Conservative commentators and Christian media outlets have praised The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers for his new album, "Thrasher," which blends country western elements with religious themes. Flowers, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, recorded the album in Nashville, Tennessee, describing it as an expansion of his musical range rather than an abandonment of rock and roll.
In a promotional trailer, Flowers stated that his life is long enough to allow for more musical exploration, quoting Walt Whitman's "I am large. I contain multitudes." He described country-western music as his father's genre, noting that it offered itself to him with "a breezy enthusiasm." The visual campaign features Flowers driving a classic convertible through desert highways, truck stops, and ranches.
The album's focal track, "An American Dream," gained traction after a broadcast performance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." The song contrasts the illusion of fame with the value of family and salvation. Lyrics include a narrative where Flowers is picked up by Elvis Presley, depicted in his 1968 comeback tour attire, driving a Tesla model X. In the song, Presley hands over the keys and tells Flowers to "Put it on Jesus." The chorus references "Gold and silver, God and glitter" and "Strauss and Stetson."
Daniel Foster, a contributing editor for National Review, described the track as built on rough American nostalgia. He highlighted the precision of the hook for sing-alongs and the lyrics' references to American myth, including James Ellroy and Cormac McCarthy-style arcana. Foster noted that the song is unapologetically about God, specifically a distinctively American West God aligned with Flowers' Latter-day Saint faith.
Logan Sekulow of CCM Magazine offered an extensive review, crediting Flowers for frequent references to biblical concepts. Sekulow argued that "Thrasher" and Flowers' broader catalog contain more direct references to Christ and biblical principles than many releases marketed specifically to Christian audiences. He praised the use of Elvis Presley as a spiritual predecessor figure, caught between the sacred and spectacular, who passes wisdom to the next generation. Sekulow concluded that the phrase "Gold and Silver, God and Glitter" serves as a mission statement for the album, reconciling faith and fame.
Christian Toto, a conservative culture critic, spoke with Fox News Digital about Flowers' performance on "The Tonight Show," calling it remarkable and raw. Toto suggested that country music is experiencing a revival because it allows for spirituality and a connection to something soulful in an increasingly digitized world. He cited Morgan Wallen as an example of a singer who survived cancel culture attacks and grew in popularity.