Review: The Killers Release New Single Then Immediately Cancel Album

I love The Killers, but it’s only specific eras of their music that really resonate with me. Hot Fuss, I’ll always defend it as one of the greatest albums of all time, and Sam’s Town holds a special place in my musical upbringing. When it comes to Pressure Machine and/or Imploding The Mirage, it just hasn’t been for me. The last time I went, “Wow! That’s The Killers, baby!” was in 2017 when they released “The Man” and that fantastic music video.

That’s why I didn’t stay up to hear the new single, “Your Side of Town,” but eventually got around to listening to it after receiving some strong recommendations. It’s loud and brimming with energy, strongly reminiscent of Daft Punk’s “Instant Crush” and the Pet Shop Boys mixed with New Order. The lead singer, Brandon Flowers, has his vocals covered in a stylistic auto-tune, reminiscent of the iconic vocal distortion found in Hot Fuss. The “new” Killers, with their Americana-Bruce Springsteen-esque sound, are nearly a decade old now. The “old” sound can now become the “new,” and I absolutely adore Your Side of Town.

Imagine my disappointment when, just one day after hearing the song, Flowers gave an interview to The Times and said this:

“Halfway through recording I realized, ‘I can’t do this.’ […] I don’t think you’ll see us making this type of music any more. This is the crisis I’m in. The Killers are my identity and our songs fill the seats, but I’m more fulfilled making music like Pressure Machine. I found a side of myself writing it that was strong. This was the guy I’d been looking for! I’m as proud of Hot Fuss as you can be for something you did when you were 20, but I’m not 20. So I’m thinking about the next phase of my life.” – Brandon Flowers, 2023

The new album has been canceled. However, I fully acknowledge that The Killers have attracted an entirely new audience with their new sound. It’s just not one that I enjoy. If Brandon truly doesn’t enjoy this type of music, I don’t expect him to make it. The release of “Your Side of Town” will likely prove to be a mistake. Not only does it create a gap in their discography, but when combined with last year’s “boy” single, it seems like the band has no clear direction.

Final Review: ★★★★/5

Writer’s Highlights: Your Side of Town, The Man (Video), Jenny Was A Friend of Mine (Acoustic)