Killers frontman calls out Sam's Town US reviewers

It's the USA versus The Killers, says the band's outspoken frontman. Singer Brandon Flowers is complaining that American media outlets didn't give The Killer's sophomore album, Sam's Town, a fair break. "There have been a few big magazines in America that have given us some bad reviews," Flowers told AOL Music. "The big ones [in the United Kingdom]--Q, Mojo, and NME--gave us great reviews. The Atlantic is divided on this album."

Sam's Town was released on October 3. The band's first disc, Hot Fuss, was an August 16, 2004, release, going on to sell more than 3 million copies in the US. Despite dropping its faux-Britpop image in favor of a Wild West-esque, Springsteen-inspired look, notably on the new album's cover, the band hasn't received a warm reception from US music magazines.

Spin.com called Sam's Town a "defiantly overstuffed follow-up," "basically Hot Fuss with bigger, spanglier guitars and an all-round lack of restraint." In a stingy two-star review, Rolling Stone said the album's first single, "When We Were Young," was "the closest thing to a good song on the album" and that the band was "trying to make a big statement, except they have nothing to say." Rolling Stone gave Hot Fuss 3 1/2 stars out of 5.

But the outlook of the band, currently on tour in the US, is not all doom and gloom, Flowers told AOL. "Hot Fuss didn't get amazing reviews. It didn't win a Grammy. We weren't on the cover of Rolling Stone," he said. "Bad reviews can hurt, maybe a little bit at the beginning, but ultimately it's all word-of-mouth. If people like you, they're going to tell their friends."

Jay-Z taps cross-selection of stars for new album

Beyonce, Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Coldplay, the Neptunes, and more are scheduled to collaborate with Jay-Z on the rapper's "comeback" album, Kingdom Come. Beyonce will feature on "Hollywood" and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin on "Beach Chair," which will be produced by the British band, according to NME.com. Dr. Dre will produce four tracks on the new disc, which is set for release on November 20. Other producers include Just Blaze, Ghettobot, Kanye West, and the Neptunes, whose Pharrell will be featured with Usher on "Anything."

The full track list for Kingdom Come is as follows:

"Prelude" (produced by Ghettobot)
"Oh My God" (produced by Just Blaze)
"Kingdom Come" (produced by Just Blaze)
"Show Me What You Got" (produced by Just Blaze)
"Lost One" (featuring Chrissette Michelle, produced by Dr. Dre)
"Do You Wanna Ride" (featuring John Legend, produced by Kanye West)
"30 Something" (produced by Dr. Dre)
"I Made It" (produced by Dr. Dre)
"Anything" (featuring Usher and Pharrell, produced by Neptunes)
"Hollywood" (featuring Beyonce, produced by Scyience)
"Trouble" (produced by Dr. Dre)
"Dig a Hole" (featuring Sterling Simms, produced by Swizz Beatz)
"Minority Report" (featuring Ne-YO, produced by Dr. Dre)
"Beach Chair" (featuring Chris Martin, produced by Coldplay)

In other Jay-Z news, the rapper was sued by Bridgeport Music for violating copyright on Jay-Z's song "Justify My Thug." Bridgeport, which filed the suit in Manhattan Federal Court, claims the rapper unlawfully sampled music owned by the company. "Justify My Thug" appeared on The Black Album, Jay-Z's 2003 album.

Screen legend Walken playing the Prince of Darkness in biopic

Legendary actor Christopher Walken is already worshipped in music and comedy circles for his Saturday Night Live "more cowbell" skit. Now, Walken is set to play Ozzy Osbourne in a cameo appearance in The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band, which is based on Motley Crue's 2002 autobiographical book of the same name.

Motley Crue's Vince Neil revealed that Walken would play the Prince of Darkness in the film, a rundown of many of the band's wildest moments. David Lee Roth, formerly of Van Halen, will be played by Val Kilmer, Neil reportedly said. Castings for the Motley Crue crew--singer Neil, bassist Nikki Sixx, guitarist Mick Mars, and drummer Tommy Lee--have not been announced.

Johnny Marr debuts with Modest Mouse in Los Angeles

Indie rockers Modest Mouse called on Johnny Marr, formerly of The Smiths, to join the band earlier this year, and Marr performed with the band at a show in Los Angeles yesterday. Marr played lead guitar and joined Mouse singer Isacc Brock on "Float On," the band's breakout 2004 hit, and new tune "Fire It Up," according to Rolling Stone. Other new songs performed include "We've Got Everything," "Missed the Boat," "Dashboard," and "Invisible in Your Car."

Modest Mouse's next album, titled We Were Dead Even Before the Ship Sank, was cowritten with Marr, who has been "a full-blown member of" Modest Mouse at least since August, frontman Brock told NME.com. We Were Dead is scheduled for release in "early" 2007, according to Modest Mouse's Web site.

Modest Mouse, currently amid a short US tour, is playing again tonight and November 9 at The Grove of Anaheim in Los Angeles before heading to Miami for one concert and New York for five.