User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 334 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 269 out of 334
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Mixed: 35 out of 334
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Negative: 30 out of 334
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MIchaelFOct 15, 2006Excellent follow up. Anyone who compares this to Hot Fuss needs to actually listen to both albumes. Definite maturation in the lyrics, much more even in tone and sound than the first album. Don't know about aiming too high, but they have acheived a great follow up.
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mikes.Oct 14, 2006
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SonnyOct 13, 2006
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CatOct 13, 2006I love the new sound. Just an all together feel good album.
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ericsOct 12, 2006Does not even compare to Hot Fuss... WAY too much hype. Too much filler; this cd could have been cut down to maybe 2-3 tracks and the rest sounds bland and pointless. The Killers have let me down.
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mattaOct 12, 2006
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JamesTOct 12, 2006Are these guys aiming too high? Certainly. But some of the best rock albums of all time have come from musicians aiming too high. I think that this is one of them.
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VaderisOct 11, 2006I was surprised to see the mixed reviews for this album. I think the melodic vox keyboard and the metamorphasis of Flowers' vocalizations from Hot Fuss were nothing short of breath-taking.
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AJLoomanOct 11, 2006
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K.C.SOct 11, 2006
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JohnNOct 10, 2006This is an ok effort You have Bling which is excelent easily the standout track and Sam's Town, when we were young, the River is Wild which are all top tracks also. However Bones which most seem to like is awful but why do I keep counting is one of the worst songs I have ever heard it flat out sucks. The rest of the tracks are samesy and do not stand out.
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BryanOct 10, 2006Took me 4 spins to accept what it was, but once I got over that it wasn't a Hot Fuss clone, I learned to deal with the new style. A couple good singles, the "Sams Town" theme is stupid and obnoxious, definitly a couple of lyrical problems in some songs (Re: title track) but just not a very good album in general. Summary: give it a chance, but it's definitly not for everyone
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GrahamVOct 10, 2006
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NellyZOct 9, 2006I Love it, it has great songs and who cares what the critics say.
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humanOct 9, 2006
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DaveTOct 9, 2006i hate Bones, other wise the album has grown on me.
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PatriziaOct 9, 2006Absolutely great!!
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ThriftyTOct 9, 2006If you're too cool to listen to any band that plays to more than a club full of people, forget about the Killers' Sam's Town. The sound is big, the production is grandiose, the vocals uplifting, and the hooks are unrelenting. This is a big-time rock album by a big-time rock band.
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AlexEOct 9, 2006It's hard to reach the soul of the songs through all this bombast & overproduction; but it's also hard to not let it win you over, once you've been there. Brandon Flowers delivers a perfomance that should have been given much more room to shine. Excellent!
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rpOct 9, 2006Why criticize this album? It is different, not as catchy as hot fuss, but I like it. It is just a more complete album with also more "rock" songs and not only catchy songs.
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trimmOct 7, 2006im sorry but this sucks.
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JimSOct 7, 2006I have been a Killers fan since their debut album, and I was always surprised by how poorly their songs are received by critics. This is the best album of the year to date, no questions asked. Sure its short, and maybe it has too many cliches. But there are so many songs which on this album which would make my top 20 of the year, period. Sheer musical brillance.
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DrewNOct 7, 2006
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ConorWOct 6, 2006
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stephenbOct 6, 2006"hot fuss" was damn near perfect. how did they go so horribly wrong on this album? bye bye simplistic catchy pop hooks. this album sounds like meatloaf and andrew lloyd webber wrote a musical about america. very disappointing.
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JorisOct 6, 2006Brilliant! Bling (Confession of a King) does forget Mr. Brightside immediately. When We Were Young has to be the best single in ages.... Other standout tracks are the growing For Reasons Unknown and My List. Great effort, love the Ziggy Stardust exitlude and it's more consistent than Hot Fuss.
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NojOct 6, 2006
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TrevorHOct 6, 2006Oh dear... the cynics won't like this at all. That too-cool-for-school posse of world weary Serious Music Fans are bound to sneer at the naive ethusiasm on display here. Unfashionable themes of optimism and dreaming of better thing are grabbed and held tight. Pre-corporate Springsteen comes to mind. It may not have the depth of Born To Run, but it has it's soul in excess
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MichaelROct 6, 2006
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MichaelCOct 5, 2006Definitely not "the best record of the last 10 years" like Brandon Flowers boasted, but good enough. Thoroughly enjoyable and solid. It is definitely an improvement on Hot Fuss. The standout track is, by far, "Bones"
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jimhOct 5, 2006no me gusta
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IanOct 5, 2006Sure, it thinks its more important than it is and the lyrics aren't revolutionary. But that doesn't make the music, Flowers' voice or the overall experience any less remarkable. Better than Hot Fuss, and kudos for a band willing to grow a little.
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C.MickOct 5, 2006I remember when Hot Fuss came out and American Critics Ripped it as an 80's pastiche. Then the Killers became huge and the same critics attempted to leap on the bandwagon at the last minute. This band writes great songs, looks great, girls love them - who cares what the dateless nerds who read pitchfork think
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KatyDOct 5, 2006Impossible to followup a great CD like Hot Fuss but this effort is pretty bad. Listening to most of the songs I think to myself "I would turn the station in a heartbeat if I heard this on the radio." A few songs are okay but overall it's very disappointing.
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gregorOct 5, 2006They will lose a few fans due to the new direction, but a fantastic album nevertheless even if it is a little daunting at first.
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staystayOct 5, 2006Just give it a chance. This record is very good.
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JakeM.Oct 5, 2006So if we were rating this on the Unintentional Comedy Scale, it would be a 10 out of 10. But let's keep this legit - this is junk, pure and straight up.
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CarlosVOct 4, 2006Perfect!
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DanielMOct 4, 2006A rock Opera masterpiece. 80's, Springsteen inspiration and The Killers at their best.
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SvenOct 4, 2006
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AndrewR.Oct 4, 2006ouch, tough to listen to. I didn't "enjoy the show", and frankly "Sam's town" should only have a population of 3.
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robbysOct 4, 2006Brilliant from the first to last track.Has to be albm of the year if not decade!!!
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JoeWOct 4, 2006pretty good all in all, takes a while to get into but after about the third listen you know all the songs and all the hooks. However the ending is pretty poor and that is why i am only giving it a 7
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BrandonFlowersOct 4, 2006
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SeanOct 4, 2006This album is terrible. Bruce Springsteen should sue The Killers for damaging his legacy. Wow, just wow.
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MarcOct 4, 2006Dangerous departure from the first album. But they succeedded in making something more lasting and rewarding for listeners who get it. It has a kind of urgency, that makes it sound like they are playing for their lives, like Flowers voice that sounds like it's just one high note away from breaking. It's heartfelt and more honest than the first album. Less posturing, more music.
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JonSOct 3, 2006not as good as hot fuss. what would be? not really hearing the springsteen influences. hear some simple minds, and u2, and more obscurely - the the. definite 80's type of vibe being dished out. good. more mature than hot fuss...i dig it more each time i listen to it.
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DenOct 3, 2006Much more fun the last time. The killers are best when being clever with a smile, when showing a sense of humor. Sam's Town drowns in self-importance and buckles under the weight of their heros, namely Bruce Springsteen, U2, Morrissey, and Depeche Mode. Better luck next time!
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SamanthaOct 3, 2006I really like this album. Its alittle different then there first album 'Hot Fuss' (which I love) but, I think the songs are great and catchy. And Brandon Flowers has an amazing sound. All and all, I love their music, lyrics, and there whole musical style.
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RichardCOct 3, 2006
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ZackAOct 3, 2006
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mattOct 3, 2006See the New York Times and Pop Matters reviews...then remind yourself that Hot Fuss was a near perfect pop album and hope next time around these guys will play to their strengths.
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BrendanMOct 3, 2006Brilliant
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MattD.Oct 3, 2006Not quite as good as Hot Fuss, but no sophomore slump. The Springsteen/U2 sound, when combined with the Killers' new wave touches, makes Sam's Town more than just a copy. The album's end is a little weak, but by then you've had a fun time.
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DarenWixsonOct 3, 2006I just bought the CD on-sale, I'm on track 7, had to see the reviews on Metacritic right-away anticipating a great review! Much Better then the 63 the critics gave! I agree with Mojo "An action-packed blockbuster.", we it grow on you, we'll have to wait and see!
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ToddWOct 3, 2006
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schmackoMOct 3, 2006Well, yes, it's a blatant, kinda-dull play at injecting some ol-fashioned Americana into the band
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SBOct 3, 2006While this album makes me wince at a couple of points, i still can't help but be so stoked. They had me at "When You Were Young".
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GGRangerOct 3, 2006Good Record.
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EricWOct 3, 2006Ouch. Watch The Killers crash and burn, blue-collar style.
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drewrOct 3, 2006i love this band and i love this album
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DenmarkJOct 3, 2006I don't get the reviews that say it is not as good as Hot Fuss. Sure, there is no sequal to Mr. Brightside, and I'll admit that I misssed that at first. But it is such a stronger album track for track, and unlike Hot Fuss, gets strongest toward the end. Thanks Killers!
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JohnBOct 3, 2006It's not Hot Fuss, but it's still the quality I expect from them. Definitely hints of the Cure and Simple Minds. Some critics just seem to want to hate on them, taking shots at the song writing and such, but the one thing I think they overlook is that the Killers appeal stems primarily from how they make you feel. I just want to turn it up, sing along, and shift into fifth.
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GaborAOct 3, 2006It's hard to say what direction the killers stepped in considering they started off at terrible and landed in abysmal. As musicians they can be considered psuedo retards. As venture capitalists, however, they are geniuses. Eat this one up too america.
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JonOct 3, 2006I absolutely love this album. Like it more than the frist album. I think it's more solid start to finish. I hear more U2 than Springsteen or Queen.
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dylanOct 3, 2006A mediocre record by a band whose ambition has far outstripped it's songwriting and vocal talents.
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MCOct 3, 2006I recently them perform on SNL....when i heard Flowers "attempting" to sing I lost whatever small amount of respect I had for them. It was embarassing to watch him. This album has just cemented that. totally over-hyped hacks.
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TomLOct 3, 2006This album is no where near as good as the first one i have waited 2 years and im not happy but its not bad enough to give it less that five
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GiterdoneOct 3, 2006lousy...the gig is up fellas
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ShawnMOct 3, 2006I'm a big fan of Hot Fuss, and I love the direction that The Killers took with this album, instrumentally. But Flowers' voice is definitely showing its weakness here. Hard not to recommend, but sometimes hard to listen to.
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JordanCOct 3, 2006An album filled with wonderful catchy moments, hummable tunes and fantastic lyrics. More rounded than Hot Fuss, more of a story, and in my opinion, better.
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AlOct 2, 2006Amazing
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GGinaThisOct 2, 2006
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TreySOct 2, 2006How far down will Brandon's ego take the band?
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DukeCOct 2, 2006At first I didn't believe that this album was as good as Hot Fuss. But after about six-seven listens, I now believe think that it is better than Hot Fuss. The only weak songs on the album are "Why Do I Keep Counting" and "Uncle Johnny"; both seem uninspired.
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melissamOct 1, 2006takes a few listens to fully appreciate the album. when you were young, is the best track on the album.
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shmittysSep 29, 2006A great album, with a less electronic, more 'American' style sound. I am as much a fan of Hot Fuss as I am of this album. Get out and buy it.
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BobMSep 28, 2006Not as good as Hot Fuss, but an amazing album nonetheless.
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derekrSep 28, 2006
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JMoSep 28, 2006The cracks are showing on this album...Flowers was obviously hoping that his delicate voice could touch Springsteen or Mercury (Freddie that is) and the simple fact is...it can't. The Killers shoulda stuck with what they knew best.
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RyanLSep 19, 2006From the 30 seconds I've heard on each track, yeah. This is Hot Fuss #2, but it doesn't have a single hole. Can't wait to hear the rest.
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Awards & Rankings
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UncutThe 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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Crucially, Sam's Town sounds like a complete collection, with a far better strike rate than its predecessor.
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It is very good.