Brandon Flowers - The Desired Effect (Album Review)
Thursday, 21 May 2015
Written by Huw Baines
Exuberance is an oft-overlooked quality. Much of the time, we’re happy for our pop music to be served with lashings of introspection and superhero sequel darkness. Brandon Flowers, enjoying a second spell away from his day job as frontman of the Killers, has gone some way to redressing that imbalance on ‘The Desired Effect’, which is a celebratory rehashing of his influences.
Here, Flowers is not as concerned with the trappings of Americana that have preoccupied his band and is in full popstar mode from the moment Dreams Come True bursts from the speakers. The ‘80s have been mined exhaustively for inspiration in recent years and the decade is in sharp focus again. But, rather than getting wrapped up in technology, Flowers is more concerned with mood, expression and tone.
That fascination reaches a peak on I Can Change, which samples Bronski Beat’s Smalltown Boy and features a brief cameo from Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys.
Flowers is absolutely at home in these surroundings, with only a few choice alterations made to the writing style that made his name. If anything, he’s simply brought those sensibilities to bear in new surroundings.
To return to the Springsteen well, Flowers’ approach has a ring of ‘The River’ to it, substituting the Boss’s revisiting of the ‘50s and the early thrashings of rock ‘n’ roll with Flowers’ appreciation of new wave and grandstanding pop. Ariel Rechtshaid, on hand here as producer, delivers more of the astute, era-relevant sounds that popped up on Haim’s ‘Days Are Gone’ a couple of years back, further fleshing out Flowers’ ideas.
So, as we roll up in blue collar territory on Between Me And You, his words are framed by dreamy, low-key synths rather than guitar bluster. “These hours I’m working aren’t nearly enough,” he sings. “Sometimes it’s like a bullet came and blasted me right out of the blue.”
News that Flowers and Rechtshaid spent some of the recording process at loggerheads isn’t surprising when poring over the finished product. There is a rich vein of personality in ‘The Desired Effect’, with Flowers’ pop smarts and foibles both on display. His expressive, all-or-nothing side is one of its strengths, but it also overshadows some of the album’s more delicate moments. The closer, The Way It’s Always Been, almost feels like a final pause for breath.
But, that’s not to take away from the quality on display elsewhere. Diggin’ Up The Heart is tremendous fun, Never Get You Right a slow-burn gem that morphs into fist-pumping ballad. Even Lonely Town and Still Want You are enjoyable in their excess. Flowers is a star and this is an album that reflects that. What it lacks in subtlety, it makes up for with its sure-footed, never-gonna-miss delivery.
Brandon Flowers Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu May 21 2015 - LONDON O2 Academy Brixton
Fri May 22 2015 - LONDON O2 Academy Brixton
Sun May 24 2015 - MANCHESTER Academy
Mon May 25 2015 - EDINBURGH Usher Hall
Tue May 26 2015 - LEEDS O2 Academy Leeds
Thu May 28 2015 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy Birmingham
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