The Killers: Hot Fuss

Hot Fuss Date: 15 June, 2004   —   $10.99   —   Music product page Rating:

The Killers released Hot Fuss while I was in South Africa; as a result, I hadn't heard anything by them until March.  There was a lot of buzz surrounding this band that seemed to sound so British even though they were from Las Vegas.  So of course I jumped at the chance to acquire the album.  All I knew at the time was that it was a rock band.

Here's the thing about The Killers' album: It sounds good.  Really good.  It's catchy.  With the exception of the abominable "Everything Will Be Alright," it's the kind of album where every song can be a hit.  And I mean the good kind of hit, not the Britney Spears kind.  The very first track ("Jenny Was A Friend of Mine") is great.  "Smile Like You Mean It" is another of my favorites; "All These Things That I've Done" is clearly a song near and dear to my heart -- that's where I lifted the title of this entry from.   

You are waiting for the other shoe to drop, right?  Why the three-star rating, right?  Well, here' the mediocre news: it's one of the most derivative albums I've ever heard.  The Killers sound very British, very '80s and very poppy. Not that there's anything wrong with that in and of itself.  The problem is, you listen to this album and you feel like you've heard every song before.  Are they the second coming of Duran Duran?  If so, why did we need another one?  But not all their songs sound like the double-D.  They draw from a variety of pop influences...but again, you almost feel like you are listening to a cover band -- albeit an excellent cover band.

I actually am giving Hot Fuss 3 and a half stars if Blog-City would allow half-star ratings.  Maybe it's because I'm conflicted.  This is the lowest rating I've given to an album that immediately went into my default, listen-to-all-the-time playlist.  So when you look at the overall rating, take that admission for what it's worth. 

The Killers are kinda like Pixie Stix: they're addictive.  You can consume lots of them in one sitting.  You never get to the point where you never want to have them again.  There are occasions where they totally hit the spot in a way that little else does.  But the aftertaste doesn't linger very long, and once that goes you're left with nothing but a hollow paper tube.  Ultimately, I suspect the instant gratification will wear thin.    

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