Hot Fuss - Dark Publications

Location: Home » music » General » Hot Fuss

Similar Items:

•	Sam's Town
•	Sawdust
•	Day & Age
•	Viva La Vida
•	Franz Ferdinand

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
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.

Amazon.com
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

Customer Reviews: Read 608 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Hello Mr. Brightside, We've Been Waiting For You. December 11, 2004
379 out of 410 found this review helpful

There are several thoughts that run through my mind regarding the debut album from The Killers. One thing is that it's about time the punk/new wave movement from the late 70's/early 80's got recycled. I'm sure there are others around my age (32) that miss this type of music since we experienced it first hand. The influences are apparent on "Hot Fuss"--The Cars, The Cure, The Smiths, The Church, The Cult, Joy Division, Depeche Mode, New Order, Bauhaus, Oasis, Blur, etc. But this is a good thing, because I'm tired of streamlined rap/hip-hop, grunge rock wannabes, and over-slick production on most top 40 songs in the past eight years. Maybe teenagers will now understand the value of depressive, melancholy and angry music like it was meant to be heard. I don't mind the derivativeness of The Killers if it means that a new generation will be turned on to this genre of music.

As for the music, well it's exactly what I hoped for after hearing "Somebody Told Me". Despite other reviews, I think this is an energetic and inspiring entry into this genre of music. 11 tracks clocking in at 45 minutes is just perfect, and all the songs fit together nicely with not one track being conspicuously weaker than the others.

If you find yourself interested in The Killers, go back and listen to the original new wave artists I mentioned above. You can also look into the second generation such as Coldplay, White Stripes, Keane, Snow Patrol, Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, The Music, The Postal Service, Jet, The Strokes, Dogs Die In Hot Cars, Kaiser Chiefs, Louis XIV, The Futureheads, Bloc Party, Caesars and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

If you're looking for something new, you could do worse in 2004/2005, than buying The Killers' debut album "Hot Fuss". Check it out.

4 out of 5 stars

He's right, similar to Ferdinand, only I like it January 4, 2005
82 out of 122 found this review helpful

The Killers, like Franz Ferdinand, has also come out with a really strong and good debut. Sure, there is a bit of a formulaic approach to it, but only with some of the songs.

Most of them stand out on there own though such as "Somebody Told Me", there first radio hit. Now "Mr. Brightside" may seem a bit cliche but it's still good. My personal favorite is "Andy You're A Star." This song seems a bit ostentatious at first, but the chorus mellows it down a lot, and it becomes more than just mildly pleasing by the end.

I'm not saying they're the greatest, but they are pretty good. (Maybe it's the fact that they sound European but are from Las Vegas)

3 out of 5 stars

Worth the Fuss September 20, 2004
34 out of 42 found this review helpful

Neo-retro.

Nu wave.

Call it whatever you want, but it's not only happening-it's growing steadily. The trick for a band in going with an obviously derivative sound is to not come off like talent less, rip-off hacks or as straight up poseurs. See also: Orgy who thought they could ride a singer with Goo Goo Doll looks, throw on some eye makeup for the gratuitous 80s homage and a belt out a lite metal cover of a New Order song. Airplay for a stretch, sure. But a band to take seriously? Come on.

That's nothing like the current 80s revisionist scene that is burgeoning. Interpol does their own phenomenal take on Joy Division and The Smiths in the same way that the Yeah Yeahs Yeahs recalls Siouxsie and The Pretenders. And then there is The Rapture, who makes no attempt to disguise their adoration for The Cure and P.I.L. They all need to make room for another member for the club.

The Killers make their bold entrance to the ring, and perhaps into your living room via MTV spins of "Somebody Told Me," their fantastic first single for debut effort, Hot Fuss. It's really just updated 80s dance/rock that would make Billy Idol and The Cars proud, but would sound just as good right next to Franz Ferdinand.

With thumping bass lines at the forefront, power drums crashing at every turn, huge synths blazing under frantic vocals, I had a surprisingly hard time pinning down a band I could compare them closest to. Frankie Goes to Hollywood? Sure, somewhat. Blur? A little, I guess. After a few more turns it finally hit me. For all of their 80s nostalgia, The Killers have a decidedly glam rock sound that is a good deal like Suede from the early 90s.

The standout track on Hot Fuss is "Mr. Brightside," which takes self-destructive, jealous paranoia way beyond the most gut wrenching Wedding Present song. Singer Bandon Flowers appears to be on the verge of a breakdown during his play-by-play of a mythical infidelity:

"Now I'm falling asleep / and she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke / and she's tacking a drag
Now they're going to bed /and my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head / But she's touching his chest now
He takes off her dress now...letting me go"

"Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" is a galloping opener, "All These Things That I've Done" could be the Doves and has a strangely infectious anthem-like chorus of, "I've got soul / but I'm not a soldier." The haunted stab and weave in "Andy You're a Star" is yearning and somber, while the Casio keyboards kick in full tilt with "On Top."

The disc is frontloaded with the best songs, and the tempo is UP for the majority of it, but they do their best Pulp impersonation for the slow jam-carnival ride-of-hope conclusion of "Everything Will Be All Right."

The Killers have passed the initial test with their first nu wave effort, the trick now is to remain viable in an ever changing musical landscape. It certainly seems like they have the stuff to make it happen, if not-they'll be fun while they last.

1 out of 5 stars

All these guys kill are brain cells August 31, 2005
32 out of 90 found this review helpful

Good God, does anyone know how these trolls got popular? I try not to write negative reviews too often since I know music is subjective and all, but in the Killers' case I'll make an exception. I think these guys have to be as good a candidate as any for 2005's award for the annoying pop/rock band that inexplicably achieves massive popularity with its debut album (maybe we can call it the Maroon 5 award). Seriously, these guys are so unoriginal and forgettable they make Interpol sound like the Clash circa London Calling by comparison. What's especially irritating about the Killers is that they specialize in the kind of sleek, overproduced songs that you know are incredibly stupid but get stuck in your head anyway, so I wind up with these ghastly tunes bouncing around my brain for days until I finally end up playing some Meshuggah and blasting them out. Is there a stupider lyric in history than "Somebody told me that you had a boyrfriend who looked like a girlfriend that I had in February of last year." WHAT? Is that supposed to be clever? God, I don't even know anymore. Anyway, I've had the misfortune of hearing this album in its entirety, and I can safely say that it's one of the 21st century's greatest atrocities thus far. Beneficiaries of the herd mentality at its worst, the Killers thoroughly deserve the opprobrium of all music fans.

5 out of 5 stars

What's the fuss about? Hot Fuss baby!!! October 26, 2004
23 out of 27 found this review helpful

What more can be said about the Killers that hasn't already been said? This group from LV has really caught my ear, something that no new artist has managed to do since, the now no more, Big Wreck.

I first heard this band in my car on a battle of the bands show on my local radio station. I enjoyed what I heard so I called and threw them my vote. Ironically it turned out I was the only one who voted for them. However things quickly changed as their first hit "Somebody Told Me" become one of the most requested songs ever. Recently their second single "Mr. Brightside" had it's day on the battle of the bands, only it's fate would be much different. It has now been just over a week and The Killers with Mr. Brightside are still the band to beat.

The best thing about this band is that their first single "Somebody Told Me" isn't even the best track on the album. The entire album is great so it's a must listen. If you get the chance check out the UK release of the same album for the single "Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll" I love this tune it's got power vocals and some great music to go with it.

Last but not least, if you haven't seen the Killers in concert, check them out. I saw them in Ottawa, Canada a few weeks ago and it was one of the best shows I have ever been to.

Powered by Associate-O-Matic