Hot Fuss

The Killers

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 15, 2004)
• Original Release Date: June 15, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B0002858YS
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (617 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #882 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #18 in	Music > Pop > New Wave
  #19 in	Music > Alternative Rock > New Wave & Post-Punk
  #59 in	Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Indie Rock

Editorial Reviews

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

Product 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.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

383 of 414 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hello Mr. Brightside, We've Been Waiting For You., December 11, 2004

By	Jason Stein (Chula Vista, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quality retro continues, this time 80s style..., July 10, 2004

By	Samurai Elias (Bryn Mawr, PA) - See all my reviews

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.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect CD, February 3, 2006

By	Laura J "lj2585" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Don't buy this CD if you are going to analyze, compare, try-to-guess-the-influence or whatever it to death! If you have some "I owe my allegiance to" such-and-such band, or such-and-such style or period, or whatever, and can't resist trying to figure out how it fits into your version of the way "music" or "punk" or "rock" or whatever should be, then don't buy it. On the other hand, if you just like music...all kinds of music, just put in in your player, and listen. It's perfect.