Monday, February 2, 2009
Killers/M83 Show Is Killer
I've wanted to see the Killers for several years, as one of my three favorite young american bands, along with Kings of Leon and The National. The Killers are one of the most underated bands in the world, because the bottom line is that they write really well crafted, emotional songs in the vein of U2, Springsteen, and New Order. The critics hate them, but that's OK - they will continue to be relevant for a very long time.
Not to give anything away from a future post, but I do think that Sam's Town is one of the best albums of the decade. The critics savaged it; it wasn't "dancey" enough, there was too much Springsteen, the songs were too earnest, etc. This was clearly a case of a band not following the path that reviewers wished for, and there seemed to be an intense hatred towards the album on the release (except in the UK, where it was greeted with mostly rapturous applause). To me Sam's Town was an album full of great songs, extremely well crafted and visceral.
New album Day & Age met with critical approval; they are back to making synthetic, danceable pop, thankfully they've left Springsteeen territory behind, etc. Unsurprisingly then, the album felt like a bit of a let down to me (as I've mentioned previously). As I had hoped, the songs from Day & Age jumped to life in the live setting. Highlights of the show were from back to back songs Shadowplay (a Joy Division cover from their phenomenal odds and sods comp Sawdust) and Bling (one of the most entrancing cuts from Sam's Town). The inclusion of b-side Sweet Talk was also a standout. But I can't think of any other young band that could take an audience to the highs the Killers took us; an monumental set ender in All These Things That I've Done led to the last encore finale of a rapturous When You Were Young. I just don't know another young band that could have done this.
Opening band M83 is a superb band in their own right, and I would love to see them again by themselves. On record they are very sythetic sounding, almost techno/shoegaze, but live they are monumental sounding. Additionally their drummer was absolutely spectacular - a "huge" playing drummer, and I couldn't take my eyes off of him. They really are a case of needing to see them live in order to "get" them. I would buy a live album by them anytime!
Below is the complete setlist for the fantastic show by the Killers last friday night in Atlanta.
Not to give anything away from a future post, but I do think that Sam's Town is one of the best albums of the decade. The critics savaged it; it wasn't "dancey" enough, there was too much Springsteen, the songs were too earnest, etc. This was clearly a case of a band not following the path that reviewers wished for, and there seemed to be an intense hatred towards the album on the release (except in the UK, where it was greeted with mostly rapturous applause). To me Sam's Town was an album full of great songs, extremely well crafted and visceral.
New album Day & Age met with critical approval; they are back to making synthetic, danceable pop, thankfully they've left Springsteeen territory behind, etc. Unsurprisingly then, the album felt like a bit of a let down to me (as I've mentioned previously). As I had hoped, the songs from Day & Age jumped to life in the live setting. Highlights of the show were from back to back songs Shadowplay (a Joy Division cover from their phenomenal odds and sods comp Sawdust) and Bling (one of the most entrancing cuts from Sam's Town). The inclusion of b-side Sweet Talk was also a standout. But I can't think of any other young band that could take an audience to the highs the Killers took us; an monumental set ender in All These Things That I've Done led to the last encore finale of a rapturous When You Were Young. I just don't know another young band that could have done this.
Opening band M83 is a superb band in their own right, and I would love to see them again by themselves. On record they are very sythetic sounding, almost techno/shoegaze, but live they are monumental sounding. Additionally their drummer was absolutely spectacular - a "huge" playing drummer, and I couldn't take my eyes off of him. They really are a case of needing to see them live in order to "get" them. I would buy a live album by them anytime!
Below is the complete setlist for the fantastic show by the Killers last friday night in Atlanta.
-
Spaceman
- Somebody Told Me
- Smile Like You Mean It
- This Is Your Life
- Joy Ride
- Sweet Talk
- I Can't Stay
- Shadowplay
- Bling (Confessions of a King)
- Neon Tiger
- Human
- Sam's Town (Abbey Road Version)
- Read My Mind
- For Reasons Unknown
- Mr. Brightside
- All These Things That I've Done
- Encore:
- Bones
- This Is The World We Live In
- Jenny Was A Friend of Mine
- When You Were Young
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