by Killers, The Killers List Price:$13.00 Our Price:$10.00 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Product Details
Media: Audio CD
Release Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Label: Island
Average Customer Review: 4 Based on 410 reviews.
Sales Rank: 19
Tracks
1.
Smile Like You Mean It
2.
Somebody Told Me
3.
On Top
4.
Mr. Brightside
5.
Midnight Show
6.
Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
7.
Everything Will Be Alright
8.
Change Your Mind
9.
Believe Me Natalie
10.
Andy, You're A Star
11.
All These Things That I've Done
Editorial Review
The Killers match postpunk guitars with a synthesizer overlay that recalls '80s New Wave without burying their sound in nostalgia. On their debut, Hot Fuss, frontman Brandon Flowers plumbs his imagination for tales of murdered lovers ("Jenny Was a Friend of Mine," "Midnight Show"), voyeurism ("Mr. Brightside"), and sexual confusion (the single "Somebody Told Me"), Flowers and his mates are obviously canny students; the total effect is of a playacted obsession, but one made irresistible by their skillful, catchy songs. If there's an occasional misstep (the painfully earnest line "I got soul but I'm not a soldier" from "All These Things That I've Done"), it seems of a piece with the Killers' influences. As it is, Hot Fuss is one of several recent releases that bring a diverting faux glamour to the mainstream rock scene. --Rickey Wright
Top Customer Reviews
Rating:
1 No Excuse In This Day and Age
I bought this album based on the catchy first single "Somebody Told Me." While this song is good, and some of the others have potential, there is no excuse for the piss poor recording quality of this album! The songs are all mid-range, with bass that cuts in and out sporadically. Not even a show-quality car stereo with MB Quarts and a manual equalizer could adjust the poor sound quality. It annoys me even to listen to it. Def Jam and Universal should be much more aware of what their label is producing, and filter out crap like this. The band is good, but I don't want to listen to this album. If listening to warped 8 tracks in monotone is your thing, then you'll enjoy this album. Otherwise, save your money until the producers can be bothered to spend more than 5 minutes on a song.
Rating:
3 The fuss about Hot Fuss
After hearing the bassline to the opener 'Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine' and the uncanny resemblance to 'Barbarism Begins At Home' by The Smiths, the direction this CD was going to take was already obvious. 'Hot Fuss' by The Killers is taking it's place on the mantle as this years music-press darlings, following in the footsteps of The Strokes and The Darkness, filling the void of the repackaged 'old sound come back again'. The sound is prototypical of the period between late 70's post-punk and early 80's indie/New Wave, influences ranging from Joy Division and The Cure to Modern English and The Psychadelic Furs. Very much in the same vein as Interpol, brooding melodies and brash post-punk riffs, perhaps the only difference being that 'Hot Fuss' has more futuristic sounding synths, eg, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Human League. If anything, this album will appeal to those who were either too young to recognize the recycled retro-sound or have a limited listening vocabulary, but I think it's about time we move-on to something new and fresh. Chances are The Killers will soon be gracing the front pages of music magazines, this years overhyped saviours, overexposed and adored. But I can find the exact same 'indie rock meets bleak synth sound' in many cassettes I threw away a decade or two ago, and there's a reason why I threw them away. I don't wish to undermine those who like (and might potentially like) this album, because there is some degree of talent, creativity and musical prowess. Older sounds will always hold some appeal with a newer audience, but enjoy The Killers while you can, because soon their 15 minutes will be up.
Rating:
5 Strangely Addicting
The Killers opened up for Stellastarr, and I became intrigued in their sound. It was definitely an 80's revivalist type of noise. To me it was like indie rock with a synthpoppy edge taking shape here and there, giving the sound a real dynamic feel. The sound quality in the building wasnt something to brag about, but the live set sounded quite vibrant and powerful. The lead singer's voice seemed like a Robert Smith/Butch Walker mix, and fortunately I enjoy both those artists, so I enjoyed listening. It ended up being one of the best opening acts I had ever seen. So of course I wait until the album hits stores. It retains much of the energy of the live show. The vocals sound very strong, as do the keys and synths, though sometimes they seem to overshadow all the other instruments. Track I really get into are "Jenny was a Friend of Mine", "Smile Like you Mean It", the single "Somebody Told Me", "All These Things That Ive Done", "On Top", and "Mr Brightside", which is my personal favorite. The last third or so of the record isnt quite as good as the first parts, but overall this new band's new album is pretty enjoyable. I really like listening to it driving on a sunny day. And its cheap, so why not take the risk?
Rating:
5 It's Hot with nothing to Fuss about
This is the album of the year. I'm not the first to say it and I won't be the last. Yes, it's better than Franz Ferdinand, Modest Mouse and even The Strokes (from last year). The Killers bring something new to the table. They are like the band left behind during the new wave 80's era and are just now showing up. But they are showing up with their own mix of keyboards AND guitars. Sounds like an odd combination until you listen to this album. It's as if The Sounds and The Strokes are out on a date and they get jumped by The Killers. This is hard for me to say being a dubious Strokes fan, but I know when to set my bias' aside and congratulate a newer, better band. Brandon Flowers, the lead singer, has one of those voices you will clearly recognize and find irresistable. The combination of instrumentation the Killers use will get inside your blood, in your brain, in your soul and next thing you know you are chanting "I got soul but I'm not a soldier!" (Song 5-All These Things I've Done) I could sit here and tell you what the album's highlight songs are but the truth is, the entire album is one big highlight. My personal favorite is Andy You're a Star. The opening guitar riff followed by lyrics like "Hey Shut up, hey Shut up, Yeah" is impossible not to like. As Mr. Flowers boasts on the song "On Top", "It's just a shimmy and a shake, I can't fake it, we're on top." Right you are fellas, right you are. And what are you doing still reading this? This is one you need to be in on before the masses join in.
Rating:
5 melancholic melodies making it bittersweet
After listening to "Mr. Brightside" and "Somebody Told Me" I got hooked, that is with a little help from folks who fancied Franz Ferdinand. These guys, Brandon Flowers(Vox,Synthz), Mark Stoermer(bass), Dave Keunin(guitar), and Ronnie Vannucci(drums) have absolutely brilliant melodies from the meloncholic music and in depth lyrics. The Album kicks off with "Jenny Was A Friend of Mine" as Brandon Flowers voice blisters into your ears and this is when the keyboard/synthesizer is first heard. The first track, quite different from the following "Mr. Brightside", gets hold of the listener and wants to hear more. Throughout the album the powerful strums of the bass and synthesizer, absolutely separates their music from other bands-being their strongest element. In my opinion, these guys got a good thing going if not fantastic music career ahead. If you fancy Franz Ferdinand, The Cure, The Clash, and even the Strokes- as I do, you'll like them as well.But I love many bands and the Killers are one of them. So Believe the hype- The Killers are here to impress and will continue to do so.
Rating:
4 Possibly the Freshest Sound Around Right Now
On their new album, The Killers put out a great album filled with 80's influences. From David Bowie to Duran Duran and Depeche Mode, The Killers blend all of their influences with just the lighest sprinkle of indie-pop the make one of the freshest sounding albums of the year. Full of synth-laden hooks and pulsing dance beats, the album breathes like no other current CD. There's feel good songs like the current single, "Somebody Told Me," as well as displays of real songwriting in "Mr. Brightside" and "All These Things That I've Done." The album does have some slower-moving parts, such as "Andy You're a Star" and "Indie Rock and Roll," but they don't seem to bog down the flow of the album too much. The production quality is great, with open guitars, slamming drums, and echoey vocals. Its something you'd expect from the British underground music scene, not the Las Vegas desert. However, when The Killers come out to play, they won't leave anyone alive.
Rating:
4 Quality retro continues, this time 80s style...
To the list of bands in the last few years that sound blatantly retro and are quite good at it (the Strokes, Interpol, the Darkness, Franz Ferdinand, etc), add the Killers to the list... Hot Fuss is a fantastic debut cd that updates 80s music and toughens it up for modern times. The first single, Somebody told Me, reminds me a lot (at least lyrically if nothing else) of the catchiness of Blur's Boys and Girls. In a lot of ways this band is like a more-fun version of the Stills (who I also love), even though lyrically the music can often be quite dark. There are a ton of stand-out tracks here, beginning with the first one, which is one of the best. My other favorites are two, three, four, and seven, although honestly even the worst tracks here are worth listening to.One interesting note... a lot of people I have played this for assume that this band is British. Not so... with the Darkness and Franz Ferdinand stealing some thunder from the Strokes and the Stripes, score this as a win in USA's column.A debut album thats catchy, lyrically meaningful, musically dense, and non-cheesily retro (even with synths involved)... what can I say, except that I can't wait for the follow-up album.
Rating:
5 AWESOME
I was looking for some good bands...and I ended up in amazon for some reason. Then I finnaly found the killers. But I couldln't preview the songs. So I found a web site where I heard THE WHOLE ALBUM!!! It was sooo amazing! I was literaly lifted off the ground!! I fell in love!!, I bought (actually ordered) yeah yeah yeahs, the Strokes, Von Bondies and Franz Ferdidand. Then I finnaly ordered the Killers. Out of all of those CDs I can't wait till I get the Killers!!! I'm addicted...They're awesome..Its something new about them..that no other band has adchived so far (well not counting the bands I ordered CDs from)I just don't listen to plain rock its boring for me.. And if you're my kind of person and your music has to be fun, different, and exiting you should deffiniatly buy this CD
Rating:
3 One star for each song I like
I like the first 3 songs, but the rest don't offer anything different - the CD gets pretty repetitive after a couple of times through.
Rating:
4 A stylishly fun album
The first time I heard "Hot Fuss," I must admit I was more than a little scared to hear such blatant '80s influences--the 1980s was not exactly my favorite era in music. After a few listens, however, I realized that The Killers were smart enough to take inspiration from only the best '80s New Wave bands, and keep these New Wave touches light enough to augment--not overpower--their own sound. "Hot Fuss" turned out to be one of the most exciting albums I'd heard all year.True, I wouldn't call "Hot Fuss" a lyrical masterpiece, but what the album lacks in lyrical power, it more than makes up for in catchiness and pure rock power. The first single, "Somebody Told Me," showcases this perfectly; it is a song that slides into your head and almost forces you to dance around. But I don't want to reduce The Killers to mere fluffy enjoyment; there are moments on the album that really hint at the band's possibilities. The Killer's strongest point is their ability to set such a strong mood in practically every song. "Andy, You're A Star" has an incredibly unique, almost sinister sound, and in "All These Things That I've Done," you can sense the pull of change. Indeed, very few albums have made me *feel* the songs to such a degree.I'd recommend "Hot Fuss" to most rock fans. If you enjoyed the singles you've heard, there is a good chance you'll enjoy--if not love--this album, since it is fairly consistent throughout. Ultimately, even though "Hot Fuss" may not be the most innovative or philosophical album of the year, and even though I tend to relentlessly search for deeper meaning, this album reminded me that sometimes it's nice to have fun and enjoy a record on a purely sensory level, and "Hot Fuss" is the perfect album in that regard.
Rating:
5 Glamerous very Glamerous
The Killers debut album "Hot Fuss" is one of the best CDs i've every heard. All of thier songs are modern but have an 80's spin, which i can see why most adults like them. I don't really understand why the killers are not as popular here, in America, as they are in England. The Killers are one very talented group and are very glamerous live as well. Anyone who has not bought Hot Fuss, should really think of looking into it. This is one great album that in the future will be hard to stumble across again.
