The Desired Effect
by Brandon Flowers
  • Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: May 19, 2015
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 100 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 91 out of 100
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 100
  3. Negative: 4 out of 100
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  1. quotes
    Jun 7, 2015
    7
    Good? Yes. Could be better than it is? Maybe. The Desired Effect is a good release from Brandon. The album is romantic, intense and reminds me of 70's and 80's music's style, so original and different of the stuff that we listen nowadays. But it is not something like "wow, that is a **** awesome disc" that totally impress you. There are really great songs and bad songs too, and this makesGood? Yes. Could be better than it is? Maybe. The Desired Effect is a good release from Brandon. The album is romantic, intense and reminds me of 70's and 80's music's style, so original and different of the stuff that we listen nowadays. But it is not something like "wow, that is a **** awesome disc" that totally impress you. There are really great songs and bad songs too, and this makes the album worse than we expect.… Expand
  2. BeauFuller
    Jun 25, 2015
    9
    Quite fun. .
  3. j_conrad_brown
    Sep 14, 2015
    10
    The Desired Effect is a perfect pop anthem style album. It's hard to deny that Brandon Flowers' voice can fill an arena, but it can also pull back enough to be very intimate. He sounds unabashedly enthusiastic as an artist throughout all of the tracks on this album. We just saw him perform most of the tunes at a live show with only 2000 people. His live performance enthusiasm was clear. IThe Desired Effect is a perfect pop anthem style album. It's hard to deny that Brandon Flowers' voice can fill an arena, but it can also pull back enough to be very intimate. He sounds unabashedly enthusiastic as an artist throughout all of the tracks on this album. We just saw him perform most of the tunes at a live show with only 2000 people. His live performance enthusiasm was clear. I highly recommend The Desired Effect.… Expand
  4. TheReviewDude
    May 20, 2015
    6
    I'm a big fan of the Killers and his first solo album. There are 2-3 great songs on this new album. However, overall it feels over-produced, monotonous, and it lacks that real soulful punch. There are 3-4 pretty bad songs on the album as well. This feels like filler material until the Killers finally regroup and release their next album. I'm not really sure how some of the criticsI'm a big fan of the Killers and his first solo album. There are 2-3 great songs on this new album. However, overall it feels over-produced, monotonous, and it lacks that real soulful punch. There are 3-4 pretty bad songs on the album as well. This feels like filler material until the Killers finally regroup and release their next album. I'm not really sure how some of the critics gave this such high reviews. However, then I looked at the other 5 new releases this week (including Faith No More) and they were ALL reviewed at a higher score. This second solo effort is only slightly better than average and, in my opinion, a step back from his debut release.… Expand
  5. showbizjunkie
    May 22, 2015
    6
    Brandon Flowers finally decided to just go pop and run with it. Much less Killers-esque than his previous solo endeavor, "The Desired Effect" is a fun pop album with feel-good retro sounds and soaring vocals. Overall, it's a joy to listen to, but lacking in overall substance. Nothing's wrong with fun music, but my main fear is that when The Killers get back together, this album'sBrandon Flowers finally decided to just go pop and run with it. Much less Killers-esque than his previous solo endeavor, "The Desired Effect" is a fun pop album with feel-good retro sounds and soaring vocals. Overall, it's a joy to listen to, but lacking in overall substance. Nothing's wrong with fun music, but my main fear is that when The Killers get back together, this album's mainstream feel will rub off on their next record. If Brandon Flowers wants to be a pop star, fine; but The Killers need to stay in alternative rock. Overall, this is a very solid mainstream album that I enjoyed, with a few hits and an easy-listening feel. 7/10.… Expand
  6. WhiskeyStories
    May 23, 2017
    7
    A very fun album with a lot of funky songs that just make you want to dance. My definite favourites are Still want you, Can't deny my love and I can change. These three songs, coming after each othe,r are the difinite highlights of the album for me.
  7. gabrielfobia
    Sep 12, 2016
    8
    I think Brandon really gets the desired effect from this album, it is really upbeat, with some intense sounds and great lyrics. It could, obviously, be better, there are some tracks in the album that are just fillers, but in general, it's a nice listen.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. The Line of Best Fit
    Nov 23, 2015
    80
    Somehow, despite his success, Flowers understands that good music isn’t about what you have, but what could have been, and although his wife must wonder who he’s singing about all the time, the rest of us can press our face against the windows of childhood car journeys, and dream.
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  2. Austin Chronicle
    Oct 2, 2015
    67
    The Desired Effect for a feel-good LP of self-discovery is coming-of-age stories that transform into lost Springsteen anthems. Mission accomplished.
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  3. Under The Radar
    Jul 14, 2015
    60
    He defers too many vocals to his backing gospel singers, and his synth pop sound does nothing to distinguish this from his work with The Killers. Oddly, this is the album's greatest strength.
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