Imploding The Mirage

The Killers have just released one of the best New Wave albums I've ever heard. In a way, it's a return to their Hot Fuss roots, but it still retains all the magic and wide-open glory of albums like Sam's Town and Battle Born. This is SO refreshing after what (to me) was a major loss of focus on Wonderful Wonderful. There's plenty of synth, and it's clear that lead singer Brandon Flowers was influenced by David Bowie, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and the beauty of the rugged American West landscape which the band has called home for many years now. The end of "When the Dreams Run Dry" was clearly influenced by The Highwaymen and it's dreamy and simply excellent. Brandon's voice is as strong as ever, and the arrangements are excellent. Lyrically there's plenty of love, loss, and spiritual soul-searching, as is common to most Killers albums. Standout track for this listener is definitely Lightning Fields, featuring the gorgeous vocals of KD Lang. I can't stop listening to it! It's hopeful, and beautiful, and gives me goosebumps every single time. I've been a Killers fan since the beginning, and I'm blown away. Get this album! :)

Wow - where to start with this release? I have been a fan of The Killers for years - and Imploding the Mirage is in keeping with what I expect out of a Killers album - great production, great writing, excellent musicianship and singing and a tight production. There are very few artists and albums that I can say has no weak spots - this is one of those. Every track is great - in my opinion. If you twisted my arm to come up with a favorite (or two), I would have to say Caution and Fire In Bone. But like I said before, every track here is good. No filler.

Day & Age has long been my favorite album by The Killers, followed closely by Battle Born. Imploding the Mirage easily belongs alongside those two. The energy emanating from this album is undeniable. Every track has some sort of pulsating, captivating beat and/or catchy melody. I'm not sure how they do it, but The Killers somehow manage to sound brash and bombastic yet earnest and heartfelt. The more I listen to Imploding the Mirage, the more I like it: there are layers upon layers of carefully-crafted sound dimensions waiting to be discovered on each track. If there's one thing I might change about this album, it's the nearly relentless wall-of-sound aspect. Every once in a while, I yearn for a delicate, thoughtful ballad like Battle Born's "Be Still." In fact, although "When the Dreams Run Dry" is one of the best tracks on Imploding the Mirage, I find myself wondering if it wouldn't sound better as a slower, gentler ballad. I'd love to hear some sort of acoustic version, maybe where Brendan Flowers brings it down an octave (and a few dozen decibels). That could be lovely. In any case, if you are looking for pulse-pounding tunes that both pay homage to and lament the seemingly unattainable nature of The American Dream, Imploding the Mirage should really hit the spot. Just mind the speedometer if you happen to be driving: I find myself almost irresistibly tempted to put the pedal to the metal and leave the world behind whenever this is on.

Rewinding the clock back to 2004 when The Killers released their first album, "Hot Fuss". Back then, the music scene was rather boring and bland, but that was about to change. The Killers brought back what was missing--the essence and spirit of New Wave from the late 70's and early 80's. For the past 16 years they haven't quit. Like most bands, their popularity has waned. They no longer have hit singles. Who cares. It used to be a measure of how successful a band was, but now? Good luck having a hit at all these days. There's so much music out there I'm surprised anyone has heard of The Killers at this point. What I like about every Killers album is that the band never creates a bloated work of art. They always keep it down to 10 or 12 tracks. "Imploding the Mirage" is no different. They get in, and they get out. After repeatedly listening to this album all week long, I think it's another four star album. Do I think the band has ever created a 'classic'? A "Sgt. Pepper's"? No. Could they? Maybe. They'd have to change a lot musically. That's what all 'great' artists are capable of doing--surprising us. Keeping it real. Real interesting. The Rolling Stones, U2, Coldplay--they've all kept it very interesting over the years. It doesn't always have to be. I mean other bands have lasted not really changing all that much like Depeche Mode or Duran Duran, but even they stretched themselves artistically at some point. The Killers? Well, not so much. I feel like they are still mining the same vein as they started with in 2004. There's nothing bad about that, but it means the journey has been fairly predictable with little risk taken. I liked "My Own Soul's Warning". Great lead-in track. Reminds me of "Born to Run" by Springsteen. "Blowback" is also quite good and reminded me in ways of the '70's with it's guitar riff. "Dying Breed" is a slow burner followed by another Springsteen-esque anthem during its second half. "Caution" is ear candy, quintessential Killers. It was a nice touch to add k.d. Lang to "Lightning Fields". The second half of the album gets a bit dodgier. It took a little bit for "Fire in Bone" to grow on me. In the end, I think the weakest track here is "Running Towards a Place" with it's Mike Campbell sounding guitar riff--or is that Lindsey Buckingham? "My God" grew on me with repeated listens. I think the best song on the second half of the album is "When the Dreams Run Dry"--another Springsteen-like anthem. Finally, the title track, which has the most playful feel of all the tracks. In all, "Imploding the Mirage" is another good, solid album from the band, but no 'classic'. I suppose the band would need to work with an adventurous producer in order for that to happen. The days of the adventurous producer seem like a distant memory. It's what made Peter Gabriel's "So" a classic. It's what made U2's "Achtung, Baby" a classic. It's what made "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" a classic, just to name a few. Here's how "Imploding the Mirage" compares to The Killers' other works: 2004 Hot Fuss: Four Stars 2006 Sam's Town: Four Stars 2008 Day & Age: Four Stars 2012 Battle Born: Four Stars 2017 Wonderful Wonderful: Four Stars 2020 Imploding the Mirage: Four Stars

I love the music and the themes and emotions expressed.

This album was such a great surprise. I’ve always liked The Killers’ music, but the last few albums while not bad, were somewhat underwhelming. But wow! Imploding the Mirage is a return to form. This is an album that I can listen to beginning to end and never want to skip a song. Then I want to hear it all again!

Still loving The Killers music, but I am not sure why every CD I get from Amazon, despite the pristine condition of the packing materials, ends up with a busted jewel case.

Despues de Wonderful, Wonderful (que ya me gustó muchísimo) la banda vuelve en la misma linea, esta vez con mas sintetizadores que guitarras, lo cual no quiere decir que sea malo, sino todo lo contrario... No hay ninguna canción mala en este álbum, muchos temas tienen un aire muy 70's y 80's y en este campo me flipa la banda, me ha sonado mucho a Fleetwood Mac incluso a A Flock Of Seagulls... Lo recomiendo 100% Estoy a la espera de su edición en vinilo aunque ya lo tenga en CD IMPLODING THE MIRAGE es un señor DISCAZO

Vol verwachting het album gekocht, met name voor het nummer “Caution”. Geluidskwaliteit was om te janken en het doet pijn aan je oren. Bassdrum bezorgt je bijna een schedelbasisfractuur en als je de bas omlaag draait en met de rest van de eq probeert te redden kakt alles in elkaar. Miskoop!!

The Killers haben meiner Meinung nach in einigen Songs bisher ab und an immer mal wieder einen nostalgischen Klang gehabt, ohne direkt 'nostalgisch' zu sein. Imploding the Mirage aus 2020 ist mit diesem Punkt einbezogen ein absolutes Meisterwerk. Jeder einzelne Song klingt nostalgisch ohne nostalgisch zu sein, jeder Song klingt als wäre ich in der Zeit zurückgereist und würde ein und dasselbe Album vor 20-25 Jahren hören. Dennoch kommt es aus 2020! Die Stimme und die Kulisse des Albums funktionieren so einzigartig gut zusammen und kreieren eine 'Fake-Nostalgie' zu der ich fast emotional reagiere. Habe das Album auf CD für mich gekauft und auf Vinyl als Geburtstagsgeschenk gekauft und erstmal aufgelegt. Wunderschönes Album, kann ich nur wärmstens empfehlen! PS: Caution, When the Dreams run dry und Imploding the Miragen bringen diese Fake-Nostalgie meiner Meinung nach am besten rüber.

"KARZOV" vende productos que no tiene, mejor comparar directo con "AMAZON".

沁みるアルバムですね〜 良いね♪