Hot Fuss
The Killers
2004
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.
WikipediaThis 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
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.
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
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
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)
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 *****
The front of this album is phenomenal, hard to believe they had so many hits on their first release.
Not ground-breaking, not deep lyrics, but simply banging tune after banging tune.
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.
What a strong debut album. With several hit singles, it's got a great combination of new wave and post punk influenced indie rock.
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"
Plenty of skill there, a great mix of electronic and rock. Kept being surprised at how many great songs kept coming
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.
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
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.
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
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.
Ja lekker hoor, lekker vrolijk, goede beats en paar echte klassiekers. Misschien iets te poppy/fout, maar ach. 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.
Really liked this. Knew Mr. Brightside from many a club night obviously, but some of the others were surprisingly familiar too.
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.
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".
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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…
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.
Great, start to finish. Final track on Spotify isn't one I'd heard before though. Extended?
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
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.
This list went ahead and assigned me this album like I haven't had it in heavy weekly rotation for 18 years running
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.
great bass playing, full of classics, and before what i think is their best album. shame they didnt fire on as many cylinders afterwards.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
The Killers vonden na 1 plaat uitgebracht te hebben, dat ze al headliner op een festival als Lowlands moesten zijn. Amper een handvol bescheiden hitjes op zak en meneer Flowers stond op het podium als een soort megalomane superster. Ik was er niet zo van onder de indruk. Maar nu 20 jaar later zijn die bescheiden hitjes van het eerste albums uitgegroeid tot absolute evergreens en een nummer als Mr. Brightside mag zich rekenen tot een van mijn persoonlijke favorieten. Jammer dat de kwaliteit zich niet echt doorzette, alleen het 2e album is nog top, daarna kwijnt het weg in verschrikkelijke jaren 80 wave. Maar we beoordelen hier slechts het eerste album en dat is simpelweg wereldklasse.
Крутой альбом из золотого времени популярности британской волны, которая серьезным образом повлияла на Американскую инди сцену. Почти каждая песня шедевр и заслушана до дыр. Рекомендую! 5 баллов из 5.
This one's on a very short shortlist for *the* album that soundtracked my generation's high school years, and, while that probably influences my opinion of it, I reckon any generation could do a lot worse. The four singles range in hugeness from *occasionally overlooked but everyone still knows all the words* (Smile Like You Mean It), to *automatic singalong at any event anywhere for the rest of time* (Mr Brightside). Then there's the strength in depth: non-singles like Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine, On Top and Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll are cut from the same anthemic cloth as the hits, while I've always have a soft spot for icy-but-comforting tones of Everything Will Be Alright, too. The Killers are distinguished survivors of the 00s indie scene Hunger Games, possibly through sheer force of will and stadium-sized ambition, but also because they just have more good tunes than most of their competition.
Yey, finally a nice album after a long string of mediocre at best albums. This one definitely has a few bangers and some nostalgia value associated with those as well, but it's the first time I'm hearing this one in it's entirety. The album does get weaker on the second half and I'm a bit on the fence about rounding the whole thing up to 5 stars. But the first half really is pretty great and the album seems like it has quite some re-listening value.
Classic indie songs. Every white boy's wet dream. Can't not sing along. I'm not even sorry. All these things that I've done ✔️ Mr Brightside ✔️ wasn't sure whether to go for it. But 5 stars it is
A god damn classic. No ifs, ands, or buts. A soundtrack. A moment in time. Catchy as hell songwriting.
Of course very familiar with this album. I very much enjoy it - would give it 4 stars
I have a soft spot for this album, listened to it a lot in college. What it is trying to do it does very well, indie rock anthem bangers. Mr. Brightside is still basically the national anthem in the UK. Still a lot of pretty good tracks on the album, although they are all pretty saccharine. The Killers peaked with this album and went down ever since.
A massive, instantly catchy and enjoyable album. Side 1 is banger after banger. The drop off on side 2 isn't as extreme as I remember. The nonsense lyrics sound as if they should mean something so long as you just go with it and don't think about them ("I've got soul but I'm not a soldier"). Nothing more than entertainment, but very entertaining. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Mr Brightside Date listened: 23/06/22
At the time I thought the Killers might have been a flash in the pan. A bit like The Bravery were..... but the band and this album have stood the test of time. I've often wondered whether the people that enthusiastically site "Mr Brightside" as their personal anthem actually know what the song is about...... I presume they don't....
The Killers are cool. I always talk about how cool they are, but - honestly - I'm not sure I ever really listened to anything other than what's on the radio. So - I was happy to discover that the album lived up to the expectation I had set. It's kinda punky, kinda indie, and just weird enough to keep me interested. Definitely a unique sound. Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll was a standout track for me.
Gros classique des années 2000. Je n'ai pas connu cet album à sa sortie, mais je dois reconnaître aujourd'hui que c'est un solide premier album pour ce groupe. Le côté A est excellent du début à la fin. La face B est moins mémorable, mais ça s'écoute bien. J'aime la place laissée à la basse pour les mélodies comme dans Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine. Tout le monde parle de Mr. Brightside, mais pour moi Somebody Told Me est bien plus mémorable et réussie. Si tu ne bouges pas ton derrière en entendant cette pièce, ton âme est morte.
J’aime beaucoup cet album. Le suivant est franchement mauvais. Sur celui-ci, le drum est super créatif et divertissant. C’était en fait très rafraicchissant quand c’est sorti.
Pretty catchy, emo songs. Strokes esque. Still hits close to 20 years later
Ratio: 83.30 % Quality album, a few songs that I had not heard before. Good variety, bass and drum combination consistently great. Very unique sound. Would definitely recommend a listen to anybody. Favs: On Top / Brightside / Somebody Told Me / Midnight Show Dislikes: Everything will be alright / Andy, You're A Star