Thrasher marks the Killers frontman’s pivot to country, but it mostly feels contrived, like he’s hitching a bandwagon rather than blazing his own trail

Hopefully, Thrasher is still able to give Flowers a renewed sense of purpose that he can then bring to his bandmates and finally make an eighth album worthy of the Killers' canon. If he got anything else out of it, you can only hope it was the subtle hint to not quit his day job

Brandon Flowers’ melodies are largely airy, ebullient, even life-affirming. Articulating the troubles we face, he also, and perhaps ultimately, pays homage to our resilience

On his third solo effort, ‘Mr Brightside’ comes out his cage to vividly tell us about his childhood

Even if Thrasher comes off as something of an equidistant compromise, it’s still a wholly satisfying work that takes a blend of rural-facing genres and makes them glisten in a way only Brandon Flowers can

The Killers frontman does a solid job channeling his Nashville heroes on Thrasher, but the mystery train doesn’t always stay on track

Though certain skeptical attitudes are held regarding Flowers as an artist and man, THRASHER ranks among the year’s most enjoyable and perhaps intriguing listens

With Waylon Jennings’ drawl and a profound sincerity, the Killers frontman sells the blustery, Nashville-via-Utah sound of his gaudy but affecting new country album

‘Thrasher’ pulls off the impressive trick of being both remarkably emotional and poignant and also heaps of fun

While his words and voice remain smart and wry, whether you enjoy it or not will depend entirely on your liking for, or tolerance of, that genre. Print edition only

To give him his dues, and while admittedly running the risk of sounding slightly patronising, this is proper country and western, and not just some half-arsed attempt at a cash grab

He's always been a crooner in the tradition of Waylon Jennings, and he's always had Kris Krisfofferson's nose for a tale. Print edition only

Flowers' take on country hews to the proto-Americana of Springsteen and Jimmy Webb/Glen Campbell as he unleashes his chromium pipes and unfettered emotionality on image-rich tales like "Plans", "Tiger's Blood" and the climactic "An American Dream". Print edition only

Behind Flowers, Nashville royalty David Rawlings, Bruce Bouton and Charlie McCoy lend the whole thing grit, swing and old-school authority

Thrasher is an emotional ride, one where you crack a wistful smile through the tears, and a welcome road for Flowers to travel as he takes another step into his past in order to grow in the future

The Killers frontman was once a teenager obsessed with New Order and The Smiths. Now he’s a 45-year-old dad embracing his inner Garth Brooks

Even a couple of bafflingly misguided social commentary songs can’t detract from the joys of Flowers’ classically full-throated commitment to the Nashville bit