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Actually, “You had me at the first note” is more appropriate. Why am I paraphrasing the tag line from Jerry McGuire? Well, because that movie and this album have one major thing in common. Both are all about relationships and the fact that – despite what men will say – it is not all about sex and themselves. A successful relationship with someone you love requires two essential acts: commitment and the subordination of ego and super-ego. Achieving that sort of maturity is not easy. Even for those perceptive enough to realize they must travel that road, the risk of ending up in the ditch is high. The Killers know this and it shows in their music which is rather remarkable in light of the relative chronological youth of keyboardist Brandon Flowers who did the bulk of the songwriting. While his three band mates are pushing past 30, Flowers is still in his mid 20s. The maturity of his lyrics implies a deep and clear understanding of what it takes to make a relationship work and what it takes to survive after one fails. Most of the songs on this album – I speak of the original Hot Fuss with 11 tracks; I’m planning to remedy that problem with the singles-enhanced version ASAP – are amazingly free of immature attitudes, emotions and phrasing. If there is a sour note it is ‘Andy, You’re a Star,’ which carries a bit of pretentiousness in words and melodies. And speaking of the music; be prepared for a joyful event. This album has some of the finest production I have heard in the last few years. Yes, the band is influenced by Brit bands, but no, it is not influenced by the negative side of DIY in which everything sounds like a demo! Instead, there is, by and large, a rich texture and atmosphere to virtually every song that – as good production values and exposition will do – draws the listener into not just the song, but the narrator’s soul as well. One cannot hope for more than this. That is why this album should be on everyone’s shelf.Read full review
If you love the '80s, you will love The Killers. That doesn't mean that the band's major label debut sounds dated. It's fresh. It's cutting. But it is also retro in the most flattering of ways, paying homage to many of the great artists of a happy-go-lucky era long gone by. You will undoubtedly feel the Tears for Fears influence on "All These things That I've Done" just as "On Top" has a refreshing Robert Smith aftertaste and I'll buy this CD back from you if "Believe Me Natalie" isn't channeling Morrissey. The most amazing thing about Hot Fuss is that it's a throwback CD that stands the test of time. These songs feel right on the radio today yet they could have also transcended through time and sounded great on vinyl in the 1980s. This is testament to the brilliance of a band that borrows it's name from a fictional band in a New Order video (yes, another influence that shines throughout the record, though mostly from a Joy Division perspective). Well-crafted songs with hooks aplenty and offbeat lyrics help hammer this vital CD home. It just works. The layered synth tones, that bring back hints of everything from Duran Duran to The Cars, never soften the brash guitar-driven melodies. It's a lot like what Linkin' Park or Stabbing Westward did to hard rock, The Killers is doing to new wave. Hot Fuss? Yes, there is truth in advertising.Read full review
So you've heard the Killers either all over the radio or MTV. You've heard Mr. Brightside and Somebody Told Me and you've probably loved them... But who are the Killers and should you get the album? The Killers are part 80s, part rock, and part punk. In sum, they are funky, new and super catchy. While pop music has been infiltrated by bubble gum bands and singers - the Killers, behind front man Brandon Flowers, produce emotional and energetic music that, at its core, is different. While so much of today's music is redundant and homogenous - The Killers introduce a new sound and new feel. The Killers aren't necessarily the best lyricists or vocalists in the world - but are certainly more than satisfactory. Purchase the album and enjoy - one of the gems of 2004. 1. Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine 2. Mr. Brightside 3. Smile Like You Mean It 4. Somebody Told Me 5. All These Things That I've Done 6. Andy, You're A Star 7. On Top 8. Change Your Mind 9. Believe Me Natalie 10. Midnight Show 11. Everything Will Be Alright You might also enjoy: Coldplay, White Stripes, Keane, Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, Jet, The Strokes, The Cars, The Cure, The Cult, Depeche Mode, New Order, Oasis or David BowieRead full review
ne year after the Killers' debut album "Hot Fuss" was released, it is now re-released as a "limited edition", with 3 additional tracks that have been available on various singles. "Hot Fuss Limited Edition" (14 tracks, 56 min.) brings the original 11 tracks first. By now, the first half of the album sounds like a "greatest hits" album, that's how familiar tunes like "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine", "Mr. Brightside", "Smile Like You Mean It" and "Somebody Told Me" now are. But the rest of the album is quite good as well, with tracks like "Andy You're a Star", "Change Your Mind" and "Everything Will Be Alright". The bonus tracks are quite good as well, in particular "Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll" (although the Killers by now are hardly indie). "The Ballad of Michael Valentine" is so-so, but "Under the Gun" is grade A quality and would have fitted nicely onto the album proper. This re-release is intended to tempt those on the fence that for whatever reason hadn't bought the album yet. Like me. I'm glad that I bought this. If on the other hand you're REALLY into the Killers, your probably have those additional tracks already.Read full review
I'm writing this review two years after I first heard The Killers. When I first heard The Killers I was 16, driving with the windows down all hair-in-the-wind -like. It was then that Mr. Brightside popped onto the station I was listening to, and 3 min and 47 sec later I was in love. I'm the type of person that listens to rock/classical/oldies/country/jazz/ska/rap/old movie themes/you name it. So maybe I like the killers because I like all music...or maybe because they really are something worth listening to. Brandon Flowers’s voice is enamoring, and I love the synthesizer/80's sound. The songs are extremely catchy, but not to the point of monotony. Every song is different, clean cut, and easy on the ears. Buy this CD, listen to the music and you won’t be let down. It's two years later and I am writing a music review when I should be studying for my astronomy test. Why am I not worried? Because Everything Will Be Alright, of course. 1. Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine 2. Mr. Brightside 3. Smile Like You Mean It 4. Somebody Told Me 5. All These Things That I've Done 6. Andy, You're A Star 7. On Top 8. Change Your Mind 9. Believe Me Natalie 10. Midnight Show 11. Everything Will Be AlrightRead full review
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