In for the overkill

In for the overkill

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
In for the overkill

Overambitious and overreaching, the Killers' fourth studio album might see the band fighting a losing battle

THE KILLERS/ BATTLE BORN

Back in 2004, the Killers, four fresh-faced twentysomethings from Las Vegas knocked the rock scene's socks off with their debut single Somebody Told Me, a wildly catchy track that gave the world one of the most memorable choruses in recent rock history. ''Somebody told me you had a boyfriend who looked like a girlfriend I had in February of last year,'' the ever-charming frontman Brandon Flowers belts out with an ostentatious synth-driven production backing him up. Apart from becoming a classic indie rock anthem, the tune was also named one of the best 100 songs of the decade from several esteemed radio stations and magazines including the UK's XFM and NME.

Also enjoying success were the band's follow-up singles Mr Brightside, All These Things That I've Done and Smile Like You Mean it _ all featured on their highly-acclaimed debut album Hot Fuss. Their second effort, Sam's Town, continues to spawn hum-worthy tunes such as When You Were Young, Bones and Read My Mind.

Now, after a B-sides compilation, the third album, Flowers' solo album and an obligatory post-touring hiatus, the boys make a bold return with Battle Born, their continued attempt to make a statement on Americana and escapism.

Produced by a stellar and eclectic mix of producers such as Steve Lillywhite (Morrissey), Damian Taylor (Bjork) and Stuart Price (New Order, Keane), the group's fourth outing as a whole is, unfortunately, not as eclectic and diverse as its lineup. In fact, just take a listen either to the first single Runaways, album opener Flesh And Bone or the epic title track _ these stadium-rock anthems pretty much sum up the one-dimensional experience Battle Born is offering here.

It's not all a disaster, however. There are still some shining moments to revel in _ such as Deadlines and Commitments and Be Still. The former is a gauzy, synth-rock number that oddly reminds us of Meat Loaf while the latter is a touching piano ballad on which Flowers croons: ''Don't break character/You've got a lot of heart/Is this real or just a dream/ Rise up like the sun/Labour 'till the work is done.'' Here With Me is another worthy power ballad featuring '80s-style choruses and guitar solos we never thought we'd hear in 2012.

If you crave the effortless catchiness and random verses the band brought on earlier material such as Somebody Told Me, All These Things That I've Done and Human, Battle Born will prove a major letdown. As it's trying desperately to be Bruce Springsteen for our generation, the band lose sight of the fun and frivolity that initially charmed their fans. And the record, while containing a few decent tunes here and there, has a tendency to lapse into the pompous, glammed-up monotony that's no longer relevant today nor relatable to the band's demographics.

THE PLAYLIST

Scrubb/ Chow

One of Thailand's longest-serving indie pop duos drops a simply-named new single Chow (Morning) which shouldn't fail to please their die-hard fans. Made up of singer Thawachpol ''Muey'' Wongboonsiri and guitarist Torpong ''Ball'' Chantabuppha, the indie darlings are famed for their easy-listening music and introspective songwriting. Just as the title suggests, Chow talks about the warm sunshine in the morning and how it reminds us of the times we spent with an old love. Nostalgic, yet very hopeful, the song makes a perfect soundtrack to mull over on a rainy Sunday morning.

Diplo (featuring Jahan Lennon)/ About That Life

Following Major Lazer's stellar reggae-inspired number Get Free (featuring Amber Coffman of indie rock group Dirty Projectors), Diplo teams up with singer Jahan Lennon to deliver another gem called About That Life. Dubbed ''psychedelic Southern gospel'', the track definitely lives up to this branding with a touch of reggae and exotic Middle Eastern flavours fittingly accompanied by Lennon's laid-back vocals. If all goes as planned, About That Life should be included on his long-awaited upcoming new solo album _ Diplo's first full-length since Decent Work for Decent Pay compilation back in 2009.

Ne-Yo/ Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)

Ahead of his upcoming fifth studio album RED, American R&B crooner Ne-Yo follows up the first single Lazy Love with a club banger called Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself). Co-penned by Australian songbird Sia Furler, who lent her vocals to chart toppers such as Flo Rida's Wild Ones and David Guetta's Titanium, the track capitalises on Ne-Yo's signature R&B suaveness and the ubiquitous electronic dance music genre. ''Much as you blame yourself/You can't be blamed for the way that you feel/Had no example of a love/That was even remotely real,'' he sings before ushering in those electro-synth crescendos we've heard countless times before.

David Guetta (featuring Sia)/ She Wolf (Falling to Pieces)

Speaking of synth crescendos, it would be a sacrilege not to mention the superstar French DJ/producer David Guetta, who reteams with Australian vocalist Sia on his latest single She Wolf (Falling To Pieces), the first single off Guetta's re-released Nothing But The Beat. Now, if you've heard their previous chart-topping collaboration Titanium, She Wolf is, unfortunately, a much less inspiring sequel. The only highlight of this track is Sia's impassioned vocals, especially when she sings: ''A shot in the dark, a past, lost in space/Where do I start, the past, and the chase/You hunted me down, like a wolf.''

Simple Plan (featuring Sean Paul)/ Summer Paradise

Canadian pop-punk outfit Simple Plan give us a laid-back anthem called Summer Paradise on which the band collaborate with Jamaican king of dancehall Sean Paul (Get Busy, Give It Up To Me). Paying homage to glorious summer days, the song is the band's most chilled out offering to date, sprinkled with more than enough Caribbean reggae and ska-punk flavours. Fans of mellow artists the likes of Bruno Mars and Jason Mraz should have no trouble falling head over heels with this one.

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