The Killers' Brandon Flowers Is Putting Out 'Positive Vibrations' On Battle Born

There have been triumphant comeback shows, spirit-conjuring music videos and even a tip of the cap to Bernie Taupin, but so far, there's one thing that's been notably absent from the run-up to the Killers' new Battle Born album: frontman Brandon Flowers' opinions on, well, anything.

Yes, unlike in years past, when Flowers spouted off on bands like the Bravery and dropped bon mots like "this is one of the best albums of the past 20 years," he's so far refrained from making a single eyebrow-raising proclamation during the promo run for Born (due September 18) ... which, for him, is rather amazing.

So has he gone soft? Or, has a decade of success finally loosened the sizeable chip on his shoulder? Turns out, the answer lies somewhere in between: Having spent 10 years running his mouth, Flowers said he's now embracing the power of positivity; and though that may be bad news for salacious members of the media, it's a change that's done him — and his bandmates — a world of good.

"It's easier on the band, [and] it's so much nicer to put positive things out there, positive vibrations," Flowers told. "I just found myself regretting it ... I still carry it with me; I'll be brushing my teeth and I'll think 'God, I wish I wouldn't have said that about whoever I said anything about.' And then I'm trying to get my manager to get their phone numbers and sh--, so I can tell them I'm sorry.

"So I learned a big lesson, and now, I do kind of the opposite," he continued. "If I hear something I like, I try to get in touch with these people and tell them I like it. It's a lot more rewarding."

And that mindset carried over to the songs he wrote for Battle Born as well. For the first time, Flowers doesn't feel the need to take on the world; instead, he's content to simply create the kinds of songs he wants to hear. Call it complacency or confidence (or even maturity), but finally comfortable with his standing and status, Flowers is helping usher in a brand-new era for the band: Welcome to the kinder, gentler Killers.

"This album is a celebration ... now we're beyond all that worry, and now it's a celebration; this is what we are, we are from here, we're proud of it, this is the music that we like, here you go," he said. "It's a celebration of music, and the impact that it's had on us, and that we get to do this. I mean, it's a silly cliché to say, but it's a dream come true. It's a miracle to get to do this."