Track Listing

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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #879 in Music
• Released on: 2004-06-15
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Hot Fuss features eleven nuggets of reel-you-in storytelling genius and musical nectar. These eleven tracks span from the "very Vegas – like Ziggy came to town" first proper single release "Somebody Told Me";"Mr Brightside" - a tale of jealousy that depicts that moment in a relationship when you realize that your other half might be playing away and this thought takes up residence in your psyche feeding the worst fears and visualisations your imagination can then throw at you. You’ll find two-thirds of a murder trilogy in "Midnight Show", which starts off harking back to "Lipgloss" before veering into far darker territory than old Jarvis would ever have flirted with, in Pulp days at least, and "Jenny". These two are connected by the story of a murder of a girl by her jealous boyfriend. The first part of the trilogy, "Leave The Bourbon On The Shelf", will, you can be sure, make an appearance at some point in the future. It’s a deliciously ambitious series that! belies the band’s tender years. Elsewhere, meanwhile: "On Top" celebrates where Brandon feels the band is at, while stalker’s tale "Andy You’re A Star" and "All These Things That I’ve Done," saw Flowers realise his dream of using a gospel choir in their recordings.

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

About the Artist
Brandon Flowers (yes, it is his real name) had been dumped by his one previous group, a synth-pop outfit named Blush Response, when he refused to move with the rest of the band to L.A. Cruelly ditched, but inspired by seeing Oasis play, he saw that his life needed more guitars. When he clocked Dave Keuning’s small ad in a local paper naming that band as an influence – and what with Oasis not exactly factoring in the pasty Vegas music scene – he took it as fate that they should be together. Brandon and Dave met Ronnie Vannucci, a photographer at the Little Chapel of Flowers and student of classical percussion at UNLV, and Mark Stoermer, who was making ends meet as a medical courier (blood, urine, the odd body part – all glamour). In between these couldn’t-make-it-up day-jobs (Brandon, for the record, was a bellhop at the Gold Coast Hotel; whilst Dave garnered valuable training for his current all-the-ladies-love-an-axeman dilemmas whilst enjoying trysts with lady-shoppers at his Banana Republic job) the newly-complete Killers set to writing what we can assuredly state to be one of the most exciting debut albums you’ll have heard in a very, very long time. The band came to the attention of London-based independent label Lizard King, and they made their way over to the UK for their first ever gigs outside of Las Vegas and a limited edition release of "Mr Brightside" in September 2003. Those lucky enough to catch these first London shows came away pretty much unanimously enamoured ("A head-mashingly brilliant arsenal of tunes… Right now few bands are a safer bet than The Killers", glowed NME), while the group’s subsequent appearance at New York industry fiesta CMJ in October saw a swarm-sized buzz surround the band and a worldwide (ex-UK) deal inked with Island Records.

Customer Reviews

Hello Mr. Brightside, We've Been Waiting For You.
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.

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.

What's the fuss about? Hot Fuss baby!!!
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.