THE KILLERS: Wonderful Wonderful (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Released in 2017, "Wonderful Wonderful" marked The Killers' return after a five-year hiatus. It arrived with high expectations, following the band's series of rather critically well-received previous albums. Band leader Brendon Flowers worked with bassist Mark Stoermer for two years to concoct the 11 tracks that make up this new opus.

Once again, The Killers are hard to fault. "Wonderful Wonderful" follows on from "Battle Born", distilling a familiar yet fresh electro-rock sound. Melancholic, introspective tracks mingle with lighter, more energetic ones, giving the album a well-balanced content.

The rather dramatic opening of the eponymous track is counterbalanced by the funky aspects of 'The Man', a song directly inspired by Kool & the Gang's 'Spirit of the Boogie'. The seriousness and gravity of 'Rut', a song about Flowers' wife's struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, is countered by the madness of 'Run For Cover', a real hit that harks back to the band's more carefree days, back to the days of 'Mr Brightside' and 'Spaceman'.

Over the years, The Killers' music has logically mellowed, bringing a little more depth at the expense of spontaneity. As a result, some tracks may seem less inspired, particularly towards the end of the album. While Brendon Flowers explores themes of doubt and resilience, positivity is still the order of the day, with beautiful odes to love such as 'Call My Name' and 'Some Kind Of Love'.

Whether you're a long-time fan or new to The Killers music, "Wonderful Wonderful" is well worth a listen. The band doesn't take any risks, but it offers enough varied and original content to satisfy everyone. In fact, it was the band's first album to top the Billboard 200, selling 118,000 units in its first week - a record that will never be equalled. - Official website

THE KILLERS

WONDERFUL WONDERFUL

ISLAND

ROCK