Frontman expects better than Battle Born
Andrew Trendell

09:20 7th May 2015

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Brandon Flowers has spoken out about the future of The Killers, telling fans to expect better than their last album Battle Born as it 'wasn't good enough'. 

The frontman is gearing up to release his second solo album, The Desired Effect, clearly feeling invigorated after being left a bit underwhelmed from The Killers' last record. 

We quite liked the album, writing at the time that Battle Born was 'ridiculous, romantic and righteous - but we wouldn't want it any other way', however speaking to NME, Flowers has said that the LP "wasn't good enough" and "we all know it". 

"Once [the band] all get on the same page, it'll work," Flowers said, before joking, "I need to persuade them to like the same things as I do."

Responding to reports that he'd called his bandmates 'lazy', Flowers said: "Did I say lazy? I tell you, recently Dave [Keuning] has really shown a new interest in being the guitar player for The Killers. I don't know if he saw [the quote]. I hope I didn't upset him."

Killers drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr added: "I don't fear the end of The Killers – if it's over, it's over. We scratch those [creative] itches [with side-projects]. I get a good feeling knowing Brandon is out there doing that too. I hope the other two [Keuning and Mark Stoermer, bassist] do it. It gets weird sometimes when we starting talking about our shit with the other two."

Last year, there was a fear among fans after the band suggested they'd be 'taking a break', before Flowers admitted that the band were suffering from a 'frustrating lack of drive'.

He's since said that reports of a 'hiatus' within the band "made it sound a little bit more ominous than it really was" - and that they were already in talks for new material, they just needed a 'kick in the pants'

"Everything is fine," he said. "I've been talking to Dave [Keuning, guitarist], and he hasn't sounded this excited about making music in a long time. So that, in turn, makes me excited. I feel like when he's at his best, and when we're all collaborating, is when the Killers are at their best, and that's what we really need. I've said it before – I think we need a little bit of a kick in the pants, and hopefully it's coming."

Watch the video for 'Lonely Town' below

Flowers will release his second solo album The Desired Effect on 18 May, before embarking on a massive EU, UK and US tour. Full dates are below. For tickets and more information, visit here.

Brandon Flowers will play:

Europe
May 19, 2015 - Olympia Theatre - Dublin, Ireland
May 21, 2015 - O2 Academy Brixton - London, England, United Kingdom
May 22, 2015 - O2 Academy Brixton - London, England, United Kingdom
May 24, 2015 - Academy- Manchester, England, United Kingdom
May 25, 2015 - Usher Hall - Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
May 26, 2015 - O2 Academy - Leeds, England, United Kingdom
May 28, 2015 - O2 Academy - Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
May 29, 2015 - Le Trianon Hall - Paris, France
May 31, 2015 - Huxley’s - Berlin, Germany
June 1, 2015 - Paradiso - Amsterdam, Netherlands
June 2, 2015 - Ancienne Belgique - Brussels, Belgium
June 3, 2015 - E-Werk - Cologne, Germany
June 5, 2015 - Fabrique - Milan, Italy
June 7, 2015 - Debaser Medis - Stockholm, Sweden

North America
July 24 - 26, 2015 - WayHome Music & Arts Festival, Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Canada
July 25 - 26, 2015 - Mo Pop Festival - Detroit, MI
July 27, 2015 - Mr. Smalls Theatre - Pittsburgh, PA
July 29, 2015 - Echostage - Washington, DC
July 30, 2015 - Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA
July 31, 2015 - House of Blues - Cleveland, OH
August 3, 2015 - House of Blues - Boston, MA
August 4, 2015 - Terminal 5 - New York City, NY
August 7, 2015 - Squamish Valley Music Festival - Squamish, British Columbia, Canada
August 9, 2015 - The Rave / Eagles Club - Milwaukee, WI
August 10, 2015 - Newport Music Hall - Columbus, OH
August 11, 2015 - The National - Richmond, VA
August 13, 2015 - The Fillmore Charlotte - Charlotte, NC
August 14, 2015 - The Ritz - Raleigh, NC
August 15, 2015 - NorVa - Norfolk, VA
August 17, 2015 - Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA
August 18, 2015 - Beacham Theatre - Orlando, FL
August 19, 2015 - The Fillmore Miami Beach - Miami Beach, FL
September 2, 2015 - Fox Theare - Oakland, CA
September 3, 2015 - Roseland Threatre - Portland, OR
September 10, 2015 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
September 24, 2015 - Summer Ends Music Festival - Tempe, Arizona
September 26, 2015 - The Wiltern - Los Angeles, CA
October 1, 2015 - Tricky Falls - El Paso, TX

  • 15. 'A Dustland Fairytale': Day & Age wasn't The Killers' finest record and as singles go, this one falls rather flat. Sure, it rises and falls in all the right places, but Brandon Flowers' heart just doesn't seem in it - except maybe from when he sings 'I took the money and I ran away'...

  • 14. 'For Reasons Unknown': The fourth and final single from Sam's Town (why no 'Bones' on the album?), 'For Reasons Unknown' screams album track, although does showcase the band's rougher, raw edges before they truly embraced synth sounds.

  • 13. 'Spaceman': Considering the intergalatic title, 'Spaceman' never really gets off the the ground, despite every effort from Flowers and the boys. The Killers by numbers - but it doesn't really add up.

  • 12. 'Just Another Girl': A new track recorded for Direct Hits, 'Just Another Girl' is really rather brilliant, and proof that The Killers can crack out anthems with ease. The downside? We've heard them do this countless times before, and do it much better.

  • 11. 'The Way It Was': The Killers were back to their best on fourth album Battle Born, and 'The Way It Was' saw the band take inspiration from epic eighties rock anthems. Springsteen would be proud. It's big - but the album packs much bigger punches.

  • 10. 'Smile Like You Mean It': The fourth single from the band's incredible debut album, 'Smile Like You Mean It' lacked the indie-disco punch of 'Mr Brightside' or 'Somebody Told Me' and the anthemic nature of 'All These Things That I've Done'. The production was rough and edgy, but it lacks the epic chorus of it's album competition.

  • 9. 'Miss Atomic Bomb': A synth-laced epic from Battle Born, 'Miss Atomic Bomb' is a classic slice of American pop rock which finds it's strength in its galloping production rather than the song itself. The track builds to a brilliantly layered finale, but it's far from their finest moment.

  • 8. 'Somebody Told Me': As anthemic as The Killers have ever been - but in the nine years since we first went batshit crazy to this one, the band have refined and bettered their sound. There's no denying that rush of adrenaline in the opening bars however, and it's still one to send lads rushing to rock in indie discos the world over.

  • 7. 'Human': Great tune - horrible lyrics. The Killers at their most pop and Brandon Flowers at his most melancholic. However, that horrible hook 'Are we human / or are we dancer' stops this one being one of their absolute best.

  • 6. 'Mr Brightside': Radio GOLD. From the twinkling guitar opening to the first blast of that spectacular chorus, this is anthemic indie at it's most uplifting. Overplayed in the extreme over the past decade however, and the band have bettered this in the years since.

  • 5.'Shot At The Night': Proof that not every Killers track needs to be a balls out anthem, 'Shot At The Night' is one of the band's most restrained singles to date, and pairing with French producer M83 is a match made in heaven, as his slick electronic production gives this new track an accomplished sheen that is to be expected of a band with a decade of hits behind them.

  • 4. 'Read My Mind': Another understated moment in The Killers' career, and one of their most tender and intimate singles. Ambitions are switched for a more personal love story, which flirts with the epic before pulling back at the very last moment. Perfectly crafted, 'Read My Mind' flows and builds into a beautiful, and often overlooked, highlight of the band's career.

  • 3. 'Runaways': Battle Born is the closest The Killers have come in their career to rivalling the glory of Hot Fuss, and 'Runaways' showcased a band at the top of their game, a band finding their feet rather than floundering, when they released their fourth album. A huge hit single demonstrating the perfect line The Killers have learned to tread between mainstream pop and stadium rock. Ten years into their career, The Killers still showed the ambition and scope of newcomers here.

  • 2. 'When You Were Young': Recently voted fans' favourite ever Killers hit, 'When You Were Young' is up their with 'Mr Brightside' and 'Somebody Told Me' as one of the most instantly recognisable Killers tunes. Slightly more refined than those classics however, 'When You Were Young' saw the band step up their game from starry-eyed Las Vegas newcomers to true contenders on the world stage. An absolute classic and epic in the extreme.

  • 1. 'All These Things That I've Done': From that lone piano key opening to its unforgettable climax, 'All These Things That I've Done' is without question The Killers' finest moment - and one of the greatest songs indistinguishable 2000s 'scene'. Initially proving that there was more to The Killers than mere dancefloor hits, 'All These Things That I've Done' indicated big things for the band, which they have easily lived up to during their decade long career. Five minutes of pure, flawless perfection.

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