John Tesh takes in "Love" at The Mirage. Criss Angel arrives at show in style. Lance Burton taps the keg at Hofbrauhaus.

New York critics weren't kind to The Killers.

Their high from a "Saturday Night Live" appearance was short-lived.

The New York Times panned their new CD, "Sam's Town," calling it "a classic case of a young band overreaching to assert its significance."

Times critic Sia Michel described the album, which is being released today, as "painful" and characterized The Killers as "a talented band that evolved too fast, for the wrong reasons."

They scored a three on a scale of one to five from the New York Post's Dan Aquilante.

"As a concept record, 'Sam's Town' isn't as crystalline as 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' or as well-plotted as The Who's 'Tommy.' But it's still a very ambitious piece, and for that you have to give the Killers credit."

Glenn Gamboa of Newsday gave 'em a C-plus, saying, "The Killers do themselves (and their songs) a disservice by trying to be something they're not. 'Fake it 'til you make it' may work in business, but in music, it only makes you look pompous and silly."

Martin Edlund of the New York Sun wrote: "The Killers certainly haven't made one of the best albums in the last 20 years, but rather a survey of such albums.

"Still, they deserve credit for trying. And they've earned the right to be taken seriously."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Siegfried & Roy will be honored today during a Walk of Stars ceremony at 2 p.m. in front of their statue along the exterior walkway of The Mirage. The induction comes on Roy's 62nd birthday and the third anniversary of the near-fatal tiger attack. ...

Erika Avila, an 18-year-old singer and dancer from Sierra Vista High School, will perform at Andre Agassi's Grand Slam for Children on Saturday as the winner of the Grand Slam to Stardom amateur competition. She was selected by Grammy Award-winning producer and composer David Foster, after Avila and semifinalists J.T. Aguirre, 25, and Josh Keating, 15, worked with Foster, the event's musical director, at his Los Angeles recording studio.

SIGHTINGS

Barbara Walters, dining with screenwriters Nora Ephron ("When Harry Met Sally") and Nicholas Pileggi ( "Casino") on Sunday, at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (Forum Shops at Caesars). ... At "Love" (Mirage) over the weekend: Shirley MacLaine, Jenna Elfman, being serenaded with "Happy Birthday" by the cast, Shanna Moakler of "Dancing with the Stars," John Tesh, Barbara Walters, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Nora Ephron in attendance together. ... Former major league pitcher Scott Erickson and his Playmate-sportscaster wife, Lisa Guerrero, reserving a condo at the W on Saturday. ... Illusionist Criss Angel, arriving at the Amazing Jonathan show (Sahara) on Sunday in his new black Lamborghini, with the dealer plates still on. ... Lance Burton, tapping the keg at the Hofbrauhaus as honorary mayor on Sunday.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Congress passed a law allowing teachers to strip-search students. What could possibly go wrong there?" -- Jay Leno

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