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 The Killers- Hot Fuss
To this very day I cannot understand why this album is perched on a lofty spot as my 6th favorite album of all time. Unlike every one of my top ten albums but one, Hot Fuss is not from my favorite era of music, the 90s. Its music style is quite different from the grunge and alternative genres that dominate my list of top 50 albums. It’s not even terribly unique or revolutionary, as it borrows heavily from New Order, The Cure, Ultravox and other notable bands of the new wave movement. Furthermore, it’s not one of the more cohesive albums, nor is it overly diverse- in fact many of the songs sound quite similar. Lastly, Brandon Flowers, the lead singer is a very contemptible, arrogant, and self righteous jerk. Somehow, all of these red flags tend to melt away with the familiar helicopter sound effects (think Oasis' Morning Glory) of album opener "Jenny was a Friend." By the time you reach track three or four, you cannot help but wonder if you are listening to one of those albums that single handedly changes music forever.
From top to bottom this is pop rock at its very best, with sugary guitar riffs, retro synthesizers, epic sound, and pleasantly distorted vocals (as we found out when Sam’s Town came out, Flowers' vocals sound best when heavily distorted). This is truly an album that allows you to give the fast forward button a rest. I don’t skip by a single track when I listen to it, which is almost unheard of with me. Indeed, every song on this record would have had success as a single. Hot Fuss also boasts three top 100 tracks on my greatest songs list and six top 500 songs. If you were to ignore everything but the sheer catchiness of an album’s music, this album would be leaps and bounds above any other in my book.
Quick hitting cross overs "Mr. Brightside" and "Somebody Told Me" were the first tracks that I fell in love with. "Mr. Brightside" took Modern Rock by storm, becoming a top ten hit in late 2004. “Somebody Told Me” is a nonsensical song whose main bragging rights are that it initially got me into the Killers. It is an upbeat song that features some killer guitar and really catchy synthesizer and vocals. It too was played to death by the radio. Radio overkill is part of the reason why my current three favorites from the album are "On Top," "Smile Like you Mean it," and ”Jenny Was a Friend.” “On Top” is a whimsical, synth-heavy song with a sexual message, and one of the best choruses you will ever hear. “Smile Like You Mean It” is a melancholy song whose retro sound works to enhance its nostalgic lyrics. "Jenny Was a Friend" is a melancholy song about murder (they are the Killers after all) that probably would have been a top ten rock hit if it were a single.
The Middle Tier on Hot Fuss covers the remaining 6 songs on the record. There are no lower tier songs on the record; it is that good. The best song among these is “Andy, You’re A Star” which stands out from the rest of the album due to its heavy reliance on guitar rather than synthesizers. “Things That I’ve Done” which is a soul influenced song that features a church choir, is another classic. Other stellar songs include “Believe me Natalie” and “Midnight Show” which would be stand out tracks on 98% of albums these days. Like I said earlier, this record certainly isn’t ground breaking, it lacks variety, it wears its influences on its sleeve, and its lyrics can be laughable at times. However, without a doubt, it will be the best pop rock album of the decade, and maybe all time.
1. Jenny Was a Friend- 9.5
2. Mr. Brightside- 9.3
3. Smile Like You Mean It- 9.6
4. Somebody Told Me- 9.1
5. Things That I’ve Done- 7.9
6. Andy, You’re a Star- 8.3
7. On Top- 9.7
8. Change Your Mind- 7.0
9. Believe Me Natalie- 7.7
10. Midnight Show- 7.4
11. Everything Will Be Alright- 7.1
Overall Score: 9.6- Not a Bad Song on the Album
Updated: 06/25/08
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