The Killers - Hot Fuss
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Music CD Cover
Artist: The KillersEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2004-06-15
Music Label: Island
Product features:
- KILLERS THE HOT FUSS
- Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
- Mr. Brightside
- Smile Like You Mean It
- Somebody Told Me
- All These Things That I've Done
- Andy, You're A Star
- On Top
- Change Your Mind
- Believe Me Natalie
- Midnight Show
- Everything Will Be Alright
Free Music Notes for Hot Fuss
Free Music Review: Superb Debut
Hit: 5 Stars
I'll be honest, I really thought that The Killers would be a one hit wonder. Their first single, 'Somebody Told Me', was insanely catchy, which was already a bad sign. I listened to the album at my local music store about a week after its release and really liked it, so I obviously bought it. I knew I liked the album, but still had a sinking feeling that no one else would and that The Killers would sink into one-hit-wonder-oblivion. Thankfully, 'Mr. Brightside' was released as a single soon after and became insanely popular. So now most people are sick of 'Mr. Brightside', but at least it's doubtful that The Killers won't soon disappear.
'Hot Fuss' starts out strong with 'Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine'. The song is about the murder of a woman named (surprise!) Jenny, but isn't as dark as you'd suspect. The sounds of an overhead search party at the beginning of the track were a great way to start out the song as well as the CD. Brandon Flowers' desperate pleas of innocence are fabulous, and surprisingly/frighteningly believeable. I really like this track and think it's a great opener for the album. 'Mr. Brightside' comes in next, and is among the best on the album. I don't know about anyone else, but where I am, the song was so ridiculously overplayed it's not even funny. However, I still don't find myself skipping it, which is a very good sign. The video is also amazing; done in a 'Moulin Rouge' theme, it's visually stunning and suits the song surprisingly well. 'Smile Like You Mean It' seems to be a favourite among friends of mine, but I just can't see it. I do like the song, but I think there are far better tracks on the album overall. It starts out slowly, then gradually builds up before the lyrics start. This track doesn't have a great beat, which is its main downfall. It relies far too much on lyrics, which is unfortunate because that seems to be the band's biggest fault. I'll say it now; don't get this album if you're looking for amazing lyrics, get it if you're looking for catchy melodies.
'Somebody Told Me' was the first single to drop from 'Hot Fuss' and I absolutely love it. It adds a modern twist to a retro idea, and the result is awesome. What The Killers produce is a fun, upbeat, danceable track that you just can't seem to get out of you're head once it's crawled in there. This is what music should be: fun. The album slows down quite a bit for 'All These Things That I've Done'. The beginning features Flowers singing and the simple sounds of a synthesizer, then the drums start up and the song really takes off. The lyrics are repetitive, but not to a point that leaves listeners annoyed. The climax is reached when all of the instruments except for drums are cut out and the lines "I got soul, but I'm not a soldier" are repeated until all the instruments have begun again and the fellow members of the band are singing along. 'Andy, You're A Star' is my favourite track from the album. It starts out with just a catchy electric guitar before breaking out with a synthesizer, drums, and then vocals. The opening is such that I could see where some people would find it pretentious, but it's the reason why I love the track so much. The lyrics are simple, which is good, because the dark, captivating melody is the main focus of this song.
'On Top' begins with just a synthesizer and what sounds like tambourines before the other instruments join in. This track is very good and it fits in well with the album, but it isn't a standout song. The lyrics are, once again, simple, but Flowers' vocals are smooth and fit very well with the music. My favourite part of the song comes with the lines "it's like a cigarette/in the mouth, or a/handshake in the doorway/I look at you, and smile because I'm fine". The ninth track on 'Hot Fuss' is 'Change Your Mind'. I find that this is a very lazy song, and leaves me thinking about slow summer days. I get the feeling that it's not meant to be heard as serious in any way. Although the lyrics seem to be slightly meaningful, the way that they're sung along with the music backing them up results in a fun and carefree song. 'Believe Me Natalie' is one of my personal favourites from the CD. It's midtempo, but has the attitude and the catchiness of an uptempo dance track. The simple, high school rhymes don't take themselves too seriously, which is endearing. They have fun with themselves and go well with the music. For example, "forget what they said in SoHo/leave the 'oh-no's out". Obviously not meaningful, but not necessarily bad in any way.
Nearing the end of the album, 'Midnight Show' opens with the same sort of bang as 'Somebody Told Me'. It's an uptempo (even though it's about killing a girlfriend) track. The vocals on this song are great as Flowers veers away from the same monotone (but not in a bad way) singing voice he maintained throughout the album. He reaches a couple of higher notes, and they sound great. They add a lot to the song and definitely don't sound goofy or out of place. Warning: this one will leave you bopping along in your seat. The album slows right down at the end with 'Everything Will Be Alright'. It starts out very much like 'On Top', but better. Though the lyrics still aren't deep or meaningful, they're at their best on this track. Simple, which suits the music very well, and Flowers' vocals really make the song unique and distinctive. This track possesses and almost dream-like, romantic quality, that leaves you feeling as though you're floating on air. It was a great way to close the album.
Overall, I'd recommend checking out The Killers' 'Hot Fuss' if you like catchy, retro beats. If you're the type of person who looks for deep and profound lyrics, you won't be pleased, so stay clear. If you want new wave to stay in the 80s, again, this is one to avoid (and so is Gwen Stefani's solo endeavor, as a side note). I'd recommend listening to this album before purchasing it, but overall, I think most people generally like it.
THE FINAL VERDICT: 90%
Hot Fuss Poster
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.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
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