Released in the UK on 2 October 2006, ‘Sam’s Town’ now celebrates its 20th anniversary. While its initial critical reception was divided, its reputation has grown considerably over the years, with the album often being described as underrated.
Commercially, it was a major success. The album reached Number One in the UK and has sold millions of copies worldwide. Brandon Flowers was famously confident in the record even before its release, describing it as “one of the best albums of the past 20 years”.
The album gave us ‘When You Were Young’, a track which has become one of the band's most recognisable songs and a consistent addition to their setlist. Its lyrics can be read as looking back at what we imagined when we were young, particularly when it comes to love and the expectations we used to have.
The big tracks don’t stop with this record, because as well as ‘When You Were Young’, there's ‘Read My Mind’, an uplifting track which can be read as focusing heavily on wanting to be understood by someone and wishing they could simply read your mind.
The title track ‘Sam’s Town’ introduces us to the whole idea of ‘Sam’s Town’. Opening the record, it is rooted in lead singer Brandon Flowers’ hometown of Las Vegas, taking its name from a local casino. It’s a storytelling track about Flowers’ thoughts on his hometown and his relationship with Las Vegas. Despite the band's success, Vegas has always remained a huge part of The Killers’ identity.
‘For Reasons Unknown’ is a song with some really sombre lyrics and background. The track has been linked to Flowers’ grandmother and her experience with Alzheimer’s disease, with its lyrics able to be read as exploring fading memory and no longer recognising someone in the way you once did.
‘Uncle Jonny’ is a fiery track which has such a bang to it, mixed with some punchy lyrics. The song tackles drug addiction and is one of the darker tracks on the record. There's a great mix of different styles on this record, and ‘Bones’ takes a slightly different approach, with the video for the song directed by Tim Burton. The music video feels like something directly out of one of his films, which matches the tone of this track and gives it a different life.
Ending the album is ‘Exitlude’, which serves as a sequel to the earlier track ‘Enterlude’. ‘Enterlude’ serves as a welcome to ‘Sam’s Town’, whilst ‘Exitlude’ serves as a sombre goodbye and ending to the record. The two tracks help give the album a clear beginning and ending.
Every single song on this record feels very different from the next and they all stand out in their own way, bringing something individual and different to the table. Coming off this album, the band never slowed down and continued to grow in popularity, going on to headline arenas and stadiums around the world.
Brandon Flowers is currently on tour, with UK dates this October. Tickets for that tour are on sale now via Flowers' website.
Jack Smith
Image: 'Sam's Town' Official Album Cover