Music Review: Brandon Flowers – “Flamingo”

Track-by-track review of Brandon Flowers’ solo debut, “Flamingo.”

“Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” – Great opening song. I want to ride around Vegas, listening to this track.

“Only the Young” – One of my favorites on this album. It’s a little more ethereal sounding than any of his music you have heard before. I heard this is going to be the second single from the album.

“Hard Enough” – Flowers does a duet with Jenny Lewis in this one. The female vocals compliment his voice and as well as the lyrics. Definitely one of the best songs on the album.

“Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts” – The beginning of this song reminds me a little of the band, The Temper Trap. It has a faster beat than most of the other tracks on the album. The beat and lyrics make you want to dance around.

“Playing with Fire” – In contrast to the fast beat of the previous track, this one starts off with a slow beat. Flowers really shows off his vocals in the chorus of this song.

“Was It Something I Said?” – Another fast beat song. More pop-y than the previous tracks, it’s a cute song.

“Magdalena” – By the song’s title, you shouldn’t be surprised by the religious references. I find this to be a “I’ve seen the Light!” song.

“Crossfire” – My absolute favorite song on the album. Yeah, I know it’s the first single but this is the song that made me want to listen to entire album. The music video is pretty cool (Charlize Theron is in it). It has some of my favorite lyrics (“…And our dreams will break the boundaries of our fears.”) Just download this track and listen to the awesomeness.

“On the Floor” – A slow and lovely song.  It sounds like a church song, but it really lets you appreciate Flowers’ voice.

“Swallow It” – Not one of my favorite songs, it’s a little forgettable. It sounds like a Mika song.

“The Clock Was Tickin’” – Folksy and country. In the middle of the track, the beat slows and then goes back to the original beat. It reminds me a tiny bit of Don McLean’s “American Pie.”  I want to think he’s being ironic by singing this song.

“Jacksonville” – Electronica sounding. It’s very different from the rest of the album. Odd but I really like it.

“I Came Here to Get Over You” – Another of my favorites. I like the beat; it’s really catchy.

“Right Behind You” – I’m not really a fan of this song. Nothing about it grabs me. I like the female vocals toward the end, but that’s pretty much it. Maybe after a few more listens, I’ll like it more.

Brandon Flowers has stepped out of The Killers with new music. If you like the sound of a Bruce Springsteen revivalist and big choruses, this album is perfect for you.

“Flamingo” was released today.