BY JILL ALPHONSO

THE dandified, plumage-loving frontman of Las Vegas band The Killers, Brandon Flowers, has done the near-impossible. He has, unexpectedly, put out a stunning solo record that remains true to his obsessions (his hometown Las Vegas, and all the imagery that comes with it).

But more than that, Flamingo is a confessional record that speaks of faith and devotion, broken hearts and salvation, and the terrifying wave that can create a high-water mark in a person's life.

Let me say this - I am not a Killers fan, save for their 2004 debut, Hot Fuss. But their follow- ups (including 2005 concept album Sam's Town) were just confused. And by the time they got around to releasing Day & Age (2008), the synthpop movement was, for this reviewer, a big yawn.

And Flowers, the 29-year-old mustachioed guy with haunted eyes who rather enjoys playing dress-up, has never held me in thrall. Until now.

Flowers - a college dropout who worked a stint as a bellhop in a Las Vegas hotel - reportedly wrote the songs on Flamingo for The Killers, but the band decided to take a year-long hiatus.

Undaunted, Flowers put producers Stuart Price (who helmed Day & Age), Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen), and sonic craftsman Daniel Lanois (U2) to work on this record - to be released on Monday in Singapore.

And he asked friends Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley) and The Killers drummer Ronnie Vanucci along for the ride. You'll be glad he went to the trouble.

And Flowers - who, to put it mildly, is very religious - has released a record that would have been far too brave and personal for The Killers to ever touch.

Yes, synth-pop is still in the mix here. But it's tempered with strains of folk, country and gospel.

Hard Enough is a duet with Lewis, who seems to channel early Belinda Carlisle. The lyrics read like a letter written in invisible ink.

"I'm telling myself that I can roll with the changes/And when the water gets high above your head, darlin', don't you fear/This has been hard enough on you/It's been hard enough on me", Flowers and Lewis sing.

Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts speaks of gambles made, and lost, on love. It invites one to press "repeat" after a first listen.

Magdelena is pure gospel, a hymn (really, there is no better word) that is a sweet, sweet offering to gods and mothers who would bestow blessings even on sinning men.

And Jacksonville is a dancey number in the vein of Heaven 17's Temptation that Lady Gaga could only dream of making.

In the end, what Flowers offers on Flamingo is potent - the best work he has turned out yet.

I have two words for you, Flowers: Gwen Stefani.

Bye bye, Killers.

myp@sph.com.sg

For more my paper stories click here.