The Killers performed “Human” and “Spaceman” on SNL this past weekend. It turns out they also performed some songs off-the-air, which is documented in this clip, wherein Fred Armisen explains the situation and we spot a very gracious Brandon Flowers along with Andy Samberg, Amy Poehler, and Will Forte sorta “rocking out.” It sounds like they did “When You Were Young,” but you don’t get to see much, and I don’t know that much about the Killers. What you do get to see plenty of is the pretty in purple mosaic landscape album art for the band’s forthcoming Day & Age.

My guess: A depiction of the place Brandon went to kill the animal he wore on his shoulders on SNL and in the above promo pic.

Day & Age is out 11/25 via Island.

Comments (48)
  1. george  |   Posted on Oct 9th, 2008 0

    i love the killers but i think that’s a pretty ugly looking cover.

  2. mark  |   Posted on Oct 9th, 2008 0

    “My guess: A depiction of the place Brandon went to kill the animal he wore on his shoulders on SNL and in the above promo pic.”

    zing!

  3. teh-thomas  |   Posted on Oct 9th, 2008 0

    i dig the mosaic. very eye-catching. this record will probably be another grower.

  4. if you don’t know much about the Killers then why are you the one writing this entry?

  5. hey, did y’all see the killers on snl? man, did they stink up the joint. stop drinking the kool-aid and admit it: the killers blow.

  6. pretty boring eh?

  7. bananafana feux  |   Posted on Oct 9th, 2008 0

    I heard the jacket was made from the animals that Mark Wahlberg talks to.

  8. I like it. Reminds me of the Hot Fuss album art a bit.

  9. grover  |   Posted on Oct 9th, 2008 0

    hey dudes lol sup i am a typical non-fan of the killers so i will say that this blog of news is bad news because it’s killers-related and the killers suck so that’s my 2 cents lol hey sup

  10. Michael  |   Posted on Oct 9th, 2008 0

    To me, it looks like a Coachella poster. IS THIS A HINT???

  11. finn  |   Posted on Oct 9th, 2008 0

    i like it, makes me think of candy and makes me more interested in the album. i was scared they were going to put a mosaic of their faces in there, seeing the single cover for “human.” glad they didn’t. still prefer the hot fuss album art though.

  12. Vegas Thunder  |   Posted on Oct 9th, 2008 0

    they make that in Craft Class? the mosaic is better than their music

  13. jules  |   Posted on Oct 9th, 2008 0

    i really like this album art. i’m actually kind of excited for this album! :O

  14. Shane  |   Posted on Oct 9th, 2008 0

    It looks like a colorblindness test, really. Guess whoever put it together failed, as the combination is pretty hideous.

  15. Zadig  |   Posted on Oct 10th, 2008 0

    well i dont like it, but its their choice, just need to turn up the colors a lil bit, coz this mosaic things are meant to be seen at certain distance from the actual art piece, if printed looses much of the glowy and detail efect to it. And for me it way too ols fashioned =P

    If lucky they still can change the cover :D

  16. WallabyJoe  |   Posted on Oct 10th, 2008 0

    Bubbles!

    Did anybody remember that story where Brandon Flowers was at some rock star club taking a leak in the bathroom, and someone behind him was like “Hey you’re Brandon Flowers. I really dig you guys, you have a great voice.” And he thanked him and turned around and it was Bernard Summer from New Order? Anyway, this cover art looks like it was probably made from tile in that bathroom.

  17. fido  |   Posted on Oct 10th, 2008 0

    It looks good on a backlit computer screen. They’re gonna have to gloss the hell out of it to make it look as captivating physically.

  18. The art is pleasant enough. And as someone who only liked the first Killers album, I really LOVE “Human”. It was boring on SNL, but the track is pretty tight. Though I still wonder why “Indie Rock n Roll”, one of the tracks on their first demo was left off their first album. It’s quite brilliant.

    • nick  |   Posted on Oct 10th, 2008 0

      all depends on where you are i guess. the uk/australian release of hot fuss had indie rock & roll in place of change your mind. plus there was also the us limited edition release with the black cover that had both tracks, plus under the gun and michael valentine. and yes, it is a good song

  19. finn  |   Posted on Oct 10th, 2008 0

    funny, the SNL performance of human was what drew me in to the song. i didn’t really like it the first few times i heard it. i guess the song is drawing mixed reactions all around–not to mention the debate over dancer or denser (i think both would make sense, if you ask me). now, they have to release a really COOL music video to justify all the buzz

  20. I know the artist and have seen all the paintings in the flesh and they are all amazing. Just to clear up they are all paintings in gloss paint on aluminium and not actual mosaics. He hand paints each circle with a brush. The best are still to come and I think they are all awesome. He is amazingly talented. The photos do not do the paintings justice! I think the Killers have chosen well!!!!

  21. ‘Sam’s Town’ is an extremely under-rated album and one that should have topped the best-of lists for that year. It’s only because of the backlash that Brandon recieved after his ‘best album of the last twenty years’ comment that made critics turn on them. There are some seriously great lyrics going around on that album and the melodies are completely infectious without being to in-your-face. There was that one reporter who said that the album was contrived and that they only grew facial hair for authenticity. What a ridiculous statement to make and one that is completely irrevelant to the actual music. The actual music is brilliant and the whole feel of the album is uniquely American and reminds me of a Jim Jarmusch film. Anyway, ‘Human’ is an ok lead single. Seems to me that they’ve tried to marry the first two albums together on this one. It will be interesting to see how it fits in with the album as a whole. Although I feel it is to ‘dance-y’ for its own good, the melody is strong enough for me to enjoy it.

    Great band, deserve more credit. Probably to heart-on-your-sleeve for you ironic indie blog band of the week music lovers.

    • Man you said everything I always want to say about Sam’s Town, except smarter.

      That CD is so good!

    • fido  |   Posted on Oct 15th, 2008 0

      Yeah, that backlash is why people blew off that album. Oh, and this:

      “We’re burnin’ up the highway skyline on the back of a hurricane!”

      Maybe people also dislike the Killers because they’re the biggest fucking cheeses and the lamest contradiction of an “indie” band around.

  22. Shark vs. Asshole  |   Posted on Oct 14th, 2008 0

    Psych!!

  23. adelaide  |   Posted on Oct 15th, 2008 0

    haven’t heard the music but I love that cover

  24. vornado  |   Posted on Oct 15th, 2008 0

    makes me wanna dance, makes me wanna sing, yeah yeah yeah.

    oh, and that cover blows.

  25. Kelsey  |   Posted on Oct 16th, 2008 0

    This is great. I love the artwork. To those who don’t get it, it was made by Paul Normansell and he is brilliant, I saw his exibit on the internet. human, spaceman, and neon tiger are great songs and I am excited for everything about this album. MTV said it was beautiful design and I agree completely i just stare at it and wonder. It is so beautiful and mean wholey crap! Oh and why comment people if you don’t know what good taste in music is anyways. this is wonderful and they have great music so back off people and watch the rest of the world grow as you let this killers experience fly by you. GO KILLERS!

  26. Andrew  |   Posted on Oct 16th, 2008 0

    A question posed to the presidential candidates at the debate last night should have been “are we human or are we dancers?”

  27. charlie  |   Posted on Oct 18th, 2008 0

    IT IS NOT MOSAIC OR AN IMAGE IT IS HAND PAINTED AND TAKES HOURS TO DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  28. Nice. But they cheated on the palm trees … ;-)

  29. Jinny  |   Posted on Oct 21st, 2008 0

    Thank you for bringing Paul Normansell’s art to my attention I think it’s fantastic, I have managed to find his web site, check it out!! Someone has suggested there’s more to come, bring it on!! Love Human can’t get it out of my head.

  30. Paul Normansell is a Uk artist who has been constantly very successful in London and Uk galleries for the last ten years. He was in GQ magazine for a portrait of Kate Moss he was showing in A Gallery (www.agallery.co.uk) and The Killers saw that and commissioned him to make the album cover in his usual style with gloss paint on aluminium and to do portraits of each band member. On MTV it was said that it was the best album art in the world ever! The Killers liked it so much they centred the video Human around it. looking at the comments below about 75% of people love it, which is great. I love it too. He has recently been commission by Rimmell to paint Kate Moss for their headquarters and the press are buzzing round him. It was an intelligent move by the Killers to commisison him, especially for the single cover as it works so well with the concept ‘Human’ Well done to Paul Normansell!

  31. charlie  |   Posted on Oct 23rd, 2008 0

    you just dont appreciate good art do you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  32. mumsey  |   Posted on Oct 27th, 2008 0

    WELL DONE PAUL U DEF THE BEST, WELL DONE KILLERS FOR CHOOSING HIM. CANT WAIT FOR THE ALBUM.

  33. Evelyn  |   Posted on Nov 11th, 2008 0

    I absolutely love The Killers. The Killers are one of the few bands that I believe get it all right. Their sound is different and their lyrics are meaningful. Their style is unique and it defies who they are. Fashion wise, I think they have great style. Brandon Flowers in particular, has great personal style. Fashion is all about taking risks and most importantly its about being yourself and expressing that through your clothes. And just an FYI to all those who aren’t well aware of what is in style this season, it’s all about feathers.

    I love their new single “Human.” I’ve heard great reviews on their new album and look forward to it. As others have said, they’re always taking risks, and turns out they always over exceed expectations.

    Go Killers, and keep on making your fans happy! =)

  34. Evelyn  |   Posted on Nov 11th, 2008 0

    I absolutely love The Killers. The Killers are one of the few bands that I believe get it all right. Their sound is different and their lyrics are meaningful. Their style is unique and it defies who they are. Fashion wise, I think they have great style. Brandon Flowers in particular, has great personal style. Fashion is all about taking risks and most importantly its about being yourself and expressing that through your clothes. And just an FYI to all those who aren’t well aware of what is in style this season, it’s all about feathers.

    I love their new single “Human.” I’ve heard great reviews on their new album and look forward to it. As others have said, they’re always taking risks, and turns out they always over exceed expectations.

    Go Killers, and keep on making your fans happy! =)

  35. lovefool  |   Posted on Nov 13th, 2008 0

    I am SO excited for this album. I have first row seats for their concert on Jan 19th at Northrop!!!! Can’t wait.

  36. josh  |   Posted on Nov 21st, 2008 0

    best fuckin album
    got it today!!!

  37. Bruce  |   Posted on Nov 25th, 2008 0

    I think it looks awesome. Its a perfect fit for their logotype.

    To krup, a friendly tip: The phrase “Drink the kool-aid’ is now two years beyond overused. Try to come up with something original to say.

  38. Alexandra Coumbis  |   Posted on Dec 8th, 2008 0

    Hello,

    I would like to request permission to reprint the album artwork for The Killers? Day & Age, in Princeton High School’s school newspaper The Tower. If this is acceptable please tell me how you would like us to cite the photo.

    Thank you,

    Alexandra Coumbis

  39. natasha  |   Posted on Dec 14th, 2008 0

    as a designer i really like the feel of this. i also like the killers but that wasn’t the question, was it.

  40. Tigger  |   Posted on Jan 13th, 2009 0

    I like the artwork. It has a nostalgic feel to it. I just got the album and it’s amazing. Dustland Fairytale, This Is Your Life, Tidal Wave and Goodnight, Travel Well are my favs. Human is also brilliant.

    Almost Forgot: ‘Grover’: You’re a moron.

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