The Killers’ debut release “Hot Fuss” is quickly gaining praisefrom Spin and Rolling Stone as one of the best albums of the year,and the band is gaining comparisons to other famous “the”bands.
When The Strokes released its debut album “Is This It” in 2001,critics said the band would save rock and roll. Though the groupdid a fabulous job of bringing New York garage rock to the masses,they barely lived up to the insane amount of hype theyreceived.
Now those waiting for the saviors of rock and roll have foundtheir latest musical messiahs in the Las Vegas band TheKillers.
But if the band’s U.S. debut “Hot Fuss” is any indication, TheKillers could be Jesus.
“Hot Fuss” embodies the balance most recent alternative bandshave been trying to achieve. The album balances British and NewYork rock influences and heavy guitars and electronic flourishes tocreate memorable upbeat songs with darker lyrical meanings.
On light tracks such as “Mr. Brightside,” the band disguisesdark lyrics with up-tempo music. Lyrics such as “jealousy turningsaints into the sea turning through sick lullaby,” prove TheKillers really are not so happy after all.
The Killers rely heavily on the British melancholy electronicheavy sound of its influences such as Morrissey. The band’s soundresembles an updated Duran Duran on tracks such as “Jenny Was aFriend of Mine.”
The band even utilizes a full gospel choir on “All These ThingsThat I’ve Done,” giving the song a swirling, self-important tone.As lead singer Brandon Flowers sings “I’ve got soul but I’m not asoldier,” the band proves it fulfills the critical hype surroundingit.
The band does get bogged down on occasion in the musicalatmosphere they are trying to create like on “Andy, You’re a Star.”But even at its worst The Killers still is creating qualitymusic.
In a musical era seemingly waiting for a group to shake up thesonic status quo, if the band is not the messiah, then it justmight be the prophet leading the way.