Brandon Flowers – “Paradise”

For his first solo album in 11 years, Brandon Flowers went country. The Killers frontman announced Thrasher in June, revealing that he'd decamped to Nashville with producers Shawn Everett and Jonathan Rado, both of whom worked on the most recent Killers records. Not long after, he unveiled the new album's lead single, "Plans." Today, he's released a second advance track.

Whereas "Plans" was a grandiose ballad of sorts, "Paradise" moves with less of an epic sweep. Instead, this one saunters. The track could almost pass for disco-country, or at least it's set up well for a remix, the the arrangement is once again lavish. Flowers croons his ass off once more, this time reflecting on his family's history working in the Las Vegas casino business.

In a statement on social media this week, Flowers framed the track as a response to Phil Collins' final chart-topper: "Back in October ‘89, Phil Collins took 'Another Day In Paradise' from the working man. This Friday the 17th, I’ll be returning it to its rightful owner." Not sure what Flowers is saying there, but at least he didn't call Collins the antichrist.

Listen below.

Thrasher is out 8/21 on Island.