The Killers: Battle Born - Review

Following up their debut, Hot Fuss (2004) with Sam's Town (2006), The Killers were set to rule the world. Their edgy rock, complete with poetical lyrics about love, America and let downs connected with generations Y and Z. The Killers set themselves with the task of become the band of the 2000s. Then came Day & Age (2008). While successful, it divided fans. More electronic and disco than before, the edge was missing and fans were unsure what was next. The Killers disbanded for a few months and embarked on solo projects, and it looked like they wouldn't rise to the heights they promised. After four years, along comes Battle Born.

Almost a statement that disco is a thing of the past, Battle Born ranges from the original post-rock sound to 80s style ballads to country jingles. Starting with Flesh and Bone, the album promises a return to Hot Fuss style rock, and together with A Matter of Time and Rising Tide, the mood is continued intermittently through the album to almost revive hope. But predominately, the gears have shifted completely from Day & Age. The sounds are remnant in the back ground of Here With Me and Miss Atomic Bomb, but decidedly slower.

Battle Born is a chorus led piece, with the verses reserved for scene setting. The Way it Was, Here With Me and Heart of a Girl are solely revolving on the chorus to provide some movement in the song. The young-love orientated lyrics of the album are a return to form, providing the kind of imagery The Killers have gone with for years. Battle Born marks a return to form for The Killers, managing to provide the classic heartland rock desired. The only real low points are Rising Tide, a heavy and serious song and From Here on Out, which unexpectedly and bizarrely slips into a country tune.

Battle Born will be a hit with Killers fans, and fans of classic rock. However it isn't quite the world dominating album that The Killers are waiting for. The highlights are Runaways, Flesh and Bone and Miss Atomic Bomb, all which will be single releases assumedly. Battle Born is a success, but it isn't truly the Killers music that fans originally fell in love with.

7.5 out of 10 - Very Good.

Looper - Review

It's not often a time travel movie comes along, that is not really about time travel. Looper is such a movie. From the mind of Rian Johnson, Looper is a story about characters and how love can control people. While the premise will invite science fiction buffs, the story will keep the rest. Looper is an intriguing mix of drama and science, it stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Joe and Bruce Willis, as Joe. Just older.

Set in 2044, Looper introduces Joe (Gordon-Levitt) as a 'looper', an assassin who kills enemies sent back in time by mob bosses 30 years in the future. Now if you are still interested, Joe lives a wild life, a drug addict by night and assissin by day. Until he is told by his friend and fellow looper Seth (Paul Dano) that a mysterious 'holy terror' has taken over the future and is sending the future versions of loopers back in time, so they are killed by themselves. Joe encounters his Old Self (Willis) and faces a dilemma of whether to break the cardinal rule in looping: don't let your enemy escape.

Looper takes you through many twists and turns through it's two hours, including the introduction of Emily Blunt in a major role, but I don't want to spoil the plot too much. If you can wrap your head around the terms and customs of 2044, and what the plot all means enough to catch up on the real action it will be an enjoyable experience. Some will scoff at the plot and the futuristic nature of Looper, but overall if it is stuck with and trusted it reveals an interesting love story. If you are to see one science fiction movie, or one heart felt drama, or one action movie in the latter part of 2012, make it Looper. It is a winner on all levels.

Four and a half out of Five.