The Killers are synth and guitar laden mixture of 80's pop and dance rock that hail from Las Vegas. Taking on obvious influences from bands such as Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, and New Order, heck they even took their name from a New Order video, Hot Fuss produces something you will just want to nod your head, tap your feet, and maybe just even shake your booty to.
Catchy right off the bat with "Jenny was a Friend of Mine" and their first single "Mr. Brightside"; the songs also have a surprisingly darker undertone singing of cheating and murder. "Smile Like You Mean It" sounds like it was pulled right out of the mid-eighties and is one of the more tired songs on the track because it sounds so dated.
Things perk up again right away with their current single "Somebody Told Me". This is by far the best song on the album. The insanely catchy chorus can't help but make you smile.
"All These Things That I've Done" changes the tone a bit as a full gospel choir backs up Flowers to repeatedly sing: "I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier". The rest of the album follows this upbeat poppy feel until the last track "Everything Will Be Alright". The Killers slow it down a bit as Flowers very sincerely sings about the song's namesake.
All in all a wonderfully updated pop gem drawn from 80's influence that cannot fail to please. Although not as catchy or poppy as dance-rockers Franz Ferdinand, The Killers seem to have more depth and sincerity with their music. Las Vegas has finally become a place for music to be born, rather than a retirement home for old worn out rockers to sadly wane and die.
3.5/4
