Brandon Flowers‘ third solo album is set for release on August 21. It’s a bold release by Flowers, as he ventures into alternative country with elements of western. For his first solo release in a decade, Flowers drew heavy inspiration from the music of his father.
A new song, “Plans,” was released ahead of the new album, and it’s our first taste of this style shift. It works well for Flowers, a more contained and sincere approach. His thematic, anthemic, and scene-setting songwriting brilliantly pairs with country and western tones. It’s a brilliant venture away from his pop-rock history with The Killers, along with his first two solo albums.
“Plans” starts out poetically reflective in the opening lines. Flowers reflects on a time sitting in his homeroom class as a child. He mentions his teacher and the plans they drew up years ago. Ultimately, it’s a track about unrealized dreams and the plans we leave behind with those dreams. The teacher is his first example of this at a young age.
The pond is fed by July melted snow
That we watched fall from January windows
In our homeroom class
Teacher wondering how the hell they wound up here
So far from the plans they drew up years ago
Flowers brings the song back to himself, a memory of himself leaving the place mentioned before. He references naivety, not knowing the cards were stacked. He’s blinded by his dreams and following a plan.
And I stole away on that three lane headed south
I didn’t know the cards were stacked
I just knew I was wild about the desert wind
Whispering sweet nothings about gearing up and chasing down
A plan I drew up years ago
“Drowning Out the Plans I Drew up Years Ago“
Within the song’s chorus, you get the sense that the plans have changed. The old plans and dreams have been abandoned and are being drowned out by the present. He has been hurt, so he’s sensitive, but perseveres nonetheless.
So hold me in your arms
I think I’m going under
Take your time with my heart
It’s been rattled by the thunder
Of the all you got engine
Always bound for the big show
Drowning out the plans I drew up years ago
The final lines of the track detail a revisit to the plans. He’s out on the road again, with the plans he drew up years ago. The plans are back in place, and he’s attempting to chase the dream. It’s an encouraging ending to a sincere track.
Tonight I’m on the road
With the plans I drew up years ago
Tonight I’m on the road
With the plans I drew up years ago
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