Those already hypnotized by The Killers' pop-rock spell will likely swoon over their latest release. But for the less fanatic, a DVD of the band's best tracks set to dramatic lighting and screaming fans won't impress.
With multiple hits from multiple albums, The Killers are veterans of the music scene, and they know it. In early November, the band released a live concert recording entitled "Live from the Royal Albert Hall" (2009), a CD/DVD that fails to offer anything but a pleased pat on the back for The Killers.
Brandon Flowers, David Keuning, Ronnie Vannucci, Jr. and Mark Stoermer formed the band The Killers in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2001. They hit it big after signing with British indie record label Lizard King in 2003. In August of that same year, the band's first hit, "Mr. Brightside," dominated the airwaves in the U.K. After that, the band's discography reads like a road map to the major pop-rock hits of the early 2000s.
The Killers' mainstream success is undeniable. The band's first CD, "Hot Fuss" (2004), had four major hits and stayed in the top 50 of the Billboard Top 200 for over 50 weeks. The following three albums — "Sam's Town" (2006), "Sawdust" (2007) and "Day and Age" (2008) — also achieved commercial success. The release of "Live from the Royal Albert Hall" as a CD with an accompanying DVD of the show is the next natural step; now fans can hear all their favorite songs from the aforementioned albums performed live. The recording captures the acoustics of the performance with remarkable sound quality.
Die-hard fans will definitely enjoy this release more than a listener looking for musical progression from the Killers. The album includes no new songs and the self-indulgent nature of the band's showmanship makes the two-hour concert a bit excessive for newly acquainted fans. The song selection reflects almost the entire repertoire of the band's previous albums. It includes the Killers' more obscure, artistic songs as well as the hit singles for which the band is famous. Songs like "Mr. Brightside" are juxtaposed with songs such as "This River is Wild," to present a comprehensive look at the band's ability.
The Royal Albert Hall in London offers a large and fitting venue for the recording of the performance, especially considering that England originally boosted the band into mainstream success. When the concert first begins, the almost 9,000 person audience erupts into a sea of camera flashbulbs and cheers. The backlit stage lends a dramatic flair to the band's entrance. A single spotlight highlights lead singer Brandon Flowers as he begins to sing one of the bands most recent hits, "Human." He lets the audience sing almost half of the song, highlighting the concert's ego-padding nature.
With inane lyrics such as, "Are we human? Or are we dancer?" and "You know you've got to help me out/ You're going to bring yourself down," the band misses the mark. The Killers confuse their ability to write catchy pop choruses with the talent of more insightful or visionary lyricists. When a song's words seem more than pure saccharine, as in the case of "I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier," the song completely relies on the one catchy verse, repeating it up to 10 times.
Throughout the concert, Brandon Flowers addresses the audience in a quivering voice, clearly attempting to split the difference between Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse and Julian Casablancas of The Strokes. "Live from the Royal Albert Hall" doesn't strive to hit a new level in the post-punk revival movement, but rather attempts to rest on the laurels of mainstream success. The $12.99 price tag for the movie, which can be purchased on iTunes, is worthwhile for hardcore fans only.
