Visually Delicious: The Killers Edition

Day & Age dropped this week, and to further promote not only a great band (The Killers) but a great album as well, Visually Delicious this time around is going to be devoted in its entirety to The Killers. Enjoy, and buy their g-ddamned album.

The Killers -- Smile Like You Mean It

To kick things off, a throwback to Hot Fuss, the album that started it all. I didn't pull out the 2002 favourite, "Somebody Told Me" in order to introduce some of you's to one of the lesser-known singles off of Hot Fuss. The video is a bit dark, making the lyrics a scoche more depressing, the fact that Mr. Flowers and the rest of the band are wandering around as ghosties doesn't cheer things up either. Still interesting.


The Killers -- For Reasons Unknown

The 4th single off their sophmore effort, Sam's Town, and my favourite track of the aforementioned album, "For Reasons Unknown" has the boys prancing around the desert on ponies, and stopping occasionally to perform. Okay, I made it sound way lame, when it really isn't. Just watch the damn video.


The Killers -- Tranquilize (feat. Lou Reed)

Collaboration with G-d-among-men Lou Reed, "Tranquilize" is an amazing track. The twangish guitar in the beginning and the western sound carried throughout it is perfect. The video is probably their darkest with seances and other spooky stuff. So much love for Mr. Reed.


The Killers -- Don't Shoot Me Santa

By far my favourite Killers video for the sheer hilarity of it. Watch it and you will not be disappointed.


The Killers -- Human

Of course this post wouldn't be complete without this song. The video I posted isn't of the highest quality compliments of all the good quality ones having embedding disabled. The Killers return to one of their favourite video past times: performing in the desert. You'd think it would get boring after awhile, but with Brandon Flowers image re-vamps it keeps people on their toes.Though I must say, I am sad to see the 'stache gone. Also, pardon the other video after it. It just comes with the embedding-disabled-territory.

Just another white trash county kiss

Completely putting aside the fact that I'm am in lust love with Brandon Flowers, I must say that The Killers new album, Day & Age is monstrously good. I've listened to a barrage of new albums in the last three days, but by far Day & Age is my favourite. The genres are definitely blurred on the album, though rock alternative remains its core, the funk and up-tempo beats prevalent throughout the tracks are so seamlessly woven in with The Killers "sound" that it just adds the oomph of the album. Yes, while The Killers have always carried up-tempo numbers on their albums, Day & Age finds the beats a lot cleaner. Listening to the album on repeat at work last night, I honestly could not find a weak track.


The album is set for release next Tuesday, and I encourage everyone to go out and purchase the album to show their support. Also? The Killers are currently on (or about to embark) tour for Day & Age, the tickets are cheap (already got mine!) so hit up ticketmaster to see if they're playing at a venue near you.


The Killers -- Joy Ride

The Killers -- A Dustland Fairytale

The Killers -- Human

Cotton candy kiss, can't wait for my sugar rush

Shitty Photoshopping aside, let me say this now: Circus is brilliant. I was a major fan of Ms. Spears last effort, Blackout--an album grossly overshadowed by the singer's batshit crazy antics at the time, but dayum! has Circus got it beat!

Warmer, more playful, more Britney in general, and with two ballads thrown in for good measure, Circus is bound to quickly become a fan favourite. It's funky and utilizes the synth a lot less in comparison to it's predecessor. It's an awesome pop album. Yes, some of the lyrics are completely nonsensical, and the cover is trash (though admittedly, not nearly as bad as Blackout's), but the album is so damn catchy and charming, dammit! "Kill the Lights" is brilliant, turning the tables once again on the paparazzi, best line? "Is that money in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?" Catchy, sassy, and dancey--who could ask for more? Circus possesses the heart that Blackout was lacking. Don't get me wrong, I loved Blackout and believe it would have been better received if not overshadowed by that not-nearly-as-terrible-as-everyone-makes-it-out-to-be VMA performance as well as Ms. Spears's odd behaviour. It's a 90 minute dance-a-thon. But Circus, ah, Circus--will hopefully be the comeback we fans have been hoping for (now if only Michael Jackson would get the memo). You best believe that is Britney goes on tour, this bish is seeing her. Fo' realsies.

Circus is slated for release on December 2nd, BUY IT.


Britney Spears -- Out From Under

Britney Spears -- Kill the Lights

Britney Spears -- Leather and Lace

UPDATE Sorry, folks, I've been told to remove the files.

He lost his soul to a woman so heartless

Anyone who knows me, is fully aware of my undying musical love for Kanye West. His music is just so damn addicting--it's like crack, I swear.

Anyways, yesterday I said I wasn't aware of the current happenings in the music world, so today I thought I'd remedy that, and am I oh so glad I did! Kan-yeezy has released a million songs since I've been away! Okay, so I exaggerated a bit, he's released six from what I gather, two featuring Lil' Wayne, and one featuring Jeezy. Crazy dumb good! Can 808's and Heartbreaks drop this instant? Please?

And I know there are haters out there. The tracks do depart from typical Kanye fare, less hip-hop and more electronic with their heavy synth, but they're still dumb good. Seriously. I mean, if "Love Lockdown" isn't stuck in your head after one good listen, then there is something flipping wrong with you.

I'd love to yap on about my love of Mr. West's latest efforts, but there are two things beckoning me away, 1) last night's True Blood (yes, I watch that crap STFU), & 2) sleep, since I keep the opposite hours of the rest y'all. Also? Having scored Britney Spears latest, Circus, prepare yourselves for a nice update, and perhaps even a few treats.

ENJOY!

Kanye West -- Love Lockdown

Kanye West -- Heartless

Kanye West -- Coldest Winter

Kanye West feat. Young Jeezy -- Amazing

Kanye feat. Lil' Wayne -- Tell Everybody You Know

Kanye feat. Lil' Wayne -- See You In My Nightmares

Mashing! Not Just For Potatoes, Vol. 9

Yelle vs Kanye -- A Cause De Kanye

DJ Geometrix -- Intergalactic Takeover (Beastie Boys vs DJ Khaled)

DJ Zebra -- Roxanne Should Be Dancing (The Police vs Bee Gees) *fucking love this*

Divide & Kreate - Every Bleeding Breath (Leona Lewis vs The Police vs Snow Patrol)

The Whites Stripes vs The Eurythmics -- Sweet Dreams Are Made of a Seven Nation Army *must listen!*

The Hood Internet -- Can't Believe It's Life Like (T-Pain vs The Rosebuds)

The Kickdrums & The League -- Electric Touch (MGMT vs Justice vs Kanye West

Goldsmith -- Thriller Genesis (Michael Jackson vs Justice) *so seamless it hurts*

My smile will mislead you

Long hiatus, eh? I'm not going to promise you I'll update more, since I've promised you many times before, and have yet to do so.

As of late, instead of discovering new tunes and acts, I've been re-discovering some old favourites: Third Eye Blind, New Found Glory, Incubus, Nirvana, etc. Third Eye Blind has definitely hit me hard, their self-titled album is pure pop-rock brilliance in a 90 minute package. Seriously. Though the sound can be pinned to the 90's alt-rock movement, the lyrics lose none of their intelligence and potency.

Released in 1997 with killer singles like "Jumper," "Semi-Charmed Kind Of Life," and "Narcolepsy," that album followed me throughout my formative years: 7th to 12th grade. Yes, I was a mega Backstreet Boys fan, but Stephen Jenkins was that older, jaded college boy who played guitar--and how is that not attractive to a thirteen year old who grew up with two older brothers who idolized Kurt Cobain? Yes, while Jenkins has never been, nor will he ever be Kurt Cobain, you can see the connection my hormone-addled brain made. And come on, at thirteen, any guy with a guitar is hot by default, it's written down somewhere, I know it is.

Anyways, that album at twelve and thirteen didn't mean as much to me as it does now and when I was sixteen and seventeen. Re-discovering an album can be magic in what you take away from it after listening to it again. Lyrics take on a whole new meaning as your world gets bigger, and the trove of your experiences deepens. Lyrics that went above your comprehension level suddenly become prophetic if only because they've grown more relatable.

And in the current music climate, I'm afraid the magic of rediscovery is slipping. No one buys albums anymore, with iTunes selling songs separately, people download what they know and that's it. Albums are meant to be journeys, not hot spot vacations.


Ignore the fact that it says "Eric Valentine" as the artist, it's a lie.