As I’ve said before, it is the longevity of an album that shows its true worth. It is for this reason (and quite a few others) that I would argue that The Killers’ 2004 release, Hot Fuss, is their best album to date.
Mr Brightside is perhaps the most well-known song on Hot Fuss and has retained its popularity right into 2016. An iconic moment in the beloved film, The Holiday, depicts an endearingly manic Cameron Diaz rocking out to Mr Brightside on her own. Despite its somewhat dark lyrical content, this track is often heard at parties and weddings for both its nostalgic value and its musical mastery.
Brandon Flowers’ Brit pop vocal is accompanied by high energy synth and electric guitar melodies. Both “Andy, You’re a Star” and “All These Things That I’ve Done” feature the Sweet Inspirations Gospel Choir. In combination, these elements create the epic sound that has made this album iconic.
The credits of Hot Fuss reveal it to be a combined effort on the part of each of the four band members. Lead vocalist and synth player, Brandon Flowers, bassist Mark Stoermer, guitarist Dave Keuning and drummer Ronnie Vannucci are all involved in the songwriting on the album. The Killers produced all the tracks on this album and “Everything Will Be Alright” was recorded in Keuning’s apartment. This is also the song on the album that involved the most band members in the writing process and this is evident in the spectacular variation that makes this song so repeat-friendly. All these aspects make for a personal sound that is executed to perfection.
Hot Fuss is the first album in the Killers’ discography. After the release of Sam’s Town, Flowers refers to more primitive forms of production such as auto tune being used on its predecessor. Although albums to follow would make use of more developed techniques, Hot Fuss introduced us to a fresh sound that has not since been repeated. We must, of course, also pay tribute to the role that this album had in defining mid 00’s pop culture. The album was ranked at number 43 in the 100 Best Albums of the Decade by Rolling Stone, as well as including it in the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Although the Killers went on to improve their technical skill and the quality of their production, there is something sincere and raw about this album that depicts a very unique moment in time. It may be argued that the ability to evoke emotion, to take the listener back to certain experiences and feelings, is much more valuable than technical mastery in music.
The Killers included four tracks from Hot Fuss on their 2013 Direct Hits album. Following the release of the commemorative record, “When You Were Young” and “Mr Brightside” re-entered the UK Top 100. This is but a notch on Hot Fuss’ belt of recognition and critical acclamaim since its release. It is an album none of us have really stopped listening to. Although the Killers’ following work has been of an exceptional standard, it is my hope that they will draw inspiration from their early music for their next release.
