ARTIST: The Killers
TITLE: “Human”
WEB DEBUT: Sept. 22, 2008
ONE-LISTEN VERDICT: It would appear that the Las Vegas band took a few lessons from the reception of their second album, Sam’s Town, for their forthcoming full-length–namely, tone down the messy production, and bring the anthems that were made to be played over the closing credits of teen-centric rom-coms (like “Read My Mind”) to the forefront. “Human” is a slowly building slice of sweet synthpop, complete with big fake-string build right before the final chorus, and Brandon Flowers harnessing his weak voice in such a way that he sounds even more vulnerable. I have little doubt that “Human” will score a love scene on Gossip GIrl by the end of the month.
ANYWAY, HERE’S THE EMBED: Via YouTube:
Those lyrics are wallflowers, and it’s almost cruel to spotlight them in the mix. Otherwise, this is some good radio-ready stuff.
We’re human Brandon. You know I always secretly strangely enjoyed Cher’s “believe.” I think it’s the grandeur of it. But secret crushes are meant for these kind of songs. I’m not supposed to have a secret crush on a Killers song. It’s a weird, uncomfortable feeling when they juxtapose.
This tune is absolutely immense. 19/10.
I’d say the most soothing part of this track is also the weakest: Flowers’s voice. Were this the first-ever Killers single, I’d be impressed by the heartfelt sound of the whole thing, particularly the vocal.
But part of what made “Mr. Brightside” one of the greatest pop singles of the decade (you heard me) was the band’s ability to make synth-rock sound big, and that includes Flowers’s voice. There’s something wonderfully shrill about it (he pulls it off again on “When You Were Young,” which despite the second album’s suckiness I still enjoy) that adds one more story to their tower of sound.
To be fair, this bigness is what led the band to mistake themselves for the next Springsteen/U2. So I suppose I can’t fault them, or producer Stuart Price, for retreating back to a more contemplative ’80s When in Rome/mid-period New Order sound. They had to right the ship after the ‘06 disaster.
Still, the Killers will be fully “back” when they produce a song that’s this empirically strong (great hook!) but they don’t feel the need to neuter themselves.
So when did Paul Van Dyk and/or Tiesto join the Killers?
@Audif Jackson Winters III:
my thoughts exactly.
this song sounds awful. brandon flowers remains one of the worst lyricists of our time.
Sounds like Alphabeat. But I like it.