Collegiate Times

So what if The Bravery's lead singer Sam Endicott called Mark Stoermer (The Killers' bassist) a "little Dutch girl with a beard -- a nine-foot-tall, Dutch-girl mutant?"

Well, maybe Endicott had a point.

If the eyeliner and Britpop tuxes don't do it for you, I don't know what will. While Endicott describes The Killers' lead singer Brandon Flowers as "a poor little guy" having "no personality or sense of humor," 12 million copies say otherwise.

The ever-so-decent Las Vegas natives have ridden "Hot Fuss" to indie-pop stardom. Add a little synth to perplexed lyrics and it'll seem that the best thing for this hangover is another drink.

With a botched taste of the Vegas strip lingering on the tip of our tongues, their sophomoric sag "Sam's Town" was a showboat of over-the-top unsettling symphonies. I got soul, but I wasn't going to buy what Flowers claims is "one of the best albums of the past 20 years."

Regardless, we're watching them sparkle more and more each day. Contrary to Endicott's comments, I feel Flowers' personality does more than shine in their larger-than-life, glittery anthems. But to Flowers, ambition and expansion is first while making sure his words color himself bold. You can catch The Killers at George Mason University on Jan. 28.

"Day & Age's" first single, "Human" is a trippy light show waiting to happen. Reminiscent of "Mr. Brightside," "Human" has been described by Flowers as "Johnny Cash meets the Pet Shop Boys."

"Pay my respects to grace and virtue, send my condolences to good, give my regards to soul and romance, they always did the best they could," coos Flowers. "And so long to devotion, you taught me everything I know, wave goodbye, wish me well, you've got to let me go."

New Order perhaps?

Even more strikingly, even when you push aside the theatrics, "Human" still boils down to a great song.

Flowers reflects on his childhood and maintains his lyrical consciousness in "A Dustland Fairytale." The nostalgic barren lands in the outskirts of Nevada seem to have dried out any room for error.

"A change came in disguise of revelation, set his soul on fire, she said she always knew he'd come around and the decades disappear like sinking ships but we persevere," sings Flowers. "God gives us hope, but we still fear what we don't know; your mind is poison."

The heroic tale translates dismal piano into an epic finale of orchestral sounds.

"Day & Age" has amazing tracks but lacks a cohesive lacquer. Tracks such as "A Dustland Fairytale," "Human," "Joy Ride" and "Neon Tiger" hold their own, but the rest of the record is musty and unmemorable.

But even when "Day & Age" buckles at its knees, The Killers' self-assurance preserves composure. Flowers' ability to reflect anguish into a creative and classic outlet gives me hope that there is more personality hidden beneath his hasty mascara.