So I’m apparently a week late on this but OH MY GOD:

The album artwork for Brandon Flowers‘ solo album, Flamingo, is quite possibly the most gorgeous cover I’ve seen thus far this year. (Aside from Aphrodite, obviously. Praise Kylie.)

Please God let the music inside match its pretty, pretty pictures.

On Monday, Flowers announced a small suite of tour dates. They are as follows:

August 15 – The Shimmer Room – Las Vegas, NV – Las Vegas Hilton
August 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
August 19 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
August 23 – Chicago, IL – Park West
August 26 – New York, NY – Highline Ballroom

For information on pre-ordering tickets, click here.

The pre-sales officially start today!

The Killers‘ frontman, Brandon Flowers, is about to unleash the first single from his upcoming solo effort, Flamingo. It is called “Crossfire,” and will be released to radio today, June 21 (with the album to follow in September).

While a little too U2 and a little less Pet Shop Boys than I’d like to hear from Mr. Flowers, “Crossfire” is just moody and brooding enough to whet my appetite.

“We’re caught in the crossfire of Heaven and Hell, and we’re searching for shelter,” Flowers cries out during the anthemic, arena-ready chorus, only to be immediately followed by the best parts of the song, the repeated angelic coos of “Lay your body down, lay your body down.” Mmm…

There is also talk of devils and fire, and who doesn’t like religious imagery in their songs these days?

All in all, an intriguing start to a solo campaign. I’m ready for more, please!

To hear “Crossfire,” click here to visit Brandon Flowers’ official website.

I like when ideas sound as good on paper as they do on my speakers. This is one of those times.

Brandon Flowers, lead singer of The Killers and noted Pet Shop Boys enthusiast, is working on his debut solo album, entitled Flamingo. Today, the singer uploaded a snippet of his work onto his official website here.

What we’re hearing is much more electronica focused than his work with The Killers (yay!), more pensive and ambient (yay!), and entirely worthy of high expectations.

I cannot wait to hear what’s next.

There’s been so many video premieres this week…

It’s quite late, and I’m quite tired, but I couldn’t help but post this most gorgeous video from Miss Natasha Khan. Looking a bit like a middle school production of the Big Bang Theory, Ms. Lashes floats, zaps, and glitters her way through a most mystical interpretation of one of the best tracks from her considerably solid second effort, Two Suns. And all while wearing Brandon Flowers‘ hairy shoulder coat.

J’adore.

Click here to purchase tickets to see Bat For Lashes on tour, and below to hear more!

Four epic moments: One epic show.

First of all, can we take a moment to OMG all over Kylie Minogue’s show stealing introduction? In just under a minute, Ms. Minogue makes a fabulous entrance into the BRIT’s with a thirty second, legs-for-days rendition of “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head.” Stunning, flawless…Welcome to the Fever Era 2.0, ladies and gentlemen.

A little later on, the Aloud take to the stage. Within seconds, the five-some piss all over their prior performances of “The Promise” in one gloriously over-the-top, camptastic rendition, straight out of Chicago (and a little bit Return of the Spice Girls Tour for good measure). Sure, the opening bits suffer from a few bum notes thrown out by Drunkie and Judgie. Still–the Girls recover, and by the time the glamorous feathers-n-fluff finale comes churning out, not one performance holds a candle to the Almighty Aloud flame.

“And the winner is…Diana Vickers!” Love it.

Fittingly, the win is secured: The Aloud receive their first BRIT in six years for “The Promise,” winning the coveted Best British Single Award! The crowd goes into a tizzy (Duffy included) as the ladies gallop to the finish line. Sure, Sarah was completely obliterated and Nicola was snubbed out of saying two words into the microphone–but if this isn’t classic Aloud behavior, I don’t know what is.

Well deserved and well played…I LOVE YOU, GIRLS ALOUD!

Finally, the other, other, other epic moment: THE RETURN OF THE PET SHOP BOYS! After a nerve-ridden speech by a fidgety Brandon Flowers, the Boys appear on screen to give thanks for their Achievement Award, only to be drowned out by the audience for a majority of the speech. The screen then gives way to reveal massive cut-outs of their faces as Neil Tennant–going gothic-chic with a rather S&M-friendly, futuristic wrap-around coat, and Chris Lowe–donning massive shades and an un-ironic pink wig (clearly an ode to The Lady B)–strut out to take the stage once more.

And so, come hellfire or Gaga, the Boys pull out all the stops in preparing a whirlwind career retrospective in under ten minutes. From “West End Girls” to “Love Etc.,” the Boys chug right along across their finest hits of the decades. A slew of distractions aid the performance, including an onslaught of ceaseless suited dancers-turned-Agents from The Matrix, as well as colorful videos and illuminations.

Five minutes in the piece the rumors are affirmed as Lady Gaga, looking as though she’d just glued pieces of a Chinese porcelain plate all over her naughty bits, waddles out in robo-mode to take over for Dusty Springfield on “What Have I Done To Deserve This?” Shockingly she delivers, and the set rolls onward without a hitch. Inwardly, the Gaga Love/Hate continues to brew…

Flowers marks his moment soon after, coming in to saunter along to one of my all time favorites, “It’s A Sin.” I won’t lie–He looked absolutely adorable, if not a bit starstruck.

As the show draws to an end, Flowers and Gaga return to the stage to join Neil in bringing the performance to to a crashing, epic conclusion on “West End Girls.” Flowers nervously swings from side-to-side next to Gaga, now frozen in vamping pose, and I cannot help but find myself reminiscing about that awkward couple from the middle school dance. The song ends, the Boys retreat, and the crowd goes mad.

In a word, EPIC.

Most of all, the BRIT’s served to reaffirm what I’ve known true for years now–The British simply do their award shows better. There’s less pressure, more entertainment, and loads more talent in the nominated categories. Plus, the jokes are actually funny. I couldn’t help but lose myself each time Mathew Horne got up to introduce a new act. (“Scream until you prolapse, it’s the Ting Tings and Estelle!”)

So bizarre, so campy, and most importantly–Not so serious. Take notes, Grammy Awards, and lighten the fuck up.

I love the BRITs!