Sam's Town
by The Killers
  • Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Oct 3, 2006
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 32
  3. Negative: 2 out of 32
  1. Uncut
    60
    The problem... is that size seems to be used as an excuse for the lack of musical ideas. [Nov 2006, p.102]
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  2. Spin
    60
    Sam's Town is basically Hot Fuss with bigger, spanglier guitars and an all-round lack of restraint. [Oct 2006, p.93]
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  3. Slant Magazine
    60
    The Killers may have grown a heart for Sam's Town, but they also grew even bigger egos, and it's unlikely that the album's bombast and self-importance will convert any new fans.
  5. Prefix Magazine
    60
    Loose, sloppy playing and power hooks.
  6. Playlouder
    60
    The Killers album is, whisper it, pretty good in places.
  7. Pitchfork
    59
    Not fully realizing where their strengths and weaknesses lie makes Sam's Town, despite the drastic makeover, roughly equivalent to Hot Fuss, a mediocre album surrounding a few towering singles.
  8. E! Online
    58
    [It] offers only occasional flashbacks to the seedy glamour of the debut, instead settling on lightweight MOR clichés.
  9. Stylus Magazine
    58
    Whatever Sam’s Town’s scant merits, the album reminds artists to be more careful about their role models—and to avoid Bono’s phone calls.
  10. ShakingThrough.net
    52
    Ultimately, they don't come across as unbearably pretentious so much as just really, really misguided.
  11. Entertainment Weekly
    50
    With Sam's Town, they've removed the glopped-on Goth eyeliner, sprouted scruffy outlaw beards, and traded in urbane decadence for windswept super-romanticism. Bye-bye, Duran Duran; hello, Simple Minds.
  12. Urb
    50
    Sam's Town is bloated with verses that helplessly swipe at capturing something, anything, significantly American. [Oct 2006, p.129]
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  13. musicOMH.com
    40
    With too much empty bluster and not enough decent songs, Sam's Town can only be regarded as a step back for The Killers.
  14. Rolling Stone
    40
    On Sam's Town they seem like they're trying to make a big statement, except they have nothing to say.
  15. Alternative Press
    40
    A cluttered, derivative mess. [Dec 2006, p.200]
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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Most Discussed Album of 2006
13
#13 Most Shared Album of 2006

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 334 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 269 out of 334
  2. Mixed: 35 out of 334
  3. Negative: 30 out of 334
  1. MidnightShow
    Sep 30, 2010
    10
    Great follow up too the great Hot Fuss , The Killers certainly dont do things by halfs and the ambition and passion of this album isGreat follow up too the great Hot Fuss , The Killers certainly dont do things by halfs and the ambition and passion of this album is infectious , my favourite tracks are Bling and This River is Wild the Enterlude / Exitlude are a really nice touch and overall this album feels like a journey rather than just a series of (very good) songs with a common theme like Hot Fuss… Full Review »
  2. PC
    Nov 19, 2006
    9
    I must admit, when I first listened to this album I thought it was utter crap. It was too loud and sounded like they were trying so hard to I must admit, when I first listened to this album I thought it was utter crap. It was too loud and sounded like they were trying so hard to be great that they crammed everything they counld into these tracks. And then somewhere along listening to the album all the different melodies and sounds seperated into something I could actually listen to. To be honest, I dont really like any recent ablums, I'm more of a classic rock guy listening to artsits like ELP, Yes, The Beatles and Pink Floyd. This album echoes the sounds of those great bands that today's young have forgotten about. How many people today know that Meatloaf was something other than a food? Sam's Town is a very musically complicated disc. It takes many listens to actually see some of the brilliance behind some of the tracks. It just takes some time to see that brilliance, something critics dont have time to do. Hence the bad reviews… Full Review »
  3. MusicGuyMack
    Sep 21, 2021
    10
    Sporting deeply poignant, poetic lyrics as well as bombastic, richly textured soundscapes swirling with passion and emotion, The Killers'Sporting deeply poignant, poetic lyrics as well as bombastic, richly textured soundscapes swirling with passion and emotion, The Killers' first foray into Springsteen-style heartland rock has unquestionably been built upon and surpassed in the 15 years since its release but nevertheless remains one of their most singularly captivating and compelling records as well as a modern-day "Born to Run" that easily still stands among the best rock albums of the 21st century.

    Choice Cuts: "Sam's Town," "When You Were Young," "Read My Mind," "This River is Wild"    … Full Review »
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