The Killers — Sam's Town

Sam's Town

Island/Universal

James Simons (CHARTattack)

10/03/2006 11:45am

In true Vegas fashion, The Killers have annulled their brief marriage to British new wave with the bombastic Born To Rerun single "When You Were Young." They've also packed their second album with stars-and-stripes symbolism, including open roads, uncles named Jonny and even brothers born on the fourth of July. And as if it wasn't enough when your granny started calling the family heirlooms "bling," The Killers actually slide the tired slang into a song title. But despite all the Boss-y flag waving, Vegas' biggest attraction not yet mauled by a tiger haven't completely traded their sequined silk shirts and sleazy synths for dirty denim and trusty American-made walls of sound. Instead, they funnel this increasingly expansive sound and stylistic template into their characteristic theatricality. The result combines Brandon Flowers' creepy Count Chocula voice with obvious nods to Bowie and Queen for another catchy, if overly deliberate and disposable, pop pleasure.