That Brandon Flowers has named his new solo album The Desired Effect is an interesting development. The desired effect for music is surely euphoria, emotional episode or at least some form of positive experience and this is something that Flowers and his band, The Killers, have managed on numerous occasions. “Mr. Brightside”, “When We Were Young” and “Human” are just a few tracks from their back catalogue that will probably be played on the classic rock radio of the future and even “Crossfire” from his previous solo effort, Flamingo, was something that caused a ‘desired effect’.
The man in question has come a long way since shyly shuffling into the limelight with his eyeliner and now we come to the 2015 version of Brandon Flowers. Flowers is becoming more well known for his outspoken statements about Kanye West’s recognition as a ‘genius’, other rock bands and his own abilities; and one has to ask, is this to draw attention to (or away from) his new album? In the past few months, we’ve been drip fed a series of tracks from The Desired Effect through singles and his live appearances on late-night American television and there’s not really been anything that’s been a gut-punch to nay-sayers.
The likes of “Can’t Deny My Love”, “Still Want You” and “Lonely Town” have shown us what to expect from this new Flowers synth-pop creation and, when listening to the record in full, it becomes apparent that Brandon has done what many action films have done in the past: shown all the best moments in the previews and everything else just underwhelms. As displayed by the ‘Grand Theft Auto: Vice City’ album cover, “Can’t Deny My Love” shows shades ’80s synthpop, ‘Day & Age era The Killers’ and this (twinned with modern rock music) provides a punchy chorus that features Flowers’ unmistakeable dulcet tones. While there’s not anything to really blow away any expectations, “Can’t Deny My Love” is an undeniably catchy pop song (and it’s no surprise that it went viral on Spotify). A repetitive chorus that is just waiting to be sung back at arena gigs is what Flowers is best at and, on this track at least, he continues playing to his strengths.
What is possibly most impressive on The Desired Effect is the all-star cast that Flowers has managed to assemble. Appearances are made by Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant, HAIM’s Danielle, The Killers’ Ronnie Vanucci Jr. and Dirty Projectors’ Angel Deradoorian but the issue comes when each simultaneously contributes something both intangible and inconsistent. For many of those featured, their contributions are unrecognisable. Neil Tennant’s presence on “I Can Change” is the only pronounced appearance on the record as he shares lead-vocal duty with Flowers on a track that, admittedly, is not the best on the record. That Flowers has managed to form an Avengers-style group of musicians both old and new is impressive, but his application of them is wholly sub-par.
Flowers’ most recognisable skill is something universal throughout his work, however. His ability to write prose and apply melody have been omnipresent throughout his entire career. From Hot Fuss to present, he has managed to adhere to some semblance of consistency with this characteristic in his music. From the opening, to the closing, seconds of The Desired Effect, his melodies are as catching as that office-wide cold doing its rounds and this is epitomised in “Lonely Town” – a track that would otherwise be dominated by a heavy synth that at times is too much.
Does The Desired Effect induce the desired effect? If the effect is a mix of indifference, underwhelming and ambivalence then Flowers has succeeded in his mission. The Desired Effect may not be a bad album and while he has created an album that is overall more coherent than Flamingo (2010), there’s nothing found here that can’t be learned down numerous other avenues in the music world. Brandon clearly needs his murderous clan to wholly succeed and, following comments he’s made in the past month, he knows it!
Released: 18th May 2015
Genre: Synthpop / Pop Rock / New Wave
Previous Works: Flamingo (2010)
Contemporaries: The Killers, Big Talk and Tegan & Sara
Influences: New Order, Pet Shop Boys and David Bowie
You can download The Desired Effect from iTunes here or buy the album on CD/vinyl from Amazon here.
