Brandon Flowers has never been one to bite his tongue when it comes to making bold declarations in interviews. In the lead-up to the release of The Desired Effect alone, he sounded off on Kanye West, and said that the last Killers album was not up to par. That last admission doesn’t really track with what he told The Independent in a new profile recently:

Whether the people want to accept it or not, we might be the best band in the last long time! […] I’d go up any night against just about any band that’s come out in the last 15 years. Not that it’s a competition, but I do feel sometimes people don’t have a grasp on what we’ve accomplished and what we’ve acquired. Everyone should come see The Killers! We’re more than just a New Wave revival thing.

While I agree that the Killers are probably unfairly maligned by a certain segment of the music-listening population, that’s a pretty big statement to make, especially considering Flowers thought one-fourth of the band’s discography “wasn’t good enough.” But more power to him! It’s clear that he wants to get the old band back together again after a long hiatus, and maybe this is is way of reinvigorating the other three members of the band that always seemed a little reluctant to go along for the ride. Either way, at least Flowers has a promising solo career to fall back on.

What bands that have come out in the past 15 years are better than the Killers?