The Killers
Hot Fuss

THE REVIEW

It starts with a raw guitar strum, a very funky bass riff, then the drums kick in. The first track is already impactful, with a memorable chorus to which synths with a decidedly '80s flavor are added at the end.
Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine opens what is, in my opinion, the best album of the year.

A debut in the spotlight for The Killers, praised by NME since their first EP (Mr. Brightside); these four guys from Las Vegas truly deliver with this album, "Hot Fuss," which is truly extraordinary. The track Mr. Brightside, also chosen as the second single, perfectly immerses us in the atmosphere of their sound. Sharp guitar reminiscent of Interpol and the New York scene, decidedly funky bass capable of supporting it all along with drums played with anger and determination, always excellent.
The voice is pleasant and always right where it needs to be, never a flaw; plus, the synths occasionally flash by, reminiscent of New Order. There’s something in the air of the Beatles, Bowie, Duran Duran, and the shimmering shadow of the best Oasis period and the more recent Franz Ferdinand; more deep-rooted influences come from the Cure and the Smiths, the entire East American scene starting with the Strokes and ending with Interpol, with a hint of Emo.

Upon closer listening, Somebody Told Me, the first single released, also grows on you, which initially caused an outcry for its so markedly dance four-on-the-floor beat; every song has something to say, and they do so wonderfully. All The Things That I've Done is a magnificent anthem with piano and guitar intertwining, with a truly engaging finale. In Andy You’re A Star, the distinctly Cure-like desolation of the verse gives way to a Bowie-like bridge, flowing into a solemn Gospel chorus. On Top reveals itself as a perfect piece transitioning from a delicate, slightly diffused verse to a chorus worthy of the best Interpol in “Happy Version”. In Indie Rock And Roll, it seems like the rock ballad so adored in the mid-'90s has come back to life. Believe Me Natalie is another magnificent ballad, this time in a style vaguely reminiscent of a mix composed of Emo, Cure, and Coldplay; followed by Midnight Show, a classic funky '70s rock'n'roll.
The album concludes with a tear-jerking slow, Everything Will Be Alright, of exquisite craftsmanship, vaguely Beatlesque.

We've all been waiting for something great for a while, I think it has arrived...