Sunday, May 24, 2015

MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: BRANDON FLOWERS - THE DESIRED EFFECT



It's no surprise that Brandon Flowers evokes some 80's music in his second solo album, it's what his band The Killers has been doing all along. It's more a surprise how downright pop it is. Diggin' Up The Heart might as well be the the last ELO single. There are Queen moments all over, and I'm quite sure Chris De Burgh walked through at one point.


Wisely, Flowers never goes over-the-top on the production, keeping the synths and drum programming and bells and sugar-coating in check, or at least in proper balance. But it's weird to listen to an album where every song makes you wonder where you've heard that before, and each the time the answer is some dated 80's production, perhaps the era of Moody Blues or Yes. Funny thing is, Flowers writes good songs and lyrics, and has a fine voice. I wonder what a solo album without the tricks would be like?

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