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Hot Fuss

The Killers

2004

Buy At Rough Trade
Hot Fuss
Album Summary

Hot Fuss is the debut studio album by American rock band the Killers, released on June 7, 2004, in the United Kingdom and on June 15, 2004, in the United States by Island Records. The album is mostly influenced by new wave music and post-punk. Hot Fuss spawned four commercially and critically successful singles: "Mr. Brightside", "Somebody Told Me", "All These Things That I've Done" and "Smile Like You Mean It". The album reached number seven on the Billboard 200 and number one on the UK Albums Chart. As of December 2012, Hot Fuss had sold more than seven million copies worldwide, including more than three million in the United States and more than two million in the United Kingdom. It has also been certified platinum or multi-platinum in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. The album and its first three singles went on to garner five Grammy Award nominations.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.74

Votes

14590

Genres

  • Rock

Reviews

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Sep 09 2022
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4

Wouldn't call myself a killers fan but the first half of the album is full of hits. Reminds me of uni. Second half isn't as good All killer(s), half filler..... I'll see myself out

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Oct 06 2022
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5

This album was massive and inescapable when it was released, and it's a banger. I believe that as time goes on and the band is less oversaturated in the popular culture, appreciation for this album will grow. Best track: Mr. Brightside

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Feb 03 2023
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2

Today, in 2023, I am no longer a 12-year old American boy. No longer am I the pimpled king of "Roller Kingdom," scared to death to meet the eyes of my middle school crush in the adjoining Birthday Party Room. Nor do I wait for the 6:45am bus, scribbling frantic answers to a history worksheet– a poor writing surface, those bus seats!– that has small, pitying holes in it from my erasable pen. These facts put me at an extreme, almost disqualifying disadvantage to rate an album like this. A genuine handicap for an album whose influence is foundational to many of my 2000's peers, but in retrospect may only be a good time if you're deep in Angst Mode. I knew kids who picked up guitar because they listened to this CD! The patron saints of Lazer Zones everywhere. In seriousness. I like my Blur, I like my Arctic Monkeys, I like my Strokes. This is hard to get through. Grating. This shouldn't happen, because I know all the songs already. Halfway through, I'm thinking, "Maybe I'm having fun! Maybe I should sneak one of these songs in at my wedding." Alas. Not Enough Fun. A generous 3 might be possible. But I have dutifully deducted a point for the refrain, "I've got soul but I'm not a soldier," sung forty times behind a gospel choir. That line's been bouncing around in my head since the Roller Kingdom Days, and unfortunately, now illuminated by the scribes of Genius, it yields no special magic. 2/5

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Jun 21 2022
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2

I find the Killers fatiguing. They fatigued me when I first listened to them when this came out in high school, and they still fatigue me 18 years later. They just zap my energy. I will say, Mr. Brightside is the one bright spot on the album. They really nailed a particular emotion, and it resonates. I was at a karaoke bar in Minneapolis this weekend, and someone sang that song - the whole bar sang along, which was really a blessing since the guy was tone deaf. But the song still resonated, and we could all feel the energy. I watched a Song Exploder episode on one of their songs recently - I like that show, but this episode was boring, it lacked content, and I blame The Killers. The song was not from this album, but it doesn't matter that much because all their stuff sounds kind of the same. It added to my dislike of them, hearing how they could barely articulate where the lyrics came from, or what the song was about. The most compelling moment was when they said the guitar riff sounds like "the desert" - they are from Las Vegas. But the song sounded more like Las Vegas itself - a grotesque manifestation of capitalism, an illusion of prosperity and vitality, a thin veil concealing a vast emptiness. That's how this album makes me feel, and not in a good way.

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Jul 09 2022
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5

Not ground-breaking, not deep lyrics, but simply banging tune after banging tune.

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Aug 30 2022
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5

How is this album better than their greatest hits one

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Sep 07 2022
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1

Initial thoughts: some good moments shine through but overall the vocals are mediocre and the mixing is terrible. You can tell Mr. Brightside is what they put effort in because they knew it would be the radio hit, everything else is filler so far. Final thoughts: bad. Mixing and vocals stay horrible, lyrics are lame and sometimes misogynistic or slightly transphobic?? Best song: Mr Brightside Worst song: Everything else (specifically On Top, Midnight Show, Everything Will Be Alright)

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Jul 04 2022
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5

The front of this album is phenomenal, hard to believe they had so many hits on their first release.

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Jun 20 2022
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5

Cuando el primer disco de un grupo es así de bueno luego pueden pasar dos cosas, que se superen (creo que lo hicieron al menos con algunas canciones) o que nunca brillen tanto. Es un grupo que me sigue gustando, pero creo que el impacto general que me causó este disco no lo han repetido. Imprescindible del nuevo siglo. Empieza fuerte con 4 canciones como son "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine", "Mr. Brightside", "Smile Like You Mean It" y "Somebody Told Me". Tiene un parón y remonta con "On Top", "Change Your Mind" y "Believe Me Natalie" para llegar al final catártico de "Everything Will Be Alright". 5 estrellas *****

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Jul 14 2022
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5

I felt sure this would be a 5 based on personal history with this record; an actual listen left me feeling it was a 4 but I will maintain my rating based on nostalgia (which is probably wildly inconsistent with other scoring decisions). There were many THE ALBUMS during my college tenure, but this one might have been the most played of all of them. Wore this album out with friends, it was perfect background music for a party, a card game, or a quieter Sunday morning. The Vegas synth vibes are so unique and defining. Every song such a turn from the last, but still cohesive. My recollection was that this was a non-stop 12 tracks of greatness; my revisit made me realize I don't remember the last 3 tracks on it very well at all, and there is a fall off. Strange how memory is. Regardless, there is a 7 song tear here that's unparalleled.

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Jul 21 2022
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5

What a strong debut album. With several hit singles, it's got a great combination of new wave and post punk influenced indie rock.

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Jul 24 2022
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5

Hot Fuss is one of the best alternative albums of the 2000's. An absolute classic. "Mr.Brightside" is one of the best songs ever made in the genre and it's popularity proves that. You'll discover something new you love about the album every time you listen. For me this listen, I really appreciated "On Top". 5/5. Favorite Songs: "Mr. Brightside", "Smile Like You Mean It", "All These Things That I've Done", "Jenny Was A Friend of Mine", "Change Your Mind", "On Top"

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Jul 28 2022
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5

Plenty of skill there, a great mix of electronic and rock. Kept being surprised at how many great songs kept coming

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Aug 25 2022
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5

Absolute classic - entire album is sublime.

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Sep 28 2023
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2

I don’t know who decided this band was good, but it wasn’t me.

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Oct 03 2023
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2

Not one of the 1000 most valuable albums of all time in my opinion

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Aug 24 2022
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5

Fantastic album from start to finish, just straight up good music with a rollercoaster of sounds and feelings starting off just above mid-level, rising up to peak and then gradually coming back down with some fast bumps finally tailing off with a bit more subtlety and delicacy. Full of great hits and not a single bad song among them; this is an album that almost anyone can listen to in some sort of capacity and not really have anything negative to say about it other than a song or two has probably been overplayed when it came out but those were certainly deservedly overplayed.

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Aug 24 2022
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5

such an iconic album. can’t get better than mr bright side and somebody told me when you’re going 2000s. i loved this throwback 😂 also sweet disposition by the temper trap came on after the album ended and nothing can put me in a better mood. such a jam

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Sep 13 2022
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5

In a full circle moment, as the album's penultimate track "Everything Will Be Alright" plays, that first curious memory and through today, the absolute satisfaction of an album being more than a single song plays into the rating. While nostalgia is an unreliable judge, here is an album where it gets it right without much if any argument.

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Sep 13 2022
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5

i'm not sure how it got in my head that this had soured for me, perhaps a slight overdose of mr. brightside and the fact that i maybe never spent as much time with the album as a whole as i thought, but wow does this still hold up start to finish (listened previously) 1 albums listened/heard previously

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Sep 13 2022
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5

I really wasn't expecting to give this 5 stars but I don't see any other option. There was a little bit of a lull in after the first half or so, but that first half was pretty incredible.

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Sep 24 2022
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5

Wahnsinn. Teil meiner Jugend. 10/10 für mich!

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Sep 27 2022
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5

Ja lekker hoor, lekker vrolijk, goede beats en paar echte klassiekers. Misschien iets te poppy/fout, maar ach. 5*

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Sep 29 2022
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5

Huge nostalgia bump for this one - was popular with the crowd I ran with when I first moved to Japan. "Mr Brightside" is a stonking karaoke tune, but there are a bunch of other tunes I regard fondly too, it turns out. Fave track - toss up between "Mr Brightside", "All These Things That I've Done", and "Somebody Told Me"... They really front loaded this one, eh.

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Dec 01 2022
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5

It’s hard to disentangle nostalgia from merit on this album, but I definitely enjoyed listening to it. The songs do a good job of feeling distinct but tied together

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Dec 30 2022
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5

great bass playing, full of classics, and before what i think is their best album. shame they didnt fire on as many cylinders afterwards.

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Jan 24 2023
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5

The perfect early 2000s alt-pop album. Hot Fuss is one I revisit a few times a year. The Killers is a solid band all around.

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Feb 03 2023
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5

I remember when I first heard “Mr. Brightside” in a middle school PE class where we had to select songs to choreograph a dance too. We played that song 500 times and it never got old. I remember the first time I heard “All These Things That I’ve Done” on the radio on KROQ in my Mom’s Ford Explorer and it stopped me dead in my tracks; I had to know who wrote this; probably the first time I ever felt that. I remember first hearing “Somebody Told Me,” also on the radio, and wondering how a boyfriend could look like a girlfriend. I remember when I finally bought the CD and discovered this band of 3 radio-friendly songs had numerous other hits on the very same debut album; namely, “Jenny,” “Smile,” “Andy,” and, my favorite, ”Change Your Mind.” I remember high school, and feeling ashamed for ever having liked these songs. I remember in college when it became cool to play these songs again, at parties and karaoke and such; later, weddings. I remember Phoebe Bridgers’ atmospheric rise and how she and her moment suddenly made Brandon Flowers “cool” and “significant” again. I remember at one time thinking this album was front-loaded with hits, but listening again, I can attest it is truly front-to-back loaded with hits. Last week, this album hit me like a ton of bricks. Not only because of the nostalgia I have wrapped up inside it. But truly because of how solid and emotional a record it is. How good the songwriting is. How good it all sounds. I have it on CD. The same CD I bought all those years ago—one of the first CDs I ever bought honestly—and still in great condition. The production and mix is awesome. This album and this band is as good as any that came to fruition in the mid-aughts. I’d take this in the same hand I’d take the Strokes debut. And honestly, a comparative study of those two albums might yield an interesting piece on music criticism, fashion trends, song-writing, rock populism, and stardom in the first decade of the century. They are perhaps the two most significant debuts of the era, after all. Sadly, where the troubled Julian Casablancas was heralded as some kind of genius and critical darling, Brandon Flowers was written off as a pop star. When critics turn their back on bands, bands tend to turn their back on critics. And when band’s turn their back on critics, they play for fans. I think you can see that happen to The Killers after this album. Where this album is specific, nuanced, and personal, latter efforts are broad and populist. Where Hot Fuss finds a group of Las Vegas natives stumbling upon songs that would speak to hundreds of millions all across the globe, subsequent efforts finds that same group working to write more songs like that. All I can say is it’s a shame. It’s a shame we didn’t foster and encourage the artistry of a band that gave us one of the best debuts of any era. I’m giving this a 5 for posterity’s sake if nothing else. But Hot Fuss is every bit deserving.

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Oct 25 2023
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5

Oh I know this one, so many fave Killers songs. Jenny was a friend of mine is a banger opener, love that bass line. A couple songs I did not recognize.

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Jun 11 2024
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5

*inhales* SOMEBODY TOLD ME was no one going to tell me the other killers songs are actually good too? I should have listened to this sooner

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Jun 15 2022
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4

Really liked this. Knew Mr. Brightside from many a club night obviously, but some of the others were surprisingly familiar too.

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Jun 14 2024
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4

Throwback, strange to listen through again. Mr bright side isn’t even the best song.

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Oct 15 2024
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4

Did you know that in Super Metroid if you place bombs in sync to Mr Brightside you can propell yourself up and sequence break?

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Nov 07 2024
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4

Maybe I’m just looking for a (mister) bright side right now but this was a nice throwback to arena alt-rock, lots of songs I thoroughly enjoy. Really didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did, but in terms of surprises, this was a nice one.

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Jul 06 2023
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3

Not super into it, but it wasn't bad either. The Killers are good at writing tunes that are catchy at first but don't have a lot of real substance. But there's nothing in their music I actively dislike, so I guess it's a solid "average" record for me.

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Jul 30 2023
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3

So these are the lads who did "I've got ham but I'm not a hamster"?

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Jun 18 2024
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3

I was surprised how much I knew some of these songs having never intentionally listened to them. Almost a manufactured in a lab feel. The hits are full on ear worms. The vocals are often obfuscated to probably make up for something lacking or it seems to be just a producer obsessed with a new vocal effect. It's one of the more listenable versions of New Wave. Sonically it can feel a little repetitive at times. Andy, You're a Star had some cool bits. I hate the last track. Started as a high 4 for me but halfway through cracks formed.

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Nov 07 2024
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3

Perhaps it’s just the dim aftermath of the events of yesterday that have left me with a disconnected inability to enjoy things, but the numbness I felt while listening to this gave me a pretty “meh” reaction to it. It’s fine.

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Nov 07 2024
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3

Fine. I feel like I’m watching TV in the late ‘00s. Full disclosure: I’m pretty bummed and currently not in a music mood. Sorry, The Killers.

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Nov 18 2023
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2

Never listened to this album end to end before, but felt like I had already such was and is the frequency with which they seem to get air time. Not really my bag. Over produced to hide a poor vocal performance, and the songwriting seems to become progressively more low-effort stadium rock towards the end. Stinks of trying to wrap up an album because you've already written the money-makers. Generous 2.

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Apr 17 2024
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2

It's like Wonder bread.. flavorless, mushy, boring, soft and pale white.

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May 22 2024
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2

Good pop-alt rock, but overall it does feel like it lacks something to make it special outside of the popular singles

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Jan 05 2024
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1

You can boil this record down to three or four things: Two hit singles A bunch of U2 impersonations A couple Beatles impersonations And the dumbest lyric your ever heard: “I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier…” I don’t know about you, but when I think about people who have soul, soldiers are the first people that come to mind…you know how they’re always following and not questioning orders…very soulful. Also, bold choice to include a song with the refrain “It’s Indie Rock and Roll for me” on your MAJOR LABEL DEBUT. Maybe it’s making fun of indie purists like myself (which I doubt, this band is too dumb for that), but the lyrics are too vague and devoid of any real meaning to actually tell what the song is about. This is “indie rock” for people who couldn’t tell you if “Matador Records” was a record label or just another way of saying “Bullfighting Statistics”.

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Feb 10 2024
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1

U2 have a lot to answer for. Soulless arena rock for chartered accountants. Stopped after 4 songs and put on Spirit of Eden 😡.

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Sep 28 2022
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5

I had a very strong emotional response to this album. It's funny how music has the power to being back such a strong sense how you used to feel, not even just about the song but in general? When we had nostalgia albums in lockdown I kind of couldn't bear them, because they reminded me of like connection and my friends and family and I was lonely so I found that to be really painful. I enjoyed it this time though, which is good and means I'm in a better place! Also 'all these things that I've done' reminds me of bill baileys parody 'ive got ham but I'm not a hampster' 😅. I have absolutely no idea how I would feel about this album if I listened to it for the first time now, I can't seperate it, but as things are I enjoyed it. Got a bit bored of the smile like you mean it remixes but felt I had to listen to the end.

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Oct 12 2022
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5

De los mejores álbumes de la década siendo pieza clave en el resurgimiento del rock de los 2000, con sonidos pop-rock e indie rock, además de tener una de las mejores canciones del siglo 21, "Mr Brightside".

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Oct 26 2022
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5

This is a properly great album to listen to. Sure, it wasn’t in innovative when released. Just Brit inspired indie rock and roll. But I like this kind of music and it’s a great example of the genre.

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Oct 30 2022
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5

I fucking love this album, can’t give it a perfect score though since the first half is pretty clearly better than the second. So, 9/10

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Nov 01 2022
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5

An absolute belter. This is one of the best albums of the 2000s, if not of all time. It's interesting to see what The Killers have become since, but this is them in their rawest, most indie incarnation. From the banging bassline in the opener, Jenny was a Friend of Mine, through the spectra of emotions of Mr. Brightside, Smile Like You Mean It and Somebody Told Me and beyond, this album soundtracked my early 20s and brings back memories of drunken house parties; the first throes of independence.

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Nov 10 2022
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5

Un cop passada l'eufòria new rock de The Strokes, White Stripes, Kings of Leon, BRMC etc de començaments de mil.leni, a meitat de la década va sorgir una nova generació de bandes de rock alternatiu que van refrescar de nou l'ambient, fent-nos oblidar l'erial que havia suposat la segona meitat dels '90. Franz Ferdinand i The Killers van ser els líders d'aquella nova empenta. El primer disc dels de Las Vegas és el millor dels que es van editar aquells anys, una ristra de singles imponents, amb una producció grandiosa que els feia encara més efectius. Un dels grans discos dels '00's

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Nov 12 2022
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5

Liked this a lot - though hard to follow up all of the really strong singles at the start of the album! Nothing felt like filler though.

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Oct 10 2022
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5

I love this album so much. It takes me back to a time where I worked in a small office and we played new albums and burned each other’s copies. A guy called Jon broadened our music tastes and we played Hot Fuss a lot. I can still sing along to almost every song…

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Nov 22 2022
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5

21st November 2022 Listened at the end of the day while doing minimal work cos of the World Cup. England beat Iran. One of the albums from when I grew up, immediately makes me feel 15 again.

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Nov 22 2022
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5

I had no idea that this album told a story at all. Does that make it a rock opera? Either way, this album is full of hits, but now that I know there is an on going character story behind the songs, this is one of my favorite albums.

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Nov 22 2022
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5

"I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier." Top album!

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Nov 25 2022
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5

Great, start to finish. Final track on Spotify isn't one I'd heard before though. Extended?

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Dec 06 2022
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5

All the hits at the start but I'm enjoying the variety of the second half. Believe Me Natalie is such a U2 homage, while Everything Will Be Alright is wistful and hopeful. Meanwhile the closing song is just hilarious.

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Dec 10 2022
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5

Full of bangers. First half of the album is just an instant classic.

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Dec 19 2022
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5

This list went ahead and assigned me this album like I haven't had it in heavy weekly rotation for 18 years running

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Dec 21 2022
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5

This is one of my favorite albums of all time. The Killers had such a great sound and were so tight on this album. There's a reason the first 5 tracks on this album are not just hits, but an iconic representation of the era. It's so good.

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Jan 06 2023
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5

About as good of a debut album as you can ask for

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Jan 11 2023
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5

One of my favorite albums of all time

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Jan 20 2023
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5

This album is an absolute must-listen for music fans. It has two songs from the "Murder Trilogy" and there is not a bad track on this album. "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" has a fantastic bass line and though 7 of the songs exceed 4 minutes, they never drag.

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Jan 24 2023
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5

An album I am pretty familiar with, and an interesting double header with Born In The USA. Mr. Brightside is a slick hit. All These Things That I've Done is another one. This whole album is one hit after another, so smooth and polished it's like an orb. Ponder the ORB!

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Jan 24 2023
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5

Such a banger! I’d forgotten how great The Killers are. This was so good I listened twice through. I need to add this to my regular rotation.

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Jan 24 2023
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5

Amazing debut album. Definitely nostalgic for the early 2000s.

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Jan 27 2023
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5

In 2004 I wandered into a Montréal CD store and bought this album after hearing Somebody Told Me playing in the store. It was love at first listen as The Killers became one of my favorite bands. Hot Fuss is an exceptional album. Great guitar, great synths, and that unique Brandon Flowers delivery of great lyrical stories create a whole lot of fun… so many great songs on this incredible debut!

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Jan 27 2023
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5

I had never listened to this album and, if asked, I am not sure that I really even knew the name of the band from the couple of singles that I did know. I really enjoyed the album.

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Jan 27 2023
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5

I've been a fan of the Killers since before I knew who they were and why they were singing about a boyfriend who looked like a girlfriend from February of last year. Despite all that, I'd never listened to this whole album as such. It is quite an amazing debut album with a fine selection of deservèd hits.

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Feb 03 2023
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5

Boy oh boy. Hot fucking Fuss. What a record. I will preface my review by saying my view of this album is certainly influenced by the set/setting of when I first heard it. In other words, there is most certainly a nostalgic factor to this album that drives the inevitable 5/5 I am giving this album. But, with that being said, this album holds up regardless of the fact that this was a staple of my youth. A CD that spent so much time in my dad's old stereo blaring Brandon's pipes at higher-than-necessary volumes to a 6th grade me playing Diablo 2 on the family PC continues to follow me into what will soon be 30 year-old Joey (still playing Diablo 2, however on the Switch this time). The Killers were at the top of their game when they made this album, and their fearless ambition and raw talent shine through in every note. In their debut album. Their DEBUT ALBUM. From the opening of "Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine" with an intro that always reminded me of a weird space helicopter landing to the final moments of the slow dance reminder that "Everything Will Be Alright" this album hits. And it hits hard. The wobbly 80s synths, the guitar riffs, the BASS riffs, Brandon's lyrics and the voice that delivers them (his performance on "Andy, You're a Star" is my highlight), the groovy drum beats. It's all a part of something big and lasting. Infectious melodies and harmonies that continue to inspire pretty much any of the alt-rock music I write. Hot Fuss is a work of pure artistry, an iconic collection of songs that will follow me to my grave. To me it's not just an album, it's a musical journey that takes me through a series of diverse soundscapes, each one more captivating than the last. A familiar sonic scent that instantly teleports me back to simpler times without fail. With its stunning production, insightful lyrics and unforgettable fucking BANGERS, it’s no wonder that this classic album still holds up as one of the greatest records of the 2000s. PS: If your streaming service (or physical copy!) doesn't have Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll on it, go check it out on Sawdust.

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Feb 05 2023
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5

Amazing yes front loaded as fuck but amazing 5/5

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Feb 07 2023
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5

I thought to myself, "I don't know that I've actually listened to a Killers album before..." And then I hit play and realized that, while I may have never listened to a Killers album, I KNOW these songs. "Hot Fuss" managed to so thoroughly saturate American culture that I knew the hooks to easily half of the tracks, if not more. And, it turns out, all the other tracks all slapped. Shockingly good. Zero criticisms.

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Feb 09 2023
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5

Pretty shocked this album made it on the list. The debut album from the killers held nothing back. The first half of this album is pretty amazing. Mr brightside I’d a great song and unfortunately has become so overplayed now. This album is pretty nostalgic as I listened to it many times since it released and still do from time to time. The songs are catchy, fun and a good mix of the new wave sound with the modern melodic punk of the 00s. They were one of my favorite bands and this album is why. 9.1/10

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