The Killers
Sam's Town

Welcome back, Killers!

After the success of 2004's 'Hot Fuss', here comes the highly anticipated second album from the four guys from Las Vegas: 'Sam's Town'. Upon the first listen, it's clear this is not an album that will make history, but it's hard not to appreciate four young men born in the most "American" city in the United States who didn't turn to more local and marketable genres like punk-country-grunge.

The Killers confirm 90% of the formula that made them famous: indie rock with '80s influences. The start is good: 'Sam's Town', the title track of the album, is a nice piece that immediately shows a more insistent use of choruses compared to 'Hot Fuss', which will characterize the entire album. It continues with the single "When you were young", an excellent hit representing the entire work. Among the best songs worth mentioning are also "Bones", cheerful and fun thanks to the use of trumpets, and "Read My Mind", which seems straight out of the '80s.

The other tracks stand out less, but they are all of good quality: "The river is wild", to be listened to at maximum volume because Brandon Flowers tries to let his voice out; "Uncle Johnny", a bit repetitive but with a compelling rhythm; the velvet-like "Why do I keep counting", which would close the album if it weren't for two excellent bonus tracks: "Where the white boys dance", very electronic and danceable, and "All the pretty faces", much more rock.

Conclusion: 'Sam's Town' turns out to be a beautiful album to listen to, the four from Nevada once again manage not to fall into banality yet don't pigeonhole themselves into niche genres. Maybe they are not yet consecrated as masters of music, but if they continue to produce good work, we will start to consider them as one of the best pop-rock bands around.