Review:

on 2012-02-12 CharlesMartel Said:

A pretty good song from what was a truly dreadful album, "When You Were Young" illustrated what the Killers could be when they were not trying to be indie-hipster kids with some deep and meaningful point to make. Brandon Flowers no doubt thinks very highly of himself (he referred to "Sam's Town", the album from which this single is taken, as the epitome of rock albums) but apart from this track I find nothing of interest either in that album or in the Killers. And Flowers is just another in a long line of self-conceited musicians (Ian McCullough, Chris Martin to name but two) whose opinion is of no value except for laughs.

Surprisingly, Flowers' vocal performance on this track is far superior to anything that he has ever done before or since. The theme of the song is timeless  young love viewed through an older eye - but is delivered with a uniquely Mid-West American perspective with references to Jesus which would not be out of place on a Hold Steady album. If only the Killers could have kept this up. But in pretending to be U2 they have turned me right off them. Still, credit where credit is due, "When You Were Young" is worth the entry fee.
Rating: 7/10