"Battle Born" by The Killers
If there is any doubt about The Killers being a group with the over-the-top, bombastic tendencies of an arena-rock group rather than a band with indie pretenses, "Battle Born" should knock that doubt right out of your system. This could spell trouble for a lot of fans who would not want their favorite band associated with an ugly term such as "arena-rock." I mean, I still feel odd referring to The Killers as one of those bands.
Power-ballads are thrown left and right, up and down and everywhere in-between on "Battle Born." While I generally do not care for most of the arena-rock acts that filled the 1980s or the bands who try to carry the torch today (if there was any torch to begin with), The Killers are the one of the few current groups that can pull it off in a sincere, non-cash-grabbing way.
"Here with Me" takes what The Killers were doing a few records ago on "Sam's Town" and turns the pomposity up to a completely new level. Vocalist Brandon Flowers offers his entire heart on his sleeve with this one, eschewing any sort of metaphor or symbolism usage for a straight-forward tearjerker. Flowers states in the monster-of-a-chorus: "I don't want your picture on my cellphone. I want you here with me. Don't want your memory in my head, no. I want you here with me." Normally, lyrics like this make me a little skeptical, but Flowers made me feel those words. And that is what ultimately makes a good songwriter, using metaphors and symbolism is meaningless if the sincerity is lost. Flowers opts for a simple songwriting style, but it really resonates, with me at least, and that is what really matters at the end of the day.
I cannot say this is The Killers best record; that right is reserved for "Sam's Town." But "Battle Born" is a record that I fancy, much in the same way that I fancy "Hot Fuss," "Day and Age" and their b-sides collection, "Sawdust."
"Spain" by Intentions to Break
If you want a short, concise and catchy listen that blends elements from pop punk, power pop, a tad bit of jangle pop, some Sunny Day Real Estate-esque emo and a little sprinkling of post-hardcore to fulfill your eardrums, look no further than this Bloomington, Ind., outfit's EP, "Spain." Led by vocalist Danni McPherron and guitarist Kevin Buffington, Intentions to Break is on an artistic rampage with this record.
The first track, "Fear Itself (Jay's Song)," is a short little pop tune that blends the happier moments of Sunny Day Real Estate with some synth and clapping very reminiscent of something I would expect to hear in a song by The Cars. It is an odd but interesting combo that works well to start off the album with a kick in the ... well, you know.
But the real golden moment of "Spain" comes with the closer "Remember Your Heart." The band reserves its use of strings, featuring Sara Balliet on the cello, and choirs for this heartbreaking yet slightly optimistic ode to a lost lover. The majority of the song is consumed by being beautifully tender waiting until the final moments to unleash an emotional conclusion with McPherron hitting all of the right notes, reminding me a bit of Saosin when it reached its own anthemic, high moments.
Judging by previous releases, this group has improved into a force to be reckoned with "Spain." It has honed in on all the strong suits it possesses, and the result is this wonderful 18 minutes of pop-infected bliss.
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