So after a making two albums, headlining Glastonbury and touring the globe, The Killers have, it's fair to say, done pretty well for themselves in the past few years. And now they're bringing out a third album...of b-sides. Most bands might wait until their fifth release to do something like this, so why would The Killers assume they've got enough good material for a whole album? 'Sawdust' contains remixes, b-sides to already released singles and covers of Joy Division and Dire Straights. As well as this they've joined in with the download only crew for their collaboration with Lou Reed on 'Tranquilize' (a song containing more cliches than the opening scene of Team America: World Police). That was until they decided about two weeks later to release the single physically. Most of the tracks on the record are songs performed from their live sets, and they've clearly found that the crowds react well to them. So what's the harm in doing this if fans will appreciate it?
But it's not like they're the first ones to do this either. Gorillaz are releasing a b-sides, or rather 'D-Sides' record after just two studio albums. Though they did previously release one in 2002 called 'G-Sides' and 'Laika Come Home' (a remix album in the same year). But is this plausible to release material they felt couldn't make it onto the main albums in the first place? And why do it so soon?
One track which probably didn't make it onto the original album 'Hot Fuss' for The Killers, is 'Under The Gun', because it sounds a bit too much like 'Mr Brightside'. But it's actually a good song, so we're gonna let you have a listen.
Under The Gun - The Killers
