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. PopMatters
    30
    Sam’s Town is so riddled with hackneyed clichés, pandering melodrama, and lazy songwriting, that we keep wondering just what gimmick Flowers will thrust upon us next in a desperate effort to hold our attention.
  2. The New York Times
    30
    Of course it is good to be ambitious. Of course the Killers needed to update their sound, given that the 80’s revival is fading away. But their new bombast is a classic case of a young band overreaching to assert its Significance.

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 »
See all user reviews »