having to get used to faking smiles when inside one only has sadness for what has been lost.
A carefree air is breathed in the track "Somebody Told Me" which is characterized by an appeal perhaps no other track on the album has (I remember very well that I heard it on several mainstream radios in 2005, a rarity for this group): a danceable, easy-listening track, which plays entirely on the ambiguity of the lyrics and on a melodic structure that fears no comparison with any other production. Gospel choruses and rock atmospheres from a few decades ago distinguish "All These Things That I've Done" (which tells the story of a Vietnam veteran returned to America) and "Andy You're A Star" (Brandon's youthful infatuation with an American football player from his college); the former becoming a veritable anthem performed at every live show and viscerally loved by the audience.
Track number 7: back to the demo, here's "On Top" a song with a strong emotional component, the rhythm offered by the musical lines is very cadenced with a little keyboard riff that repeats throughout the track; the true strength of On Top is the lyrics, reading them you get the impression of having images in front of your eyes about how loving a person is also waiting for less intense moments and how overcoming separations is part of discovering the velvet sun that warms the hearts of two lovers. We're on top. Indie atmospheres and simple chords distinguish the pair "Change Your Mind" and "Believe Me Natalie", both start slow only to explode in the final part, not exactly the Killers' brightest expression of talent but nonetheless appreciable fillers. Central chapter of the Murder Trilogy in "Midnight Show", line after line we move from the excitement of a couple for what promises to be a wonderful evening to the fatal murder committed under the stars, accompanied by fast, distinct notes that well underline the frenzy of that night.
Completely different is "Everything Will Be Alright", a slow, keyboard ballad self-produced by the band, it's a little love song pronounced by an electronically distorted voice; a very '80s piece that in some ways recalls a very subdued Bowie. The calmness is precisely the star of this piece, defying worries everything will be alright. In itself, the aforementioned track would have been an excellent finale on which to hang the "The End" sign or maybe "That's all folks," but in the end, the four of them offer us a little gem called "Glamorous Indie Rock'N'Roll", accused of hypocrisy by a good part of the American indie community for its somewhat controversial lyrics; it was later clarified by Brandon that it was a sort of playful exaggeration and that the issue about the lyrics was greatly exaggerated, surely the song presents a very interesting melodic component and clearly inspired by Queen, as in a couple of scales where Dave Keuning closely reminds of Brian May.
We have on our hands an excellent product for being a debut album, a fairly fluid listen that, however, does not give the listener a chance to engage in anything else, but will demand constant and total attention; very interesting lyrics, introspective enough and positively structured, the sound very much recalls the typical American rock and a melting pot of influences ranging from classic rock to more commercial products of the time. Listenable, danceable, 5 million albums sold: the best is yet to come...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Mr. Brightside (03:42)
Coming out of my cage
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss
It was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his chest now
He takes off her dress now
Let me go
And I just can't look
It's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy
Turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
Cause I'm Mr. Brightside
I'm coming out of my cage
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss
It was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his chest now
He takes off her dress now
Let me go
'cause I just can't look
It's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy
Turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
Cause I'm Mr. Brightside
I never, I never
I never, I never
03 Smile Like You Mean It (03:54)
Save some face, you know you've only got one
Change your ways while you're young
Boy, one day you'll be a man
Oh girl, he'll help you understand
Smile like you mean it
Smile like you mean it
Looking back at sunsets on the Eastside
We lost track of the time
Dreams aren't what they used to be
Some things slide by so carelessly
Smile like you mean it
Smile like you mean it
And someone is calling my name
From the back of the restaurant
And someone is playing a game
In the house I grew up in
And someone will drive her around
Down the same streets that I did
On the same streets that I did
Smile like you mean it
Smile like you mean it
Smile like you mean it
Smile like you mean it
Oh no, oh no no no
Oh no, oh no no no
04 Somebody Told Me (03:17)
Breaking my back just to know your name
Seventeen tracks and I've had it with this game
I'm breaking my back just to know your name
But heaven ain't close in a place like this
Anything goes but don't blink you might miss
Cause heaven ain't close in a place like this
I said heaven ain't close in a place like this
Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight
Never thought I'd let a rumour ruin my moonlight
But somebody told me
You had a boyfriend
Who looks like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential
I've got potential
Ready? Let's roll onto something new
Taking its toll and I'm leaving without you
But heaven ain't close in a place like this
I said heaven ain't close in a place like this
Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight
Never thought I'd let a rumor ruin my moonlight
But somebody told me
You had a boyfriend
Who looks like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential
I've got potential
A rushin', a rushin' around
Place yourself for me (For me)
I said maybe baby please (Please)
But I just don't know now (Maybe, baby)
When all I wanna do is try
Well somebody told me
You had a boyfriend
Who looks like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential
I've got potential
A rushin', a rushin' around
Well somebody told me
You had a boyfriend
Who looks like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential
I've got potential
A rushin', a rushin' around
Somebody told me
You had a boyfriend
Who looks like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential
I've got potential
A rushin', a rushin' around
05 All These Things That I've Done (05:01)
When there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
One more son
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on
I wanna stand up, I wanna let go
You know, you know - no you don't, you don't
I wanna shine on in the hearts of men
I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand
Another head aches, another heart breaks
I am so much older than I can take
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection, no no no no
Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You know you got to help me out
And when there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
These changes ain't changing me
The cold-hearted boy I used to be
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You know you got to help me out
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
[Time, Truth, and Hearts]
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You know you got to help me out
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Over and in, last call for sin
While everyone's lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I've done
All these things that I've done
[Time, Truth, and Hearts]
If you can hold on
If you can hold on
06 Andy, You're a Star (03:14)
One, two...
On the field I remember you were incredible
Hey shut up, hey shut up, yeah
On the field I remember you were incredible
Hey shut up, hey shut up, yeah
On the match with the boys you think you're alone
With the pain that you drained from love
In a car with a girl promise me she's not your world
'Cause Andy you're a star
Get down...
Leave your number on the locker and I'll give you a call
Hey shut up, hey shut up, yeah
Leave your legacy in gold on the plaques that line the hall
Hey shut up, hey shut up, yeah
On the streets such a sweet face jump in town
In the staffroom the verdict is in
In a car with a girl promise me she's not your world
'Cause Andy you're a star
In nobody's eyes but mine
Andy you're a star
In nobody's eyes but mine
Andy you're a star
In nobody's eyes
In nobody's eyes but mine
07 On Top (04:18)
Remember Rio and get down
Like some other DJ, in some other town
She's been trying to tell me to hold tight
But I've been waiting this whole night
But I've been down across a road or two
But now I've found the velvet sun
That shines on me and you
In the back, uh huh, I can't crack
We're on top
It's just a shimmy and a shake, uh huh
I can't fake, we're on top
We're on top
The day is breaking, we're still here
Your body's shaking, and it's clear
You really need it, so let go
And let me beat it, but you know
That I've been down across the road or two
But now I've found the velvet sun
That shines on me and you
In the back, uh huh, I can't crack
We're on top
It's just a shimmy and a shake, uh huh
I can't fake, we're on top
We're on top
We bring the bump to the grind, uh huh
I don't mind, we're on top
It's just a shimmy and a shake, uh huh
I can't fake, we're on top
We're on top
And we don't need to satisfy, tonight
So get your eyes off my bride, tonight
Cause I don't need to satisfy, tonight
It's like a cigarette in the mouth
Or a handshake in the doorway
I look at you and smile because I'm fine
And we don't need to satisfy, tonight
So get your eyes off my bride, tonight
Cause I don't need to satisfy, tonight
It's like a cigarette in the mouth
Or a handshake in the doorway
I look at you and smile because I'm fine
08 Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll (04:14)
Glamorous
Indie rock 'n' roll is what I want
It's in my soul, it's what I need
Indie rock 'n' roll, it's time
Two of us
Flipping through a thrift store magazine
She plays the drums, I'm on tambourine
Bet your, your bottom dollar on me
It's Indie rock 'n' roll for me
It's Indie rock 'n' roll for me
It's all I need
It's Indie rock 'n' roll for me
In a clutch
I'm talking every word for all the boys
Electric girls with worn down toys
Make it up, break it up, what do you care
Oh what do you care?
I take my twist with a shout
A coffee shop with a cause, then I'll freak you out
No sex, no drugs, no life, no love
When it comes to today
Stay if you wanna love me, stay
Oh don't be shy, let's cause a scene
Like lovers do on silver screens
Let's make it yeah, we'll cause a scene
It's Indie rock 'n' roll for me
It's Indie rock 'n' roll for me
It's all I need
It's Indie rock 'n' roll for me
In a clutch
I'm talking every word for all the boys
It's Indie rock 'n' roll for me
It's all I need
Makin' up, breakin' up, what do you care
What do you care?
It's Indie rock 'n' roll for me
Two of us
Flipping through a thrift store magazine
It's Indie rock 'n' roll for me
It's all I need
Makin' up, breakin' up, what do you care
What do you care?
It's Indie rock 'n' roll for me
09 Believe Me Natalie (05:05)
Believe me, Natalie
Listen Natalie
This is your last chance to find
A go-go dance to disco now
Please believe me, Natalie
Listen Natalie
This is your last chance to find
A go-go dance to disco now
Forget what they said in Soho
Leave the oh-no's out
And believe me, Natalie
Listen Natalie
This is your last chance
There is an old cliché
Under your Monet, baby
Remember the arch of roses
Right above your couch
Forget what they said in Soho
Leave the oh-no's out
Yes, there is an old cliché
Under your Monet, baby
You left the station now to the floor
With speculation, what was it for?
In that old hallway
Mom says "why don't you stay...
you've been away for a long time"
Believe me, Natalie
This is your last chance
To find a go-go
Forget what they said in Soho
And walk away
If my dreams for us can't get you through
Just one more day
It's alright by me
God help me somehow
There's no time for survival left
The time is now...
Cause this might be your last chance
To disco, oh-oh
10 Midnight Show (04:02)
I know what you want
I'm gonna take you to a midnight show tonight
If you can keep a secret
I got a blanket in the back seat on my mind
And a little place that sits beneath the sky
She turned her face to speak
But no one heard her cry
Drive faster, boy
Drive faster, boy
I know there's a hope
There's too many people trying to help me cope
You got a real short skirt
I wanna look up, look up, look up
Yeah, yeah
We were just in time
Let me take a little more off your mind
There's something in my head
Somewhere in the back sayin
We were just a good thing
We were such a good thing
Make it go away without a word
But promise me you'll stay
And fix these things I've heard
Make it go away, oh wa oh wa oh
Drive faster, boy
The crashing tide can't hide a guilty girl
With jealous hearts that start with gloss and curls
I took my baby's breath beneath the chandelier
Of stars an atmosphere
And watched her disappear
Into the midnight show...
Faster, faster, faster,
Faster, faster, faster...
Oh no no no no no no,
no no no no no...
If you keep a secret
Well baby I can keep...
If you can keep a secret
She said she loved me...
If you keep a secret...
I can keep a secret
She said she loved me...
If you can keep a secret...
Well baby I can keep...
If you can keep a secret
11 Everything Will Be Alright (05:44)
Du-du-dudu
I believe in you and me
I'm coming to find you
If it takes me all night
Run until you make it right
And I won't forget you
At least I'll try
And run and run
Tonight
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Lalalala Oh Ho
Whilst I was out shopping for a doll
To say the least, I've thought I've seen them all
Then you took me by surprise
I'm dreaming about those dreamy eyes
I never knew, I never knew
So take your suitcases I don't mind
And maybe though I meant to
Every time
You don't need to compromise
I'm dreaming about those dreamy eyes
I never knew, I never knew
But it's alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Will be alright
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By Sallu
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Every song has something to say, and they do so wonderfully.
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