Battle Born (studio album) by The Killers

I think that the general assessment of The Killers' "Battle Born" has been way too negative and unfair. I think we are in a time when there are very few bands in the classic rock genre who write good songs and release interesting albums. Of course, you can not deny that The Killers, since the group's first two albums, have lost some edge and thus become more mainstream, but the good songwriting is absolutely still there. A comparison with bands that could be put into the same category like Coldplay or The Foo Fighters, The Killers won't fall through in any way through. Or what about yawners like "Nickelback"?
I find it hard to point out really weak numbers; you might, though, find "A Matter of Time" or "Deadlines and Commitments" less interesting. On the other hand, it is very easy to find strong new songs that have both durable melodies and powerful vocals by Flowers; wrapped up in well tested rock arrangemets. At random I could bring out "Here With Me", "Flesh and Bone", "Miss Atomic Bomb", "Runaways," "From Here On Out" and "Battle Born".

I feel quite confident that this album will go down in music history as one of their most successful.

https://www.angelfire.com/nv/Badfinger/BANDkillers.html

From indieshins 10/22/2022 00:26

I have mixed feelings about the production here, which sounds like they've amped up the Springsteen and U2 influence massively - I like Springsteen well enough, not a huge fan of U2. And the album is more reminiscent of the latter artist, given the presence of two producers who have worked with Bono and co. in the past - Steve Lillywhite, who worked on their first three albums, and Daniel Lanois, who along with Brian Eno co-produced several of the band's most acclaimed albums throughout the 80s, 90s and 2000s (The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, and then their 2000 "return to form" All That You Can't Leave Behind, among others). This album sounds more like The Joshua Tree than Achtung Baby, which is a shame because the latter is easily my favourite U2 record. But The Killers have been tapping into the 80s "heartland rock" sound since their sophomore LP Sam's Town - still their best work in my opinion - and this is a logical extension of that.

It's at times too slick, and a bit corny, but this is still an enjoyable album, because as usual the band believes in what they're doing 100%. Also, it has to be said that Brandon Flowers' voice has never been better - his tone is rich and his range powerful, suiting the anthemic material completely. So while I do wish that they would be a bit more adventurous, as always I appreciate the sincerity and heart evident here, and the big, catchy tunes.

Favourite tracks: Flesh and Bone, Runaways, The Way It Was, The Rising Tide, Heart of a Girl, From Here on Out (this one sounds like something Warren Zevon might have had on his self-titled album - which is a good thing, as I love Warren Zevon).

Sounds like the band was strictly going for anthems and anthemic ballads. Brandon Flowers' voice can be used as a centerpiece, given how strong and dynamic it is, but it's not the most interesting step for the band to take...especially after 2 great albums and 1 not bad album.

Fully embracing their newfound synthpop sound, Battle Born is The Killers' slickest and most overproduced album so far. While it continues to combine the post-punk sounds from the band's early albums, it delves deeper into the synthpop sound explored in Day & Age. This time, however, the energetic rhythm is toned down in favor of a bigger depth and subtler emotions. It's like the band suddenly found their vulnerable side and decided to make an album revolving around that.

The first few songs form a great string of starting tracks, and the rest of the album continues the largely even flow of melodic rock tracks. It's a very approachable album to listen to, thanks to the synth-heavy sound and the memorable hooks, particularly in the amazing singles. Battle Born is and will remain, The Killers' most radio-friendly and mainstream LP. It's difficult not to love the sound of the album, even if it's a far cry from the edgier sound they are usually remembered for.

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From Pastiche 08/02/2015 00:31

6/10

I know I'm gonna get some hate for this but this is my favorite Killers album. I love the emotion in Flowers' voice. The lyrics are perfect. Its got and overall teenage love feel to it and it is a huge step up from Day & Age.

From bojolpif71 02/01/2015 10:33

Pas mal , mais sans aucune surprise. Dur de se renouveler et de retrouver la créativité des premiers opus..

great album

There's a good sense of place, but I didn't find myself enjoying much. I liked Here With Me, Battle Born and the bonus track Pizefighter but honestly, none of those are mindblowing.