"Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts" Released: February 21, 2011[4]
Backgroundedit
After a mysterious countdown on The Killers' official website, Flowers confirmed on April 29, 2010, that he would be releasing a solo album titled Flamingo.[7] The album is named after Flamingo Road in Flowers' hometown of Las Vegas,[8] where many pivotal events in his life occurred: Sam's Town Casino is on Flamingo, his first job was at a golf course on that road, and he met his wife in a thrift store on the road as well. (Although there is also a Flamingo Casino, Flowers has stated that it was not the inspiration for the title).[9][10]
The album's lead single "Crossfire" was premiered in the United Kingdom on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show on June 14, 2010. "Crossfire" was released soon after on June 21, 2010, in the United States and Canada via iTunes, and on August 23, 2010, in the United Kingdom.[5][12][13] "Swallow It" was released as a promotional track from the album on August 24, 2010, via iTunes.[14] "Only the Young" was released as the album's second single on October 12, 2010. An accompanying music video—filmed at Le Rêve at Wynn Las Vegas—premiered online on October 5, 2010, and was directed by Sophie Muller, who worked on the American video for "Mr. Brightside".[15]
Flamingo received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 59, based on 25 reviews.[22]musicOMH published a positive review stating, "It's clear from Flamingo that Flowers accounts for the lion's share of talent in The Killers, and if they ever go on definite hiatus, their fans can look forward to more consistently good material in the form of Flowers' solo albums."[31]Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone described Flowers' penchant for weaving beautiful losers into his songs by stating, "It would be laughable if Flowers wasn't 100 percent committed, and if the hooks on Flamingo weren't irresistible. He is, and they are - and you'll be too busy singing along to giggle."[32] Alix Buscovic of BBC compared tracks "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" and "Crossfire" to stadium albums Sam's Town and Day & Age and tracks "Magdalena" and "Was It Something I Said?" to 80s pop sensibility album Hot Fuss.[33] Ryan Dombal for The Village Voice described Flowers as "a combination of Bono's brassiness, Morrissey's high drama, and Ian Curtis's spasmodic awkwardness, the singer represents an endangered species in 2010: a genuine arena-ready rock-'n'-roll deity who, at 29, isn't yet on blood thinners."[34]
The album was ranked number thirty on Q's list of the 50 Best Albums of 2010.[35]
Commercial performanceedit
On the UK Albums Chart, the album debuted at the number-one spot on September 12 and remained on the chart for 14 weeks.[36][37] As of May 2015, the album had sold 263,681 copies in the United Kingdom.[38]
On the US Billboard 200, Flamingo debuted at number eight, with 41,000 copies sold and remained on the chart for eight weeks.[39] The album has sold 137,000 copies in the US as of May 2015.[40]
^Ashman, Neil (September 2, 2010). "Brandon Flowers - Flamingo". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
^This Week's Releases: February 21, 2011 | News | NME.COM Archived February 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
^ ab"The Killers' Brandon Flowers announces solo album 'Flamingo' release date". NME. June 24, 2010. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
^"In The Studio – Brandon Flowers". Q. August 2010. p. 26.
^"The Killers' Brandon Flowers confirms solo album release". NME. April 29, 2010. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
^"Brandon Flowers: An Ode To Las Vegas In 'Flamingo'". National Public Radio. September 12, 2010. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^"Brandon Flowers Best Buy Interview about Flamingo". YouTube. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
^Scaggs, Austin (June 25, 2010). "The Killers' Brandon Flowers: Why I'm Going Solo". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
^ ab"The Killers' Brandon Flowers reveals solo album details – exclusive". NME. May 13, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
^Murray, Robin (June 15, 2010). "The Killers Singer Talks Solo Album". Clash. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
^"Pre-Order Flamingo on iTunes". August 24, 2010. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
^"Brandon Flowers Has A Dream At The Wynn -- VegasChatter". vegaschatter.com.
^"Brandon Flowers on Alan Carr: Chatty Man". YouTube. September 7, 2010. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
^"Brandon Flowers on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". YouTube. September 10, 2010. Archived from the original on August 18, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
^"Brandon Flowers on BBC Radio 1". YouTube. September 6, 2010. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
^"Brandon Flowers on Jimmy Kimmel Live!". YouTube. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014.
^"Live from Abbey Road – 4oD – Channel 4". channel4.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
^"Brandon Flowers on Later with Jools Holland". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021.
^ ab"Reviews for Flamingo by Brandon Flowers". Metacritic. September 14, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
^Hawthorne, Marc (September 14, 2010). "Brandon Flowers: Flamingo". The A.V. Club. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
^"Brandon Flowers, "Flamingo"". Billboard. September 24, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
^Leah Greenblatt (September 8, 2010). "Flamingo | Music". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 13, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
^Sullivan, Caroline (September 2, 2010). "Brandon Flowers: Flamingo (Island)". The Guardian. London. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
^Gill, Andy (October 23, 2011). "Album: Brandon Flowers, Flamingo (Vertigo)". The Independent.
^Jody Rosen. "Flamingo by Brandon Flowers". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
^Walters, Barry (August 23, 2010). "Brandon Flowers, 'Flamingo' (Island)". Spin. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
^Justin de la Cruz (September 5, 2010). "Brandon Flowers – Flamingo". musicOMH.com. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
^Jody Rosen (September 14, 2010). "Brandon Flowers Flamingo Album Review". Rolling Stone.
^"BBC - Music - Review of Brandon Flowers - Flamingo". bbc.co.uk.
^"Q's 50 Best Albums of 2010 – 30: Brandon Flowers – Flamingo". Q. Bauer Media Group. December 15, 2010. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010.
^"Killers frontman Brandon Flowers tops album chart". BBC News. September 12, 2010.
^"Brandon Flowers' 'Flamingo' Hits No. 1 On The UK Album Charts". Archived from the original on September 16, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
^ abJones, Alan (May 25, 2015). "Official Charts Analysis: Brandon Flowers scores sixth No.1 with The Desired Effect". Music Week. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
^Linkin Park and Trey Songz Debut At Nos. 1 & 2 on Billboard 200. Billboard. Retrieved 2010-09-23
^"Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on May 15, 2015.
^Andy Morris. "Depeche Mode's Martin Gore is a Killers fan". Gigwise.
^Flamingo (deluxe edition liner notes). Brandon Flowers. Island Records. 2010. B0014745-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)