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From the first listen, it is obvious the Killers’ 2004 full-length debut Hot
Fuss was influenced heavily by eighties synth-pop. What’s odd is that most
of the songs don’t actually sound like any music I heard in the eighties. The
band combines catchy synth melodies with strong guitar riffs to provide several
great songs and a few good ones. The album’s first major hit, “Somebody Told
Me”, is probably the second-most retro song on the album – next to the
unmistakably Duran Duran-ish “Midnight Show” – but neither song represents the
band’s sound very well.
The first half of the disc is award-worthy with the aforementioned radio hit
along with the second single, the superb “Mr. Brightside”. “Jenny Was A Friend
Of Mine” is about a murder told from the suspect’s point of view and it
prominently displays lead singer Brandon Flowers’ strong lyrical skills. The
Killers were formed in 2002 in Las Vegas and it’s obvious that Flowers drives
the band – after all, he is the only Killer given writing credit for every song
on the album. “Smile Like You Mean It” is solid but not spectacular. Rounding
out the front half is the infectious “All These Things That I’ve Done” (with
arguably the catchiest lyric of 2004: “I’ve Got Soul/But I’m Not A Soldier”)
that proves that the band isn’t afraid to dive into a little gospel every so
often. The band stumbles a bit on the second half of the disc – none of the
songs stand out like the gems on the first half, although “Everything Will Be
Alright” is a cool little ballad that nicely rounds out the disc.
Probably the most curious thing is the absence of the truly amazing B-side “Who
Let You Go” (find it immediately on iTunes). Had they included this and other
great B-sides like “Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll” and “The Ballad Of Michael
Valentine” on Hot Fuss, the Killers would have already cemented their
place in history with the album of the year and one of the best debuts of all
time. Instead, they are left with a solid album that doubles as a good first
effort – no more and no less.
For you downloaders, try this tracklist instead:
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. Who Let You Go
8. Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll
9. The Ballad Of Michael Valentine
10. Under The Gun
11. Midnight Show
12. Everything Will Be Alright
~John Paulsen
jpaulsen@bullz-eye.com
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