• Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Sep 14, 2010
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 25
  2. Negative: 2 out of 25
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  1. You have to take the good with the bad. It's probably the case that the good is better than you remember it and the bad is worse.
  2. Like the three Killers albums, Flamingo is patchy, the sound of a vivid talent not living up to its initial promise.
  3. If the other Killers allow it, Brandon Flowers has brought a few decent additions to their greatest hits set, but cull those three or four tracks and what remains is an occasionally interesting, sometimes unintentionally hilarious mess of a concept album that's about as tasteful as the city that inspired it.
  4. From Flowers' five-dollar words to the operatic bombast, every little moment of Flamingo carries weight, which means every moment cancels out the one that came before: it's all sequined stage costumes shimmering under blaring lights.
  5. Though the record is more believably grown than his main band's overblown 2006 Bruce ode Sam's Town, it's still a bit heartbreaking to see such a lovable peacock purposefully fading his colors.
  6. Q Magazine
    60
    What we have here is a Killers record made without the Killers that sounds like The Killers and is almost as good as The Killers, but not quite. [Oct 2010, p.101]
  7. Flowers plays it too safe. For a record about Las Vegas, he sure doesn't gamble much.
  8. It would be laughable if Flowers wasn't 100 percent committed, and if the hooks on Flamingo weren't irresistible. He is, and they are - and you'll be too busy singing along to giggle.
  9. Mojo
    60
    Flamingo is, for all intents and purpose, the next Killers record. [Oct. 2010, p. 106]
  10. What ultimately holds Flamingo together is its consistency; a trait which is not exactly synonymous with The Killers. It could be argued that there is not a single bad song included amongst its ten tracks (although it pays not to closely inspect the four bonus cuts included on the Deluxe Edition of the LP) and all are in some way catchy. It makes for a sound and interesting listen, but one which still leaves listeners a little disappointed.
  11. 50
    Minimized guitar bluster emphasizes his ample vocal assets, but Flowers wilts when the sunny tempos subside, revealing himself to be an AOR softie.
  12. Flamingo makes a pretty strong case that Flowers doesn't have the best grasp of what it is he does well.
  13. Many people who have heard Flamingo have said it sounds a lot like a Killers album. Wrong. It is more that The Killers' albums sounded like Brandon Flowers solo albums, with a bit of indie guitar on top to snare those Reading & Leeds headline slots.
  14. 44
    Pairing synths with Springsteen is a formula that's worked well for The Killers' frontman before, but here the Lanois production begins to grate amongst the constant God imagery and every third line being a cliché.
  15. Uncut
    40
    The albums three producers create a gloopy mix of mid-'80s soft rock and air-punching choruses which lack the urgency of the Killers, while the gambling metaphors and religious images quickly irritate. [Oct 2010, p.94]
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 40 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 40
  2. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. Oct 3, 2010
    10
    Brilliant album! All the songs are good. Where as most albums have a couple of songs that you just simply skip over this album doesn't. MyBrilliant album! All the songs are good. Where as most albums have a couple of songs that you just simply skip over this album doesn't. My favourite album at the moment and one of my favourite of all all time. Full Review »
  2. Aug 30, 2012
    8
    The LP is varied and in an other, but also cool style than The Killers. Brandon Flowers experimentalizing with his first solo album and made aThe LP is varied and in an other, but also cool style than The Killers. Brandon Flowers experimentalizing with his first solo album and made a good one! Don't look at the critics - look at the user scores! It only has 3 really good songs, but the album itself is the great thing! It has two weak songs but it's just a interesting adventure to hear. Hopefully there'll be another solo album by Mr. Flowers or an album by The Killers which is as good as this. Could've been better but is great, anyways. Full Review »
  3. May 26, 2012
    6
    This album sounds a lot like a Killers record, which is generally a good thing. Unfortunately, for me, the majority of the songs weren't veryThis album sounds a lot like a Killers record, which is generally a good thing. Unfortunately, for me, the majority of the songs weren't very memorable and half of the record sounds like the weaker tracks off of "Sam's Town". I would recommend this album to those who are fans of The Killers, but I wouldn't say this album is anything particularly special. Full Review »