Written by Susie Salva
Las Vegas native Brandon Flowers has bloomed with his new solo project, “Flamingo,” on Island Records which gives him the opportunity to delineate himself as a solo artist away from his front man duties for the rock band The Killers. Without the backing of his Killer’s bandmates Flowers is able to show off his superb singing skills and put forth emotional indomitable musical tracks. “Flamingo,” is a concept album with a song cycle of songs revolving around things to do with Las Vegas. “Flamingo,” is a substantial endeavor with some clever, introspective, reflective and sometime’s quirky material.
Inextricably tied to Las Vegas in both showmanship and ideology, “Flamingo” is a 12-track collection of stadium-ready songs that runs the gamut from expert pop executions and electro songs to gospel tunes and even blues-tinged rock. “Jilted Lovers and Broken Hearts,” an upbeat arena rocker with the heartbeat of a dance floor classic, where Flowers comfortable as a front man uses the metaphor of gambling to explain the pitfalls of a faltering relationship.
“Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” doesn’t make Las Vegas sound very fabulous at all. There’s also denial, absolution, spirituality and the limits of faith—each of which is explored in the album’s other 10 tracks. Flowers transforms intellectual concepts into on “Crossfire”; channels Roy Orbison’s luminous falsetto to unnerving effect in “Playing With Fire”; and looks for second chances on “Only the Young,” in which he offers the following haunting prayer: “Redemption, keep my covers clean tonight.”
Flowers makes a conscious effort to delve into ideologies of spiritually and religion which plays part on three of the tracks on “Flamingo,” the ballad “Only the Young,” “Playing with Fire,” and the obvious first single “Crossfire,” about heartache and pain. The gospel laded mellow “On the Floor,” has gut wrenching track message.
Flowers wrote the songs on “Flamingo” over the year and a half he spent touring for “Day and Age”, the Killers’ third, critically acclaimed studio album. (He says the song that served as a catalyst for Flamingo is called “O, Sad American Night,” which was recorded during sessions for “Day and Age” but didn’t make the cut for that album, and won’t be released on this record, either.) Originally, he’d meant them as material for the band, but circumstances—like being on the road for six years—intervened. “I would prefer if this was a Killers record, although it would obviously be very different if I’d made it with the band,” he says. “We’re just at different places in our lives right now. It’s no secret that they’re ready to put the brakes on for a second. It’s definitely not the end of the Killers, but you can’t blame them—we’ve been going nonstop since 2003.” The upside to recording the album alone was that without the other members of the Killers, Flowers could call the shots himself; the downside, as he explains, is that he feels “a little bit naked.”
Flowers enlisted production help from a series of renowned talents: Daniel Lanois, Brendan O’Brien and Stuart Price. (Flowers worked with Price before on “Day and Age”). He also invited Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis, whom he calls “a daughter of Vegas,” to guest on the song “Hard Enough.” Together they made an album Flowers says he’s proud of, one that stretches his musical horizons. And with plans for a fall tour of small venues are already in the works, Flowers isn’t about to rest on his laurels. He enjoys performing, and even if he’s worried about taking time off, he explains that he’s now seasoned enough as a vocalist to understand that one of his biggest issues is an anxiety of influence.
“Flamingo,” is a fantastic album which leaves an indelible mark on you with songs that are catchy, emotional, religious, and idiosyncratic. Flowers prove that he can function on his own as a solo artist but has enough gumption to still lead the Killers. For all things Brandon Flowers go to: www.BrandonFlowersMusic.com or www.islandrecords.com
