The Killers – Human – Single Review
Human is the first single from The Killers’ third album, Day & Age.
Critic types are claiming this is a return to form for the band. The band’s lead singer Brandon Flowers describes it as a “cross between Johnny Cash and the Pet Shop Boys”.
With a description like that, said single could conceivably be a train wreck. However, on first listen the synth sounds like it’s the intro to a dance track, but morphs into this sublime experience. I get the PSB comparisons, but while I can’t listen to the Pet Shop Boys without wanting to shoot Neil Tennant, this I think is genius.
A review on MyFizzyPop describes Human as
the A.Maz.Ing. new single "Human". It’s been described as an epic Pet Shop Boys type song, and that’s probably not far wrong. It’s a synth filled track that builds up a la Read My Mind (their "poppest" moment from Sam’s Town) until a disco beat drops at the start of the second verse and it’s practically orgasmic.
I’ve read a ton of negative reviews across the web, none of which I can really fathom, because this is one of my favourite tracks of 2008. Seriously. Thumbs up.
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I have to admit that I don’t get this song. I don’t think its a return to form, I think it’s a departure. Far more dancy than rock and I always appreciated The Killer’s ability to straddle the line between the two. I’m anxiously awaiting the next single to decide if I like the direction they’re going in…
Human is an absolutely brilliant song which can rest alongside Mr. Brightside, When we were young, etc. etc. It has a very catchy theme, is sung beautifully and millions of people have viewed the videos. I cannont understand Kimberley Morrison’s remarks, and I would like to suggest that she listens to this fantastic song a few more times.
I instantly loved this track on first hearing it. It stands out as a perfectly engineered pop song. For the first time in many years, this has got people talking about pop music again. No doubt Neil and Chris from PSB love it. It is a kind of homage to high-energy pop from yesteryear but it does not sound dated. Inevitably it is offputting to the steadfast rock fraternity, but for anyone else is this is an effortless, magical record. I doff my hat to Brandon & co.