Sawdust

For a collection of B-sides, bonus tracks, leftovers and covers this is surprisingly good. Unsurprisingly, it proceeds in pretty much the same postmodern mode The Killers established so successfully with their first two albums: an engaging fusion of contemporary pop-rock and 80s references that shouldn't work but almost always does. You can hear The Cure, Duran Duran, U2 and even Queen in these tracks. "Shadowplay" sounds like The Stone Roses doing a minor-key reworking of the theme from "The Banana Splits". Sometimes homage even crosses over into the real thing, as in the opener, "Tranquilize", where frontman Flowers does his best to sound like Lou Reed - then the real Lou Reed turns up. There are some gems here, such as "Leave the Bourbon On the Shelf" (crank it up, it's great loud) which seems to be another in the 'Jennifer' cycle, the angsty "All the Pretty Faces" and the beautiful "Sweet Talk". The Killers work because they're about more than pastiche. Even when they're apparently goofing around or being completely melodramatic (which is often) the songs are beautifully crafted, lyrically interesting, informed by an intriguingly ambiguous sexuality, and grounded in real emotional experiences - often dark ones - that are recognizably our own. In the end, the emotional landscape feels as familiar as it sounds. That's why it works.

You can't really compare this album to Sam's Town. It features quite a few cover versions (albeit very good versions) and not all songs are great. If you have Sam's Town, wait for the next new release. If you don't have Sam's Town, get Sam's Town!

Blows away the debut, a real treat to listen to sonically. I would recomend you check out '7' the new cd from Poi Dog Pondering, who had to be a huge influence on these guys........Brilliant!

CD was okay...nothing like their last albums. Liked their take on Shadowplay but I love New Order, so that was kinda a given. The Brightside remix wasn't bad either.

I can't stop listening to it. At first when I initially brought Sawdust home, I was a little unimpresed but after giving another try, well.. I fell in love with the Killers all over again. I am addicted.