Brandon Flowers- Flamingo

Brandon Flowers of The Killers takes a break from his full time job as frontman to release his debut solo album, Flamingo. The album features a lot of the same synth based melodies that made The Killers so successful, and also shows that Brandon hasn't compromised his musical integrity one bit and isn't afraid to experiment a little.

The album opens with "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas", an upbeat, melodic tune that gives way to Brandon's familiar and powerful vocals resonating quite strongly and lifts the song to another level in the musical stratosphere. "Only the Young" is an anthemic, mid tempo synth based tune that is melancholy in nature and is a tune that kind of comes out of left field, not one that you would expect to hear on the record. "Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts" is a high energy rocker that is very similar to songs you find on The Killers albums, and is one that will get established Killers' fans interested in the album in the first place. "Playing With Fire" is a somber and toned down piece that shows Brandon's softer side, one that you would not expect on the album but is a welcome surprise for listeners to partake in.

The album's second half commences with "Was It Something I Said?", a melodic, upbeat number that throws a number of curveballs your way with a variety of synthesizers that provides an enjoyable experience for the listener. My favorite track off the disc is the first single, "Crossfire" an upbeat, melodic blast that is the perfect song to listen to when you wake up in the morning and see the sun rising in the distance, a solid track all around. We begin to close up shop with "On the Floor", a gospel inspired tune that features a full fledged choir in the background that provides for a powerful and magical ending. Too often, most people believe that when frontmen from prominently established bands release solo albums, it indicates that the band they were in previously has dissolved completely and are ready to move on. That is almost always not the case, in most cases the band is still very much together and is just taking a little break to focus on other projects, and that scenario adequately applies to The Killers and Brandon Flowers, who uses some influences from his band and infuses it with surprising and unexpected sounds.

All in all, a good effort here from Brandon Flowers who proves here that he is more than capable as a solo performer to deliver an effort that isn't a complete departure from his work with The Killers, but is unique in its own way and has his personality stamped all over it.

                                                                                                                            Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas
2. Only the Young
3. Hard Enough
4. Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts
5. Playing With Fire
6. Was It Something I Said?
7. Magdalena
8. Crossfire
9. On the Floor
10. Swallow It