Brandon Flowers has returned with a new solo single, ‘Plans’ – listen below.
Read More: Brandon Flowers talks new solo and Killers music – and the power of Springsteen and Oasis
The twangy, wistful song will appear on the Killers frontman’s third solo album, ‘Thrasher’, which is released on August 21 via Island.
‘Thrasher’ marks Flowers’ first solo full-length effort in over a decade, following 2015’s ‘The Desired Effect’ and his 2010 debut ‘Flamingo’.
Arriving today (Friday June 26), first track ‘Plans’ sees the singer lean heavily into an Americana, old school country-tinged sound – far from the synth-pop sonics of his previous LP.
Some fans are comparing the track to the slow-burning, contemplative latest Killers album, 2021’s ‘Pressure Machine’.
“So hold me in your arms / I think I’m going under / Take your time with my heart / It’s been rattled by the thunder,” he sings over acoustic guitar, pedal steel and some rich female backing vocals, making way for lush strings.
Reflecting on some ill-fated dreams, Flowers adds: “Of the all you got engine / Always bound for the big show / Drowning out the plans I drew up years ago.”
Recorded in Nashville, ‘Thrasher’ was made with Flowers’ longtime producers Shawn Everett and Jonathan Rado, as well as guitarist David Rawlings, pedal steel player Bruce Bouton, and 85-year-old Charlie McCoy (the harmonica player who featured on all four of Bob Dylan’s Nashville records).
The upcoming collection focuses on Flowers’ early years, spending his childhood in the small town of Nephi, Utah. He looks back on how his father would drive him around the countryside listening to Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings on the record.
‘Thrasher’ is said to find the vocalist at his most personal and vulnerable, delving into a chapter of his life that he’s rarely written about before, and reminiscing about these formative years.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found my way back to my father’s music – ‘Country-Western’ (as he called it) – and discovered that the stories I carry really feel most at home in the skin of this beautiful American tradition,” Flowers explained.
He’ll showcase ‘Thrasher’ on a UK, Ireland and North American solo tour later this year. The trek includes a show at the historic Royal Albert Hall in London in October. Tickets for the UK and Ireland dates go on general sale on at 10am BST next Friday (July 3) – you’ll be able to buy yours here.
Speaking to NME last year, the singer discussed plans for two new solo albums, describing the first as more of a “step backwards” from ‘The Desired Effect’.
“It’s more in the ‘Flamingo’ direction,” he told us. “I made two South West records, if you want to know the truth. One is a romantic South West record, and the other is a narrative South West record which picks up where ‘Pressure Machine’ left off.
“I’m thrilled about both of them, and they’ll both come out before the next Killers record – but I’m thrilled about the next Killers record.”
As for future material from The Killers, Flowers said it was “a little too early to say” what the band’s next batch of songs would sound like. However, he revealed that they wouldn’t be returning to the slick, synth-y style of standalone singles ‘Boy’ and ‘Your Side Of Town’ (both produced by Stuart Price).
“We will not put it out unless it is the best,” he told NME. “We’ve already discussed it. It’s gotta be so good or it’s not worth it.” He then confirmed that the new music would feature “all four members”, after they reunited for the 2024 song ‘Bright Lights’.