The Killers — Hot Fuss

Essential Spins

Doug Johnson

writer

The Killers will most likely be remembered as that band who did that “boyfriend who looks like a girlfriend” song. This is a mixed blessing. At least they won’t be remembered for Day and Age or lead-singer Brandon Flower’s, hopefully, short-lived solo project.

Still, Hot Fuss, the Killers’ debut album sports masterfully done songs and I don’t think enough attention is payed to the bright side of this band.

Look at today’s music: artists don’t make albums any more, they make singles and then wrap a few half-assed tracks around them to justify charging people $15 for the CD at HMV.

Honestly, how many albums have you heard that you can listen to all the way through? How many albums have you heard where all the tracks not only sound good, but work together in their distinctness? Within the canon of popular music, probably not all that many.

In this way, Hot Fuss is something of a rarity. It’s legitimately good all the way through; even it’s weakest songs are way above par. This album displays the Killers’ (early) ability to come up with clever lyrics, compelling use of traditional rock and roll instruments and, unlike their newer stuff, moderate use of production value and synthesizer.

Some people may not like the catchy-ness of Hot Fuss, but what’s wrong with catchy if there’s talent to back it up? And sure, other bands have written better songs than “Mr. Brightside,” and “Somebody Told Me,” but I can’t think of one that managed to put together a stronger album.

I hope that future generations will look back on this album and appreciate that popular rock wasn’t always the abyss of lead-singer egotism.