Killer Tunes (Hot Fuss - The Killers)

Member Name: basil40

Product:	Hot Fuss - The Killers
Date:	26/01/05 (673 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: 80's influence, U2-like guitar, Great vocals

Disadvantages: One duff track

The Killers are a Las Vegan four piece who plough a natty line in 80's-style synth rock, although this is their first album and was only released in June 2004.

The production of the debut album is quite raw. Their signature of monotone vocals and U2-style tuning fork guitars penetrate all their songs. Currently receiving great exposure on London's Xfm and national 1FM, this album was orignally released in June 2004. Expect a couple of re-released singles during 2005. This lot are going to be huge.

THE TRACKS
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1. Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
This track sets out the stall of this album perfectly. Big drums and an infuriatingly catchy chorus are the first ingredients evident here. Along with the Joy Division/Blancmange style vocals, it's big, bold and not a little like a mid-80s indie-pop track. Fabulous start.

2. Mr Brightside
This is the big hit to date, reaching number 10 in July 2004. It's a mid-paced thumper with a brilliant hooked chorus and the song that first brought them to the attention of the wider market outside of the fringes.

3. Smile Like You Mean It
Slow start to this epic track. The keyboards wheeze and wobble all over the place and the drums take you back to 1982 in an instant. The vocals are doomy and the guitars remind me of the Cult. The great thing about this tune is the title sounds like it should be happy, but the chorus is sung doomily.

4. Somebody Told Me
Grungey guitars start this track off before manic bass and wibbly synths come in. It sounds like early Duran Duran being fronted by Johnny Rotten with a cold. Ver, very New Romantic especially the disco-ey hi-hat and pause before the chorus. Pass the eye shadow.

5. All These Things That I’ve Done
There's some great 80's drumming on this as the guitars fiddle around in the background. Lots of "you know you know" vocals and a really catchy "help me out" chorus makes for the best track so far.

6. Andy, You’re A Star
This starts off with plodding guitar and the repeated line: "on the field I rem qember you were incredible/hey shut up, hey shut up/yeah" before the vocals go passionate whilst the guitar still plods and an occasional symbol says "hello". This is moody, controlled stuff and the vocals are at their most Joy Division-esque yet. The title is sung with a minute to go and that's when the drums come in for good and bass announces itself. Uplifting and unpredictable and way too short.

7. On Top
I've likened a lot of this album to the 80's purple patch of synth pop (ie about 1982). On Top starts off with some great Freeeez/Yazoo style synth before the indie leanings of the drums and piercing guitars kick in. Another verse/chorus/verse song, with a fabulous catchy hook. The vocals are rather Americanised here but the lyrics such as "I've found the velvet sun that shines on me and you" are sublime.

8. Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll
With plinky guitars and piano, we're brought right back up to date with this yearning track. It's mid-tempo and the vocals dominate throughout. Very rocky and total different to the rest of the album's new wave feel.

9. Believe Me Natalie
At just over five minutes this is an epic for The KIllers' standard of time. A sixty second synth intro nicked straight out of early New Order's bag of tricks starts things off before the song builds and builds into a crashing finale with vocals becoming ever more emotive and the washing synths becoming more layered and volumous. Cracking.

10. Midnight Show
An uptempo track aimed at the Franz Ferdinand fans, this one. A really thumping beat and U2-esque chiming guitars are the stars. The vocals are a bit more manic this time and the stop start chorus of "drive faster, drive faster!" coupled with passionate whoops and yodels is pure piss-take (I hope). Brilliant, hi-octane track.

11. Everything Will Be Alright
This starts off sounding like a cross between Portishead and Tears For Fears because it's so mellow and the vocals sound a little bit like Roland Orzabel singing down the phone whilst drunk. There are a couple of tempo changes and Beatlesey touches, but otherwise it's a chilled six minute with which to end the album.

GET THIS IF YOU LIKE THESE
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Ultravox: The Collection (1985)
Joy Division: Permanent (1995)
New Order: Power Corruption & Lies (1983)
Franz Ferdinand: Franz Ferdinand (2004)
Interpol: Antics (2004)
U2: The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
Hot Hot Heat: Bandages single (2002)

Thanks for reading.

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