Tony Curtis says royal treatment was part of France trip. Elton John's life to be detailed in "Rocket Man." Jason Alexander in town for filming of improvisational film. Brandon Flowers "excited" about album.

The Killers' brash frontman, Brandon Flowers, has raised sky-high expectations for the band's new album.

Maybe too high, according to critics.

He recently told MTV that the Las Vegas band's follow-up to the 2004 "Hot Fuss" is "one of the best albums in the past 20 years."

"There's nothing that touches this album," he said. "And that sounds like I'm being cocky, but I'm just so excited."

Flowers makes no secret that the album, recorded at the Palms' studios and titled "Sam's Town," is heavily influenced by Bruce Springsteen.

It is scheduled out in September, but the single "When We Were Young" has been showing up on music Web sites worldwide.

The group's new sound is getting mixed reviews.

"He's battling Bon Jovi for the worst Springsteen rip-off," wrote a blogger on stereogum.com.

"The Killers' revamp of their image," wrote another, "is a bad idea but this song is fantastic."

You can hear it at:www.pitchforkmedia.com/ page/track_reviews/page_2

TONY C SALUTED

Local treasure Tony Curtis is back from the French Riviera, after picking up a lifetime achievement award in Nice.

By chance, I was in Nice at the same time as Tony, and we chatted by telephone. However, his event was two days off, and I regrettably had to hit the road for Italy.

Curtis, 81, was treated and greeted like royalty, he told me by telephone on Wednesday.

About 3,000 fans showed up to see him honored at an event that included a showing of his cross-dressing classic, "Some Like It Hot," co-starring Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon.

He was deeply touched, he said, by the standing ovations he received upon entering two Nice restaurants.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

I picked up this fashion nugget while visiting the Crazy Horse Saloon in Paris last week: Designer Jean-Paul Gauthier, the man who came up with Madonna's iconic cone bustier for her 1990 "Blond Ambition" tour, has become such a fan of the Crazy Horse troupe that he's creating new costumes for the franchise, which includes "La Femme" at the MGM Grand. Costumes? There's not more than a square yard of fabric in the show. ...

Film producer David Furnish, who married Elton John late last year, is working on "Rocket Man," a documentary on John's life. No word on whether it will include the Vegas years. ...

Bruce Ewing, who left "Forever Plaid" after 12 years to join "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular," is in good health after having a stent placed in his heart Monday. Ewing, 44, is already home from the hospital. Drop in at his ReJavaNate Coffee Lounge, 3300 E. Flamingo Road, and wish him well. ...

A hometown boy will be performing in the 25th anniversary performance of "Cats" during its July 27-30 engagement at the Aladdin Theater. Nick McGough grew up here and performed last year on the Fox series "So You Think You Can Dance."

SIGHTINGS

Jason Alexander of "Seinfeld" and Hank Azaria, dining with friends at Fix (Bellagio) on Tuesday. Alexander is in town to film "The Grand," an improvisational comedy that follows a group of celebrity poker players as they play in an actual poker tournament. ... Baseball Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry, with friends at Eiffel Tower restaurant (Paris) on Wednesday. Jack Nicholson, in town Monday to see "Love" (The Mirage).

THE PUNCH LINE

"A lot of military experts are wondering how the U.S. can stop Israel from getting bombed. Israel? We can't even stop Pete Coors from getting bombed." -- Jay Leno

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.