The Killers

Hot Fuss

by Melodie Mesiano

                  A wave of new retro bands like Jet, Kings of Leon and My Morning Jacket are caught up in 70s music culture.  Unfortunately, today’s “blink generation” got their fill of retro 70s rock pretty quickly.  Onward to the 80s! Enter: The Killers. They took their name from a song by the legendary new wave band, New Order. You can identify their musical influences just by  listening to the first few tracks of their new record, Hot Fuss. “Smile Like You Mean It,” a perfect pop song, brings to mind the influence of Duran Duran in their Rio era.  The driving dance/disco beat of “Somebody Told Me” is reminiscent of the fiery post punk band , Gang of Four.  Although The Killers have obvious musical talent, they rely heavily on their strength: a catchy chorus with an infectious hook. But when you’re trying to write a great pop song, what more do you need?

                        Many of The Killers counterparts in the retro category blow their major label budgets trying to recreate that lo-fi sound. By enlisting world renowned producer, Alan Moulder (My Bloody Valentine, The Smashing Pumpkins, Depeche Mode), it’s clear that The Killers want to make their record sound as good as it can. Moulder takes simple (and at times, boring) songs and fluffs them up with great production, bringing out the hooks and making them the center of each song. The results aren’t bad at all. Lead singer/songwriter Brandon Flowers’ lyrics and passionate vocals are refreshingly honest and heartfelt, at times evoking the emotional yelping of Robert Smith from The Cure.

                   Could these songs stand alone without being overly polished and fine tuned? Maybe not, but who cares? Overall, this is a decent first try and it seems like The Killers have the potential and drive to stand the test of time.