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Rating: A beautiful cover and 17 songs: this is how "Sawdust" presents itself, a collection of unreleased tracks, B-sides, rarities, remakes, and covers by the Killers. It's an album that stands apart from the band's other three releases from Las Vegas; it's not to be gulped down but savored little by little, song by song, like a bottle of fine whiskey. The total duration (72 minutes) might be excessive, given the presence of a handful of true outtakes that add nothing to the Killers' work, but among the "sawdust," there are songs of great depth that elevate "Sawdust" to a precious chest of hidden treasures.
The jewel of the album is undoubtedly "Tranquilize," a psychedelic-pop masterpiece with a distinct and unique atmosphere, enriched by a classy finale performed by a rock legend like Lou Reed. This song alone is worth the price of the album and is to be considered a classic of the Las Vegas quartet, but "Sawdust" is not just "Tranquilize." There's a trio composed of the energetic "All The Pretty Faces", which references the famous "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell without losing its own strong personality, the stunning "Sweet Talk," an electronic whirlwind (anticipating some atmospheres of "Day & Age") in which Brandon Flowers delivers a breathtaking vocal performance, and the eccentric "Where The White Boys Dance," whose psychedelic and sleepy nature is completely transformed by the guitars in the finale. It doesn't seem like it, but these three songs come from the "Sam's Town" sessions, and it was a very clever move to "redirect" them to "Sawdust," as they are appreciated here in all their value without creating contrasts that would have partly spoiled an album centered on a well-defined sound identity, like "Sam's Town."
Other heavy hitters from the "Hot Fuss" sessions are "Leave The Bourbon On The Shelf," rickety and passionate, "Under The Gun," catchy and punkish, and the masterpiece "The Ballad Of Michael Valentine," a fun and compelling potential pop rock single that I wouldn't have excluded from the "Hot Fuss" tracklist even by mistake. The three covers are also of excellent quality: the shadowy "Shadoplay" by Joy Division, centered on an electronic and very psychedelic sonic fabric, the light "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town" by The First Edition, a pleasant vaguely Beatles-esque ballad, and "Romeo And Juliet," Dire Straits' flagship song, perfectly interpreted in all its melancholic sweetness by a magnificent Brandon Flowers. Added to these is the piano & voice version of "Sam's Town," which, despite a completely transformed chorus, retains all its impact and charm, and a "Mr. Brightside" remixed and stretched with electronic beats that don't distort its melody and essence, concluding with a short and amusing ghost track titled "Questions With The Captain."
Staying on the theme of reinterpretations, the one of "Glamorous Indie Rock And Roll" is decidedly superfluous, losing much of the incisiveness of the original "Hot Fuss," just as superfluous are the intangible "Show You How," the embarrassing "Who Let You Go?," vying with "Joy Ride" for the title of the worst Killers song, "Move Away," a funk performance in the RHCP style not entirely convincing, and "Daddy's Eyes," an inferior remnant from the "Sam's Town" sessions.
Overall, "Sawdust" is a very well-crafted compilation, interesting and of great value, ideal for delving deeper into the knowledge of this great band. If you don't know them yet, start with what I consider their masterpiece, "Sam's Town," or the amazing debut "Hot Fuss."
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Shadowplay (04:07)
To the centre of the city where all roads meet, waiting for you,
To the depths of the ocean where all hopes sank, searching for you,
I was moving through the silence without motion, waiting for you,
In a room without a window in the corner I found truth.
In the shadowplay, acting out your own death, knowing no more,
As the assassins all grouped in four lines, dancing on the floor,
And with cold steel, odour on their bodies made a move to connect,
But I could only stare in disbelief as the crowds all left.
I did everything, everything I wanted to,
I let them use you for their own ends,
To the centre of the city in the night, waiting for you.
To the centre of the city in the night, waiting for you.
03 All the Pretty Faces (04:45)
Help me out I need it
I don't feel like lovin' you no more
I don't feel like lovin' you no more
Help me out I need it
I don't feel like touchin' her no more
Help me out I need it
I don't feel like touchin' her no more
Well how did it happen
I spent two long years in a strange strange land
Well how did it happen
I'd do anything just to be your man
And you're not going anywhere without me
These trials don't prepare the error of
You're not telling anyone about me
And you shake and you plead while I sing my song
I don't feel like I don't feel like
I don't feel like lovin' you
I don't feel like I don't feel like
I don't feel like lovin' you
All the different places
Ringing out like a shotgun in my head
All The Pretty Faces
Ringing out when I just can't go to bed
Well how did it happen
I spent two long years in a strange strange land
Well how did it happen
I'd do anything just to be your man
I'd do anything just to be your man
You're not going anywhere without me
These trials don't prepare the error of
You're not telling anyone about me
And you shake while you plead while I sing my song
I don't feel like touching you
I don't feel like touching you
I don't feel like touching you
I don't feel like touching you but you can't tell anyone about me
But you're not going anywhere without me
Help me out I need it
You can't tell anyone about me
Help me out I need it
I don't feel like I don't feel like
I don't feel like lovin' you
I don't feel like I don't feel like
I don't feel like lovin' you
04 Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf (03:38)
Shakin' like the Devil when she lets me go
Got a new place and how it's so much better.
Falling over myself, the televisions on,
I turn it off and smile.
Oh, Jennifer, you know I always tried.
Before you say goodbye
Leave the bourbon on the shelf.
And I'll drink it by myself.
And I love you endlessly,
darling don't you see I'm not satisfied
until I hold you tight.
Give me one more chance tonight
and I swear I'll make it right.
But you ain't got time for this
and that wreckin' bell is ringin'
and I'm not satisfied
until I hold you
Jennifer, tell me where I stand
and who's that boy holdin' your hand?
Oh, Jennifer, you know I've always tried.
Before you say goodbye
Leave the bourbon on the shelf.
And I'll drink it by myself.
And I never liked your hair or those people that you lie with
but I'm not satisfied
until I hold you tight
and I love you endlessly,
darling don't you see I can't be satisfied
until I hold you tight.
Leave the bourbon on the shelf.
And I'll drink it by myself.
And I love you endlessly,
darling don't you see
I'm not satisfied.
05 Sweet Talk (04:18)
Lift me up on my honor
Take me over this spell
Get this weight off my shoulder
I've carried it well
Loose these shackles of pressure
Shake me out of these chains
Lead me not to temptation
Hold my hand harder
Ease my mind
Roll down the smokescreen
And open the sky
Let me fly
Man I need a release from this troublesome mind
Fix my feet when they're stumbling
And where you know it hurts sometimes
You know it's gonna bleed sometimes
Dig me out from this for thorn tree
Help me bury my shame
Keep my eyes from the fire
They can't handle the flame
Grace cut out from my brothers
When most of them fell
I carried it well
Let me fly
Man I need a release from this troublesome mind
Fix my feet when they're stumbling
I guess you know it hurts sometimes
You know it's gonna bleed sometimes
Now hold on
I'm not looking for sweet talk
I'm looking for time
Top a tower and sleepwalk
Brother cause it hurts sometimes
You know its gonna bleed sometimes
Hold on
You know it's gonna hurt sometimes
When you call me
Hold on...
Hold on...
Hold on...
I’m gonna climb that symphony home and make it mine
Let his resonance light my way
See, all these pessimistic sufferers tend to drag me down
So I could use it to shelter what good I’ve found
06 Under the Gun (02:33)
She's got her halo and wings
Hidden under his eyes
But she's an angel for sure
She just can't stop telling lies
But it's too late for his love
Already caught in a trap
His angel's kiss was a joke
And she is not coming back
Because heaven sends, and heaven takes
Crashing cars in his brain
Keep him tied up to a dream
And only she can set him free
And then he says to me
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Again and again
She's got a criminal mind
He's got a reason to pray
His life is under the gun
He's got to hold everyday
Now he just wants to wake up
Yea, just to prove its a dream
Cuz she's an angel for sure
But that remains to be seen
Because heaven sends, and heaven takes
Crashing cars in his brain
Keep him tied up to a dream
And only she can set him free
And then he says to me
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Stupid on the streets of London
James Dean in the Rain
Without her, its not the same
The same
The same
But it's alright
Because heaven sends, and heaven takes
Crashing cars in his brain
Keep him tied up to a dream
And only she can set him free
And then he says to me
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Kill me now
Again and again
07 Where the White Boys Dance (03:26)
Take me to the place where the white boys dance.
Take me to the place where they run and play.
My baby is gone, you might have a chance.
Just take me to the place where the white boys dance.
They hug in silence as the sun sets on their empty street.
Her suspicions, well they’re rising high.
And the man who sweeps him off she doesn’t meet.
She walks inside and pours a strong one to put her mind at ease.
It’s the calm before another storm.
Her brain shifts from the whiskey to the keys.
Take me to the place where the white boys dance.
Take me to the place where they run and play.
My baby is gone, you might have a chance.
Just take me to the place where the white boys dance.
Her heart is racing.
She phones a friend and says “I’m in an awful place.
That fool’s been messing round on me.
I’ve seen it in is eyes and on his face.”
Hold on a minute, you’re talking crazy.
Don’t be that jealous, girl.
Just tell Levon you need an hour or two, cause we’re gonna go and change somebody’s world.
Take me to the place where the white boys dance.
Take me to the place where they run and play.
My baby is gone, you might have a chance.
Just take me to the place where the white boys dance.
It’s the calm before another storm.
It’s the calm before another storm.
Her brain shifts from the whisky to the keys.
Take me to the place where the white boys dance.
Take me to the place where they run and play.
My baby is gone, you might have a chance.
Just take me to the place where the white boys dance.
09 Move Away (03:49)
Last time I said I was in control
I had 25 depths and we both know
When you come back now
You'll see my face
I said 25 depths and we both pray
While I move away
Hard times don't come until tomorrow
These eyes don't see
Take your skin off when you listen to me
Move away
Hard times don't come until tomorrow
These eyes and me
Take your skin off when you're talkin' to me
Me
Oh what a world that we both come in
I said hold it to the rock and let it in
Oh what a whirlwind that we are in
I said hold it to the rock and we're both in
While I move away
Hard times don't come until tomorrow
These eyes don't see
Tear your skin off when you listen to me
Move away
Hard times don't come until tomorrow
These eyes don't see
Take your skin off when you listen to me
Don't worry bout what might have been
Just tell your woman that you're sorry
And you jumped out of your skin
Listen closely to your mother
Don't worry bout what might have been
Tell the jury that you're sorry
And just jump out of your skin
I wanna jump out of my skin
I wanna jump out of my skin
And watch the clouds
Move away
I'm never gonna live it down
Move away
Move away
Move move move
Move away
Move away
Move away
Hard times don't come until tomorrow
These eyes don't see
Take your skin off when you listen to me
Move away
Hard times don't come until tomorrow
Move away
Move away
Move away
Move away
11 Who Let You Go? (03:42)
Who let you go? Who let you go?
Who let you go? Who let you go?
Who let you go? Who let you go?
Who let you go? Who let you go?
I feel it inside, down in my soul
And I just can't hide these things I know
We could be friends
And I promise that it won't go bad
But hopefully this story ends
But you ain't got nothing I never had
So let's take it slow
Who let you go? Who let you go?
Who let you go? Who let you go?
Someone must have loved you
Not the way that I do...
You're missing what I'm trying to say
Ain't nothing getting in my way
So tell me that's fantastic
And promise me, you'll always sigh
I find it so romantic
When you look into my beautiful eyes
And lose control
Who let you go? Who let you go?
Who let you go? Who let you go?
Who let you go? Who let you go?
Who let you go? Who let you go?
I don't know what it means
But I've been wondering
Who let you go?
And honey, when you walk my way
It makes me wanna say...
Ohhh
Sha-la-la-lo, sha-la-la-lo
Sha-la-la-lo, sha-la-la-lo
...
12 The Ballad of Michael Valentine (03:50)
Michael plays with stars
Soul Sister won't you take a ride in his car
Late to call
When you wanted to be all
Baby don't be so shy
Rock children hold your heads up high
In the night while I try
And tell the ballad of Valentine
You got it bad, but you know it's true
I caught up with a friend in Dallas
We took a trip to New Orleans
Those black-eyed ladies
Won't say they're sorry
We finally caught a train to Memphis
Where everybody talks the same
Those blue suede babies
All know my name
And I said hold tight
Can't you see it's hurting me
But I've got the buzz
Like Marlon Brando
Michael Valentine, can't we unite?
We ended up in North Dakota
Although my heart's in Mexico
Mi Muñequita, abre tus ojos
(trans. My 'little doll' open your eyes)
With your new suit, and your black tie
Hold on, you're just a gambling man, all proper like
I broke to the right and I caught your eye
Shut your mouth and wave goodbye
Tonight, I ain't gonna let you rain on this parade
And I said hold tight
Can't you see it's hurting me
But I've got the buzz
Like Marlon Brando
Straight faced with misery tonight
And I will not lie when I say I ain't cold no more
But I've got the buzz
Like Greta Garbo
Walking forwards in the sun
And I've got a cold tale left to write
Well uh oh
I know he's gonna be there tonight
13 Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town (03:05)
You've painted up your lips and rolled and curled your tinted hair
Ruby are you contemplating going out somewhere
The shadow on the wall tells me the sun is going down
Oh Ruby,
Don't take your love to town
It wasn't me that started this whole crazy Asian war
But I was proud to go and do my patriotic chore
Yes it's true that I'm not the man I used to be
Oh Ruby,
I still need some company
It's hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralysed
And the wants and the needs of a woman your age, Ruby I realize
But it won't be long I've heard them say until I'm not around
Oh Ruby,
Don't take your love to town
She's leaving now cause I just heard the slamming of the door
The way I know I've heard it slam 100 times before
And if I could move I'd get my gun and put her in the ground
Oh Ruby,
Don't take your love to town
Oh Ruby,
For God sakes turn around
14 Daddy's Eyes (04:14)
I'll tell you what you wanna know
But boy you better listen close
People gonna tell you lies
Don't let it come as a surprise
That woman's on my back again
I know she's got the best intentions
But you began to realize
You know got your daddy's eyes
And there's something I wanna say
I love her too
And all of this has got nothing to do with you
And I'd like to stay but I can't because
I've been foolin' around
And I know that you called because
You never even knew that it was hurtin' me
When you put it on the other hand
When you're old enough to understand
That glove will bring it all to life
I didn't say that made it right
Cause that woman's on my back again
I know she's got the best intentions
When you begin to realize
You know got your daddy's eyes
And there's something I wanted to say
I love her too
And all of this has got nothing to do with you
And I'd like to stay but I can't
Because I've been foolin' around
And I know that you called
Beause you never even knew that it was hurtin' me
And I'd like to stay but I can't
Because I've been foolin' around
And I know that you called
Because you never even knew that it was hurtin' me
But sometimes people get tired
And I woke up a little too late to lie
Well, dreams should last a long time
This is not what I'd call goodbye
I'd love to stay but I can't
Because I've been foolin' around
And I know that you called
Because you never even knew that it was hurtin' me
And I would love to stay but I can't
Because I've been foolin' around
And I know that you called
Because you never even knew that it was hurtin' me
'''Me'''
I love her too
16 Romeo and Juliet (05:27)
A lovestruck Romeo, sings the streets of serenade
Laying everybody low with a love song that he made
Find a streetlight, steps out of the shade
Says something like, "You and me, babe, how about it?"
Juliet says, "Hey, it's Romeo, you nearly gave me a heart attack"
He's underneath the window, she's singing
Hey, la, my boyfriend's back"
You shouldn't come around here, singing up at people like that
Anyway what you gonna do about it?
Juliet, the dice was loaded from the start
And I bet and you exploded in my heart
And I forget, I forget the movie song
When you gonna realize, it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?
Come up on different streets, they both were streets of shame
Both dirty, both mean, yes and the dream was just the same
And I dream your dream for you and now your dream is real
How can you look at me, as if I was just another one of your deals?
Well, you can fall for chains of silver, you can fall for chains of gold
You can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold
You promised me everything, you promised me thick and thin
Now you just say, "Oh, Romeo, yeah, you know
I used to have a scene with him"
Juliet, when we made love, you used to cry
You said, "I love you like the stars above, "I love you till I die"
There's a place for us, you know the movie song
When you gonna realize, it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?
I can't do the talk like the talk on the TV
And I can't do a love song like the way it's meant to be
I can't do everything but I'd do anything for you
Can't do anything except be in love with you
And all I do is miss you and the way we used to be
All I do is keep the beat, the bad company
And all I do is kiss you, through the bars of a rhyme
Juliet, I'd do the stars with you any time
Juliet, when we made love, you used to cry
You said, "I love you like the stars above, I'll love you till I die"
There's a place for us, you know the movie song
When you gonna realize, it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?
A lovestruck Romeo, he sings the streets of serenade
Laying everybody low with a love song that he made
Find a convenient streetlight, steps out of the shade
He says something like, "You and me, babe, how about it?"
17 Change Your Mind (03:12)
Racy days
Help me through the hopeless haze
But my oh my
Tragic eyes
I can't even recognize myself behind
So if the answer is no
Can I change your mind?
Out again, a siren screams at half past ten
And you won't let go
While I ignore, that we both felt like this
Before it starts to show
So if I had a chance
Would you let me know?
Why aren't you shaking
Step back in time
Graciously taking
Oh you're too kind
And if the answer is no
Can I change your mind?
We're all the same
And love is blind
The sun is gone
Before it shines
And I said if the answer is no
Can I change your mind?
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Other reviews
By GrantNicholas
"Sawdust is certainly not essential, but interesting for those who want to delve deeper into the discussion about the American band."
"The track 'Tranquilize' featuring Lou Reed intertwines voices wonderfully, adding a dark, menacing tone without losing catchiness."
