The cover of Brandon Flowers third solo albums shows a picture of him throwing hands at the camera. The sound has The Killers frontman throwing everything at the listener including piano, organ, pedal steel guitar and Margo Price on back vocals. The country album is more lush 70s than current hot rural sounds. Lead track, “Does It Ever Cross Your Mind” is a zippy take on the sound, “One Of Us” has a similar sound on a tribute song to his brother in law that passed way too soon.
On various songs, the vocals remind the listener of Bruce Springsteen or Jason Isbell or John Mellencamp. Small town USA is the focus on “Tiger’s Blood” that turns in a killer chorus. “Miss America” is written through the eyes of a woman. The album is a bit front loaded and there is a whiff of pastiche (see: single “Paradise”) rather than a true authentic country voice. Still, Flowers has a way with hooks that even the just OK tracks, still sound fine in the background.
7/10
The Light Appears 