The Killer's new disc is the talk of Vegas and it seems in the national reviews the group's Vegas origin is writ large in minds. Typical is the review of "Sam's Town" in Allmusic.com: "Every time it tries to get real, it only winds up sounding fake, which means it's the quintessential Vegas rock album from the quintessential Vegas rock band."

I too have called The Killers quintessent ially Vegas in a review of a 2004 concert. Anyway, I'll be giving their latest a listen over the weekend and share my thoughts with you next week on "Sam's Town." But for now let's note that while the disc is named in celebration of the gritty old casino Sam's Town, the band recorded it far away from there in the luxurious, brand spanking new studio at the Palms. Sure on a metaphorical level you could say there is something a bit hypocritical or fake in that; but realistically while Sam's Town may have an RV park and a bowling alley it does not have a recording studio.

photo by Anton Corbijn