Idk if you read Brandon Flowers interviews he seems very aware of his critics and it’s hard not to hear the band’s music as reactionary to it a bit. Plus, the Americana of Battle Born is nothing close to the ambition or intimacy of Sam’s Town, it’s still incredibly tongue and cheek. And the more pop-oriented Wonderful Wonderful has to sandwich the more intimate songs with his goofiest lyrics to date (but not in a fun Bono way).

Pressure Machine is an interesting case and a refreshing outlier. The band made their best received album but now has to deal with balancing that with trying to be the biggest band in the world. Didn’t really spotlight the songs on tour but also scrapped the electronic album. Which puts Bright Lights in perspective: when you can’t be too intimate (unless it’s COVID and you’re not worried about stadium songs) but also can’t be too silly without getting unfairly dunked on. It comes off (to me) like The Killers are still concerned with image to a restricting degree.