Sam’s Town by The Killers: Album Review

I don’t care what your opinion on The Killers is, this is—hands down—one of the best albums ever written and produced and set out into this world.

From beginning to end, every song is a 100% certified banger.

Tracklist:

I feel like I don’t need to say more to get you to play the damn album, but if you feel like arguing about it, here goes:

The self-titled song brings you into the world with a bang, immersing you in every whimsy and joy and laughter to come. You may say I’m crazy for this but Sam’s Town (intro) feels just like Willkommen in Cabaret. The land of wonders where nothing makes sense, yet you never question it.

As we listen through, you get to a few of The Killer’s biggest hits including When you Were Young and Read My Mind. And these are the mildest ones! Not to say these are less than the rest of the album because c’mon, how do you not scream your way through the last minute and a half of WYWY with ease?

For me, For Reasons Unknown takes the cake from all the album’s songs-with-a-music-video for me. It’s a wonderfully (wonderful) silly song while containing so much sadness in its meaning.

This is where The Killers truly shine. In any song you listen to from them, especially on the older albums (bc to be frank, I haven’t rly listened to the last 2 since they went more folksy country as far as I’ve heard), you get some silly-ass music. Their two biggest hits (Mr. Brightside and Somebody Told Me ofc) are some of the funniest songs in execution in indie pop music as far as I’m aware. Mr. Brightside you may consider as deeper, but re-watch the music video and tell me you didn’t at least chuckle. As I say this, I must say The Killers, likewise, has some of the most meaningful and emotional songs I know. In fact, one of their songs (will not be named) makes me cry without fail every single time I hear it. They know how to control my emotions more than any other artist and I have to let you know!!

Sorta a tangent, but they’re like how I feel about comedy actors being the best type of actors in the world. If you can master comedy, there’s a much greater chance of you being a master in all kinds of acting. I.e. Bob Odenkirk, Ben Stiller, Ayo Edebiri, Molly Gordon, Jim Carrey, etc. etc. The Killers do just this. They master the comedic feel and overdramatic-ness of a song with the down-to-earth emotions behind it, and it may not be for everyone, but has become some of my favorite music ever because of it.

Anyways, a couple WTF songs here are Uncle Jonny and Bones. Listen to them, they’re a delight! Exactly why I consider this album completely absurd in the most amazing way.

Then you hit My List, This River is Wild and Why Do I Keep Counting?, and it’s like you just don’t. stop. screaming. I started to write this during TRIW and I only wrote about five words before I had to finish off my long solo and return once the album ended and my lungs recovered.

Exitlude feels like a big ‘ol hug from your newfound friends you just got plastered and stayed up all night with as the night ends and you realize it wasn’t a dream—it was the greatest night of your life.

Think The Gentleman episode from HIMYM.

Do you understand my tastes now?

Go listen to it. (or buy the album u know, collect physical media like a cool person..aka me.)

Rating: 10/10