music
Brandon Flowers: Thrasher review
(Island)Even a couple of bafflingly misguided social commentary songs can’t detract from the joys of Flowers’ classically full-throated commitment to the Nashville bit
TL;DR
- Brandon Flowers' solo album 'Thrasher' is a deep dive into country music, recorded in Nashville.
- The album features collaborations with prominent Nashville country musicians like Bruce Bouton and Charlie McCoy.
- Flowers' commitment to the country sound is evident, contrasting with his previous, less committed work.
- The album contains character studies with vivid, idiosyncratic details, like those in 'Tiger's Blood' and 'An American Dream'.
- Two songs, 'Miss America' and 'Angel', are criticized for their misguided social commentary and awkward lyrical content.
- 'Angel' is particularly singled out for its problematic narrative and potentially racist undertones.
- Despite these missteps, 'Thrasher' is considered a stronger and more enjoyable album than Flowers' last solo record, 'The Desired Effect'.