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In 2017, it's hard to figure out where Brandon Flowers ends and the Killers begin. Just prior to the September release of Wonderful Wonderful -- their fifth album and first in five years -- the band announced that neither bassist Mark Stoermer nor guitarist Dave Keuning would be touring in support of the record, all the while stressing that neither musician had left the group. Listening to Wonderful Wonderful, it's hard to discern their contribution because Flowers completely dominates the proceedings, to the point where this feels like a sequel not to 2012's Battle Born but to his 2015's solo album, The Desired Effect. To an extent, Flowers always has been the focus of the Killers, but at the dawn of their career they were unified in their fusion of new wave and arena rock. Ghosts of that sound flutter through Wonderful Wonderful, but they get pushed aside by disco struts, brooding celebrity name-drops, Mark Knopfler cameos, and Fleetwood Mac harmonies so uncannily real you'd swear Lindsey Buckingham guested on the record. Such odd juxtapositions and untrammeled ambition have been the Killers' stock in trade since at least Sam's Town, but the impressive thing about Wonderful Wonderful is how the Killers are able to execute Flowers' overstuffed ideas so precisely. Being able to evoke certain sounds and eras is a skill that means Wonderful Wonderful can sound diffuse, as if it's racing in opposite directions simultaneously, but that grandly inflated pomp is ingratiating not in the least because the years have proven there's not a hint of irony in Flowers' stadium-sized emotions. By this point, Flowers' obsessions and signatures are so idiosyncratic, he's clearly the auteur behind Wonderful Wonderful just as he was with The Desired Effect, and the record charms because its ridiculousness is sincere and his sincerity is ridiculous -- two qualities that make him and his art messy and quite genuine.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Costey, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nicolas Fournier, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jacknife Lee, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Garret Lee, ComposerLyricist - Brandon Flowers, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Stoermer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, ComposerLyricist - The Killers, MainArtist - Robert Root, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Cooke, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Bishop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Malcolm Harrison, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Dennis Thomas, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, ComposerLyricist - Robert Mickens, ComposerLyricist - Joel Davies, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Donald Boyce, ComposerLyricist - Robert Earl Bell, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Bell, ComposerLyricist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - Richard Westfield, ComposerLyricist - Jacknife Lee, Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Garret Lee, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Robertson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Grech-Marguerat, Mixer, Programmer, StudioPersonnel - Erol Alkan, Producer, Keyboards, Percussion, Additional Producer, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Brandon Flowers, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Stoermer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, ComposerLyricist - The Killers, MainArtist - Robert Root, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Justin Diaz, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Otha Nash, ComposerLyricist - Matt Bishop, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Malcolm Harrison, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Becca Marie, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Nina Fechner, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Haydon Hicks, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ALAN MOULDER, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jacknife Lee, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Garret Lee, ComposerLyricist - Brandon Flowers, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dave Keuning, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Stoermer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, ComposerLyricist - The Killers, MainArtist - Robert Root, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Justin Diaz, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Bishop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Caesar Edmunds, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Malcolm Harrison, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Becca Marie, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Nina Fechner, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ryan Tedder, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ALAN MOULDER, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jacknife Lee, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Garret Lee, ComposerLyricist - Brandon Flowers, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dave Keuning, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Stoermer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, ComposerLyricist - The Killers, MainArtist - Robert Root, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Bishop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Caesar Edmunds, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alex Cameron, ComposerLyricist - Malcolm Harrison, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart Price, ComposerLyricist - Bob Marley, ComposerLyricist - Ariel Rechtshaid, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jacknife Lee, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Garret Lee, ComposerLyricist - Brandon Flowers, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Stoermer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, ComposerLyricist - The Killers, MainArtist - Shawn Everett, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Root, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Bishop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alex Cameron, ComposerLyricist - Malcolm Harrison, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ALAN MOULDER, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jacknife Lee, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Flowers, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dave Keuning, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Stoermer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, ComposerLyricist - The Killers, MainArtist - Robert Root, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Bishop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Caesar Edmunds, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alex Cameron, ComposerLyricist - Malcolm Harrison, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Eno, ComposerLyricist - Jacknife Lee, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Garret Lee, ComposerLyricist - Brandon Flowers, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Stoermer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Killers, MainArtist - Robert Root, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Bishop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Malcolm Harrison, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart Price, Producer, Additional Producer, ComposerLyricist - Rich Costey, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nicolas Fournier, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jacknife Lee, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Flowers, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Stoermer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, ComposerLyricist - The Killers, MainArtist - Robert Root, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Cooke, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Justin Diaz, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Bishop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alex Cameron, ComposerLyricist - Malcolm Harrison, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Becca Marie, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Nina Fechner, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - ALAN MOULDER, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jacknife Lee, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Flowers, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dave Keuning, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Stoermer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, ComposerLyricist - The Killers, MainArtist - Robert Root, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Justin Diaz, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Bishop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Woody Harrelson, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer - Caesar Edmunds, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alex Cameron, ComposerLyricist - Malcolm Harrison, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Becca Marie, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Nina Fechner, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Knopfler, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Davide Rossi, String Arranger, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Jacknife Lee, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Garret Lee, ComposerLyricist - Brandon Flowers, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Stoermer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, ComposerLyricist - The Killers, MainArtist - Robert Root, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Bishop, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Malcolm Harrison, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Brandon Flowers, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dave Keuning, ComposerLyricist - Mark Stoermer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, ComposerLyricist - The Killers, Producer, MainArtist - Robert Root, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Dennis Thomas, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, ComposerLyricist - Robert Mickens, ComposerLyricist - Joel Davies, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Donald Boyce, ComposerLyricist - Robert Earl Bell, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Bell, ComposerLyricist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - Richard Westfield, ComposerLyricist - Jacknife Lee, Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Garret Lee, ComposerLyricist - Jacques Lu Cont, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Robertson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Grech-Marguerat, Mixer, Programmer, StudioPersonnel - Erol Alkan, Producer, Keyboards, Percussion, Additional Producer, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Brandon Flowers, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Stoermer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, ComposerLyricist - The Killers, MainArtist - Robert Root, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Justin Diaz, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Otha Nash, ComposerLyricist - Matt Bishop, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Malcolm Harrison, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Becca Marie, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Nina Fechner, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Haydon Hicks, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Dennis Thomas, ComposerLyricist - George Brown, ComposerLyricist - Robert Mickens, ComposerLyricist - Joel Davies, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Donald Boyce, ComposerLyricist - Robert Earl Bell, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Bell, ComposerLyricist - Claydes Smith, ComposerLyricist - Richard Westfield, ComposerLyricist - Jacknife Lee, Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Garret Lee, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Robertson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Grech-Marguerat, Mixer, Programmer, StudioPersonnel - Erol Alkan, Producer, Keyboards, Percussion, Additional Producer, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Brandon Flowers, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Stoermer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ronnie Vannucci, ComposerLyricist - The Killers, MainArtist - Robert Root, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Justin Diaz, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Otha Nash, ComposerLyricist - Matt Bishop, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Duke Dumont, Producer, Additional Producer, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Malcolm Harrison, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Becca Marie, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Nina Fechner, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Haydon Hicks, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
In 2017, it's hard to figure out where Brandon Flowers ends and the Killers begin. Just prior to the September release of Wonderful Wonderful -- their fifth album and first in five years -- the band announced that neither bassist Mark Stoermer nor guitarist Dave Keuning would be touring in support of the record, all the while stressing that neither musician had left the group. Listening to Wonderful Wonderful, it's hard to discern their contribution because Flowers completely dominates the proceedings, to the point where this feels like a sequel not to 2012's Battle Born but to his 2015's solo album, The Desired Effect. To an extent, Flowers always has been the focus of the Killers, but at the dawn of their career they were unified in their fusion of new wave and arena rock. Ghosts of that sound flutter through Wonderful Wonderful, but they get pushed aside by disco struts, brooding celebrity name-drops, Mark Knopfler cameos, and Fleetwood Mac harmonies so uncannily real you'd swear Lindsey Buckingham guested on the record. Such odd juxtapositions and untrammeled ambition have been the Killers' stock in trade since at least Sam's Town, but the impressive thing about Wonderful Wonderful is how the Killers are able to execute Flowers' overstuffed ideas so precisely. Being able to evoke certain sounds and eras is a skill that means Wonderful Wonderful can sound diffuse, as if it's racing in opposite directions simultaneously, but that grandly inflated pomp is ingratiating not in the least because the years have proven there's not a hint of irony in Flowers' stadium-sized emotions. By this point, Flowers' obsessions and signatures are so idiosyncratic, he's clearly the auteur behind Wonderful Wonderful just as he was with The Desired Effect, and the record charms because its ridiculousness is sincere and his sincerity is ridiculous -- two qualities that make him and his art messy and quite genuine.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:54:40
- Main artists: The Killers
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Island Records (The Island Def Jam Music Group / Universal Music)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
© 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 2017 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
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