Reviews (page 10 of 15)
Classic but also… I want to like the Killers so bad. All the cool girls did on my fanfics but besides their super popular songs… but I did know more than I thought.
Started off really well, but couldn't quite hold up at the end
Of course a band with the most boring name will make the most boring rock music possible
You’ve heard all the hits…. A bazillion times. But as each one came up I thought wow there’s a lot of hits on here. And the rest of the album holds up pretty well too. I had never heard the whole album, although I’d heard half of it without realizing. Very pleasantly surprised.
jenny - 8 - banger tune, the synth is a bit cringe mr. brightside - 8 - classic tune, liking thrle harmonies smile - 6.5 - not bad, but not that creative either somebody - 5.5 - kinda annoying tbh all these things - 8 - loving the chorus and gospel influence, bass line great as always andy - 6.5 - a nice/needed change in style, pretty badass tunes, but the climax is not that convincing on top - 7 - some nice guitar melodies, synth line pretty good change - 6 - a bit linear and uninspired believe - 6 - kinda uncoherent midnight show - 6 - straightforward Killers song, but the melodies are not memorable everything - 6.5 - kinda lame percussion, interesting change in the context of the album, catchy chorus, but not memorable, nice synth-y insertions glamorous - 7.5 - great chorus and vocals, good variations, a bit of rock opera 6.79
is hot fuss a product of its time or is its time a product of hot fuss
Love every song except Midnight Show. W H A T an album. Special shout out to Change Your Mind which I feel doesn't get talked about enough. Also Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll is so sweet.
Absolutely not a fan of "indie man bands" so a reluctant 4, again, because I "get it" and it was better content-wise than the prior album, which I gave a 3.
Very good music and lyrics but not quite a 5 star as it became samey towards the end
bit strange to put the 'best' song second, then have all the other ones following be not as good like, but it's a good album
How do you rate an album that has potentially THE song of the 21st century (at least so far) in Mr. Brightside? Plus other huge hits like Somebody Told Me and All These Things That I've Done. Some songs did feel a bit like filler but it's hard when you have massive hits to contend with. 7.75/10 (3.875/5)
Why does this album (with the exception of All These Things That I've Done) make me feel existential dread (and why doesn't that song?) Is it because I was 11? Is it because it's a Tuesday in the winter?
I listened to this a lot on a burned cd.
aso im vergliich zum Rock-Album wo mer gester gha hend (Supergrass - I Should Coco) isch das mal vill spannender. Tempowechsel, interessanti Rock-Melodie mit Stimm und e-Gitarre, Pausene im Schlagzüg, verständlichi Lyrics wo dur Sound-Effect ide Stimm verdütlicht werded. Mr. Brightside natürli en Hit. Zwar au vill 4/4 Takt i dem Album, aber s Tempo isch abwechsligsriich und ich find si mached meh drus mit variierende Betonige (z.B. Andy you’re a star: me chunnt am Afang gar nöd drus wases für e Metrik isch; on top: d Synthie-Kläng am Afang zeiged nöd di intuitiv Betonig vom nachfolgende Takt uf). D Gitarre in Believe me Natalie tönt exakt gliich wie in Change your Mind, eif bizli schnellers Tempo, aber d Tön und de Rhythmus sind genau glich sogar di gliich Tonhöchi wtf? ha mich nöd chöne entscheide zwüsched emne starche Drü und emne liecht unverdiente Vieri, aber wür gern meh Foifis dörfe vergä, drum hani jetz mal mis Vieri-Niveau chli geg abe apasst;)
Fantastic debut album that’s all nostalgia for me. I wore this one out back when it was a popular album. Personally I like Sam’s Town better and really the two albums that follows that are pretty good too. Brandon Flowers’s solo debut Flamingo is a pretty solid album too. All that to be said Brandon Flowers is a religious nut job so that’s my only complaint about these guys. 4.5 stars
This seems like a completely manufactured band, but I guess they aren't. The second song was on a Madden soundtrack back in the day, I believe. It was my least favorite song on that soundtrack. I don't like these vocals. The band is good at their instruments. I don't know, everything on this album gives me the urge to run to the nearest restroom and release feces all over the place. And for that, I'll give it a #2. On Top was my favorite, but not the vocals.
It took some time before I gave this full album a chance, but I'm glad I did. The chord progressions can take interesting turns. The build ups and break downs. The perfect mix in tonality of the synths, vocals, and guitars. Catchy, dancy, accessible, and still passionate. Vocals are melodic and rhythmic, and at times anthemic. Hot Fuss is moving, musically and emotionally, and it is instantly nostalgic. It is everything one would want from an electro-synth-dance-pop album. I hope my being terse is not taken for indifference. There is no way to point out a highlight song or three; this album is great from beginning to end. Put it on and let it play, again and again.
This is one of those albums that’s solid, occasionally catchy, but doesn’t totally blow me away. It’s got a polished, synthy indie-rock sound that was definitely of its time, but outside of the big singles, a lot of it sort of blends together for me. The singer has a distinct voice, but depending on the song, it either works or starts to grate a little. Overall, it’s a decent listen and fun in spots. 3.5
An interesting, straight forward album but nothing on here really jumped out at me that would make me put this on a must listen list. At the time I am interested in what their other albums sound like while listening actively. I do remember some of these singles on the radio when they came out, but they didn't grab me enough to not change the radio station.
First day of work in a while today, and I expect my album pace to slow down quite a bit now. This has been a really fun thing to do over the past year and a half or so, and my music appreciation and taste has grown quite a bit listening to a ton of music that I never would have listened to otherwise. That said, it feels fitting that today I don't get something new to me. This album is very well-known to me already, and is a favorite of mine. A great way to turn the page on this chapter for me. I could try to be objective, but I won't. I truly love this album. It came out a bit before my time, but it feels like it's been pervasive in my life (my college friends seem to think my music taste is just The Killers for some reason, I think it was the only music I liked I could convince them was worth listening to). Say what you will about The Killers, not all of their albums are particularly great, they're overplayed, it's stadium/pop-rock. I don't care. They had it back in 2004, this is one of the best debut albums of all time. The 5-song stretch to open this album is one of my favorite stretches of songs on any album, there's no misses (I picked "Mr. Brightside" as my favorite song on here, but "All These Things That I've Done" is a really close second). The back half is a bit weaker, but how could it not be (also there's some underrated gems, "Everything Will Be Alright" is an awesome closer). I learned a few things actually reading about this for the first time. I guess they were writing their first album and The Strokes' Is This It came out, and they were so impressed by it that they threw out everything they had written (except "Mr. Brightside") and started over. Also the fuzzy vocal thing that Brandon Flowers has going on the whole album was a post-production effect called Echo Farm which apparently "overdrives the vocal a bit and sets an 84 ms delay". Anyway, this album is basically perfect. It means a lot to me, I've gotten to see The Killers live a few times (headlining Boston Calling and at the TD Garden) and these songs are electric live, it's just a great album. I'm happy today. Favorite song: Mr. Brightside Other: Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine, Smile Like You Mean It, Somebody Told Me, All These Things That I've Done, Andy You're A Star, On Top, Change Your Mind, Believe Me Natalie, Midnight Show, Everything Will Be Alright, Glamorous Indie Rock And Roll 1/27/25
It’s the first time that I feel like an album released during my adult life is dated. Will resurface in 20 years like a masterpiece though
Wow this started off strong, side two petered out. But all in all a pretty good album.
This album of course has some classic (for my generation) songs that always bang at the campfire, but I also found some new ones I really like. The Killers have a distinct sound.
Pretty good
Cant deny the amount and impact of the bangers on this record. But the whole thing after them huge highlights are a bit flat to me. I give it a really strong (3.5/5.0)
Etwas zu melancholisch, 1
The first 5 songs are of course unbelievably catchy. Have I heard a single song played more at indie clubs and parties over 20 years than Mr Brightside? The second half of the album drops off and something about even the great pop tunes on this album never seemed like it was coming from a particularly interesting place. I didn't follow their later work at all and I think that sameness is one reason for that.
Just a wonderful, joyful snapshot of early 00s.
Every song soars!
Thoughts before listening: I've grown to like these guys more than I originally did. At first I thought they were Strokes-lite or something, and while that might be true, their hits are really catchy. These songs have become the classic rock of 00s era music, and since this came out when I was 23, I have a ton of nostalgia built around them. Review: This indie rock, dancey hybrid sound was definitely cliche in the mid-00s, but the Killers have the hooks to make the sound work. "Mr. Brightside" and "Somebody Told Me" are the most famous, but there are a number of solid tracks on this album. 4-stars
I knew going in that I completely hate Mr. Brightside and Somebody Told Me. I can't believe you still hear Mr. Brightside out in public in 2025. This coming up on the list has reminded me that I also completely hate All These Things That I've Done. Three of my most hated radio singles is impressive in a first album. Britpop goes to Vegas to get glitzed up. A nightmare. music: hated. (⌐■_■)
This could be one of the latest samples of dumb guy rock that still absolutely rocks. There’s a bit of filler but not much, and the whole thing has a lot more energy and purpose than most of the Killers’ indie rock peers (though at the time I liked them less because they seemed like they were trying). Nothing they did after this was very worthwhile. You can’t make a good concept album about Vegas dummies if you yourself are a Vegas dummy. “I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier” is such a stupid lyric that you could think about it all day. You could get lost in it.
Love the killers, and I love their sound. Mr.Brightside is the runaway hit on this album but some much of it screams rock of that era.
This is why I don't usually enjoy pop-adjacent music. It often isn't bad and actually a pretty fun first listen, but it so quickly becomes bland and uninteresting. Most of the time when I listen to pop music, I can't stop thinking, "This is just engineered to be inoffensive." I'm not trying to diminish The Killers' effort here, but since this is made for a wide audience, the result is a well-produced piece of decent but painfully unremarkable music. And this probably wouldn’t have been a problem if I hadn’t known what remarkable rock sounded like, but I do.
Was cool to hear the big songs cause I knew them from radio or whatever but didn’t know they were from here
it’s funny how this is on the list but interpol isn’t. the killers is basically happy Interpol. not that I’m saying one is better than the other. it’s just weird to me. don’t know if this is a 4 or 5 to me. I’m unsure. so for now 5.
This is a truly excellent album. I remember thinking at the time that rock n’ roll is in good hands if bands like The Killers will pick up the mantle. And I think this record will be remembered fondly by rock fans for a long time Read my full article at: https://tinyurl.com/5c46rc22
The Killers’ 2004 album Hot Fuss may not have featured particularly innovative production, but its distinctive and infectious sound set a new standard for alternative rock of the decade. With tracks like “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me,” the album combined catchy melodies with introspective lyrics, creating an atmosphere that resonated with an entire generation and subsequently influenced countless artists in the alternative scene. The simplicity of its production allows the raw energy of the songs to shine through, cementing Hot Fuss as an essential album for understanding the development of alternative rock in the 2000s.
not my style ….. opsie
Boring
274/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
I really did not want to like this album. Unfortunately, it is hard to fault, the songwriting is solid the sound is fantastic and the songs stick around in your head. You get what you paid for radio-friendly indie rock.
This is somehow both better and worse than I remembered it to be. 4 singles that are sing-alongs. Some real surprises....loved "Glamourous Indie Rock & Roll". Kinda Queen-ish? I think Flowers gets derided a bit for being kind of over the top at times, but who cares. Music is solid. Not life-changing, but totally solid.
I love this album with every fiber of my being and I don’t understand how some people don’t. Not only do they not enjoy it, they actively dislike it. How do you not hear it? It’s so good. I love every song on it and I have for a very long time, so maybe it’s nostalgia, but this is easily in my personal top ten. 5/5
I liked this album when it came out, even though all my friends thought they were too cool to like The Killers. 20 years later and this album still holds up, certified millennial bangers start to finish. Haters gonna hate.
Nostalgia is a powerful thing. There's some underrated bass playing on this, which is where it gets most of its Duran Duran vibes. All These Things That I've Gone would make a great album closer but it's only track 5 and is followed by some pretty forgettable stuff. For my rating I shall refer you back to the first sentence of this review.
Great 2000s pop rock record
Classic
Boring and monochromatic.
The popular songs are OK but I have listened to them so many times that they become boring.
Solid
[9/10] Absolutely slammin for a debut. They figured it out immediately
Good album but very frontloaded -- the five real classics here start the album, and they've permeated popular consciousness so much that they make the latter half of the album feel inessential by comparison. I do enjoy a lot of the second half, granted, but I wish the running order were more balanced.
Overrated. The popular songs were ok. Catchy. But not exciting. The rest was forgettable 2/5
One of the first albums I ever learnt how to love. Favourites: All of them (though Midnight Show and Believe Me Natalie never stuck like the others, and Change Your Mind was not on the version I listened to as a youth) (12/1001, 8th Aug. '25, 2230h.)
The people saying this is a very 7/10 are mostly correct. The first four songs of this album are such classics that the stuff that comes after just feels weak by comparison.... or does it? I think it's kind of unfair to say only because right after those four songs become more the sort of pop rock arena thing that The Killers eventually went towards, yet even then that feels like the minority as they have songs like "Change Your Mind", "Believe Me Natalie" and "Midnight Show" which are as worthwhile as the first four, which makes me think people stopped when they hit the radio singles and not for love of this era of post-punk revival which I love. It's no Interpol but it's pretty damn good.
If I had to choose only one word it rate it with it'd be overrated - quite a common theme on this website tbh How Mr Brightside is as popular as it is baffles me. It's mediocre AT A PUSH, and I blame every karaoke bar, radio station and shitty house party for decimating it even further Most of the "hits" on this album are a similar case, but the opening track and Somebody Told Me are admittedly pretty decent The rest - the filler, I guess - is just forgettable. I appreciate Everything Will Be Alright for being different, but it was still not anything special
Good listen. Not the hugest Killers fan but definetely know its impact on the alternative rock scene back then.
I wasn't familiar with most of this album outside of "Mr.Brightside" and one or two others. I do love the synth-popyness of it. "Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll" was a fun one. It's a bummer that Mr. Brightside has become a frat anthem. Probably not gonna be my thing, but I liked listening to it.
better than I remember
Starts about as well as any rock album from the 2000s, but is unable to maintain that level, how could it? Nonetheless, the album does lose steam in the back half and the experience is a little uneven. Still, the bangers absolutely bang.
Gives 80s new wave
One of my favorite go to albums. It’s front loaded with the hits, but the rest of the album doesn’t disappoint. People know this album for Mr Brightside, but the star of the collection is All These Things That I Have Done.
Amazing album. The first half of the album has the famous tracks, but honestly the second half may be the better part of the album. Some really awesome slow-burn jams on the second half, including Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll, which should've been just as famous as Mr. Brightside. One of the best albums we've had so far.
Good album. Lots of originals I had forgotten about.
Everything kinda ran together for me. Shoutout to Mr. Brightside, Somebody Told Me, and Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll for being my faves on this album.
bro is really just naming different people the whole time 2.5 maybe the most mediocre album i've ever heard
There are some strong songs on this album, but it doesn't rise above albums in its peer category (Interpol, Strokes, Wombats, early Foals). I also prefer my post-pop punk to be more rock and less pop. That lands this album between a 6/7 out of 10.
This took me back. What a great debut album from this band, very nostalgic. As a producer, it reminds me of how quality use of stereo panning can have a profound affect to your sound
This album came out a year into my undergrad experience at UNLV. I had seen The Killers perform in a tiny practice shed with a friend of the band a few months before the album dropped and we all kinda knew they'd be big. It dropped like a bomb and it was inescapable at the time and eventually got overplayed on the radio, but the record does have some undeniable classics that are still resonating with younger generations today. I tip my cap to this era of rock music and what this album brought to the conversation.
The singles from The Killers debut were an inescapable part of the musical landscape during my final years in high school. I didn’t really like the album then, and that hasn’t changed 20 years later. While the hooks on the singles are catchy, having lived through the release of this album it’s hard to say whether that’s an objective quality or one based on those songs’ ubiquity during that period of my life. If I had to pick a song that I liked, “Smile Like You Mean It” is the best song on the album, tho I def won’t listen to it again voluntarily. I was pleasantly surprised by the soul-infused rock on the second half of “All These Things That I’ve Done”, and I appreciate the stylistic and production choices on “Everything Will Be Alright”, but like all of The Killers music it is cancelled out by Brandon Flowers mediocre songwriting and a voice that, while technically sound, lacks anything of interest for me, and feels vacant of any effective emotional character. And that delay chorus effect that defined his vocals performances on this album is a bold choice, its used to excess on nearly every track rendering it exhausting. As a big fan of the long arcs of dance punk and post punk, the influence those genres have on their sound is obvious, but their execution falls flat when compared to other bands around this time that successfully build on those same aesthetics — the most striking of which were debut records by The Strokes, The Rapture, Frank Ferdinand, and LCD Soundsytem to name a few, all of which I still love to this day.
The hits on this album are good. Mr. Brightside is overplayed to death, but it's a good song if you can get past the fact every nightclub in the world plays it towards closing time so the song has become jading to me. Once you get past All These Things That I've Done, you've really listened to all the substance of the album, and oldmates voice really starts growing old. I was fucking shocked learning they are yanks wtf. I always thought they were British. Mediocre album at best. Genuinely can't tell the difference between any of the songs that aren't the big hits. tldr completely inoffensive bland british sounding mormon rock
Yeah I'd cheat on this dude if I had to hear his douchey mid 2000's VH1 vocals daily Kinda baffled at how polarizing this one is in the global ratings, it's kinda hard to have that strong of an opinion on it
Definitively mid radio rock. Next function I’m at where they play Mr Brightside im shooting the place up.
Okay okay it's grown on me a little its aight 6/10 Fav tracks - Jenny was a friend of mine, smile like you mean it, on top Least fav - Mr brightside, Somebody told me
The killers? More like kill yourself. Liked 2 songs on here and thats it and yes they were Mr Brightside and Somebody told me. The latter always made me laugh because I've always thought it was about someone finding out there mate is dating a MtF. 2/5
When I saw this album had Mr Brightside, I was immediately visited by the ghosts of Budd Dwyer and Ronnie McNutt. 'I just can't look, it's killing me' indeed! I think I may just have associated the hits from this album with some of the lowest points in my life and I am unable to divorce my trauma and provide an accurate assessment of the 'highs' of this album. The rest of the album outside of the Mormon black speech of the singles here are good, but much like LDS ideology this album feels like a simulacrum of something else. It's commercial friendly bops that you can put on in a shopping centre or at a hip barber shop where they give you a beer while you get a short back and sides. I don't hate this album, it is technically good and objectively competent and well-performed music but I am unable to critique this without thinking of some of the lowlights of my miserable life playing out to Mr Brightside. Highlights: Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine, Everything Will Be Alright
Loved it
The front half of the record is stacked. All the songs you already know ("Mr. Brightside", "Somebody Told Me", "All These Things That I Have Done") and a few others that you may not have heard, but are still quite good ("Jenny Was a Friend of Mine", "Smile Like You Mean It"). However, the whole thing grinds to a halt on "Andy, You're a Star". From then on becomes a lot less memorable. They dabble in new wave and post-punk to varying degrees. There is a kind of neat trip-hop experiment ("Everything Will Be Alright"), but it all seems misguided. A solid effort, a hallmark of the 2000's, sure, but essential listening? I dunno.
A good solid pop album and very listenable. Is it genre defining or unique? Not really. Still I am disappointed that I gave it a listen...
All great songs on this album. Mr Brightside was a classic. Absolutely love it.
There's some good tunes on here but overall it's mid for me.
The most British sounding group of Americans I can think of. Liked the album overall, especially the first half. I do think it goes on for a little bit too long without really giving you anything new on the second half.
An album of the time. Brought back some good memories.
visions of working at target in the summer/autmn/winter of 2004 and cameron diaz’s bad dancing in the holiday… i was gonna give it a 1 but i didnt realize that back burner tune was on this album, for some reason thought it was on their next one.. that songs good. bumps it up a star…
Rock, better than the next day
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. I remember returning the CD back in 2004/5! Definitely front-loaded, but it holds up well and is just a fun listen all around.
Die Hits sind super, das sind so die Hälfte. Dann baut es ein wenig ab. Ist irgendwie nicht so mein Fall.
I know I'm doing this to broaden my music taste but the first 5 of my profile HAS to go to this album. Obviously, I've listened to it a few times beforehand but it was nice to really digest it. Brandon's vocals were incredible as always. I'm going on a bit of a ramble but this is a 9/10 album EASILY. I'd love to see Sam's Town on here some day.
One of the greatest albums ever
Good fun to listen to. But pretty unoriginal.
Not an unpleasant listen Strange it reminds me of 90's British pop rock. Good catchy riffs abd enjoyable lyrics
Meeh, midtier
I look forward to listen to the rest, but currently, it's been a banger of a time
Kannte nur Brightside und der Rest hat mich nicht überzeugt. Klang für mich wie das übliche Radio Gedudel
Gutes Album. Somebody Told Me und Mr. Brightside natürlich top. Ansonsten solide.
Ich habe mir auf meiner Hochzeit 2 Lieder beim DJ gewünscht: Brings - Kölsche Jung The Killers - Mr. Brightside Den kompletten Text auf meiner Hochzeit mitzugröhlen einfach toll in Erinnerung geblieben. Aber auch einfach ein Knaller auf jeder Party und für mich ein Top 10 aller Zeiten Lied. Wer das nicht mitsingen kann, verpasst was. Somebody told me auch 5/5. Hab nie das ganze Album gehört, hat mir top gefallen. Songs der Playlist hinzugefügt: Mr. Brightside, Somebody told me
Great album with some massive hits.
Formative for a generation, without being dated. “It’s indie rock and roll for me.”
Not my cup of tea
Una obra bastante interesante y disfrutable, combina muy bien elementos de géneros varios como indie, alternativo y post-punk, un clásico de la década de los 2000 que se mantiene firme aún después de 20 años.
C/K: 8/10, love it so much, a couple of maybe-skips but mostly hit after hit, love how cinematic it gets, never boring.
Phew, thought I was going to have to give this one a high score - nostalgia’s a powerful force, and this record clearly channels it for a great many people. Fortunately, with the exception of the front-loaded singles, the rest of the album is a pretty weak new wave throwback. Like the bastard child of Duran Duran and Roxy Music, but with lifeless production and totally perfunctory lyrics from one of the most nauseating frontmen tin contemporary music. The aforementioned singles have wedged themselves in every indie disco playlist for the rest of eternity. But The Killers’ debut ain’t much to write home about, and it just gets worse for their discography from here on in. I will say this, the artwork is 10/10 - an absolutely stunning shot which deserves considerable recognition and brings back some good memories. Better than the music it prefaces…
If you're making a list of the top 50 rock songs of the 2000s, like 3 of them are on this album.
Propper post-punk from 2004.
Mr Brightside is the well known track on this album, but for me All These Things That I’ve Done is the one. What a brilliant song 4/5
Not a fan of the little I knew of The Killers but listened anyway. Didn’t hate it but wouldn’t revisit.
This album was definitely fun and enjoyable, but it had a double edged sword to it. When it first came out, I was completely turned off by it. It took the underground indie garage rock and post punk revival movement that was happening at the time and put it in the spotlight, commercializing and capitalizing on it. It was so sleek and polished that it broke the rules of what made the original movement so unique and appealing. But, as time passed, the songs slowly grew on me, and I eventually ended up with a copy. Before I knew it, the album pulled me in. More and more bands started to follow in their footsteps, and I accepted that the scene was bound to evolve. If it wasn’t The Killers, someone else would have done the same thing.
Big high-school throwback album... wouldn't put it on my regular rotation but I know a lot of words to a lot of the songs, so there's that.
Ah yes the album every drunk British person sings as the bar is closing down.
A lot of great songs
Fun rock with recognizable songs
Fairly boring aside from the hits. I expected a little more but I can also tell why they were so hype - and why they've fallen off from the early 00's success.
I have a lot to say about this album. I was raised in a very conservative household, and wasn’t allowed to listen to “secular” music for most of my childhood. In middle school in the late 90’s I was exposed to pop radio and snuck in some MTV, and by early high school I was burning CD mix tapes with music I liked. But then my family moved out into the country where internet availability was very poor for the first couple of years we lived there. We had satellite TV, and my music consumption mostly came from listening to the various DISH music stations. One night I was flipping through these stations when I heard a song called Mr. Brightside. I do not recall a song before or since that floored me like it did. I was a bit of a socially inept kid in those days, and something about the lyrics and the passion in the song connected with me like I’d never felt before. I had to hear more, and I spent night after night flipping through the DISH music stations and MTV/VH1 hoping Mr. Brightside would play. I eventually got my hands on Hot Fuss and discovered The Killers were far from a one hit wonder, and it became my favorite album from my high school years. Twenty years later (whoa…), it’s still one of my all time favorites, and I’ve never tired of Mr. Brightside even though it’s probably the song I’ve heard most in my lifetime. It’s one of those albums that makes me question what is the purpose of music critics: it was not well received at the time by critics even though it was clearly a millennial masterpiece. I’m a pretty big consumer of recorded music from all over the past 60 years, and I think it was a watershed moment in the evolution of rock and roll. Other rock bands may have incorporated elements of dance music and glam before them, and the influence of The Strokes and Oasis is obvious, but The Killers found gold in a mix of influences and sounds that made Hot Fuss a masterpiece. The production is excellent: big, bombastic, and clear. It also has, I’d argue with all sincerity, one of the best starting five song runs of all time. The Beatles, Stones, Michael Jackson, Bowie, Stevie Wonder… none of these all time greats had a starting 5 song run as good as Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine, Mr. Brightside, Smile Like You Mean It, Somebody Told Me, and All These Things That I Have Done. I’m not kidding. The second half does not hold up to the first. How could it? It is still very good though, and songs like Change Your Mind and especially Believe Me Natalie are deserving of high praise. As big as this album was, I think it’s criminally underrated as a full record, probably in part because of how popular a song Mr. Brightside still is (nearing 2.5 billion listens on Spotify as of this writing). One of the true great pieces of art of the millennial generation.
This band is extremely overrated.
I really liked it
MR brightside could be decent if it wasn't the most played song of all time I swear. Almost all of these feel like they are being watered down and simplified in order to make them pop hits. There could be so much more experimentation with the synths and keys but theres really nothing too groundbreaking, aside from pop hits. Favorite songs: On top, the last one (not Mr.Brightside) Overall around 6/10
I host karaoke. Have for quite a while at this point. I have to hand it to the killers that they really get crowds engaged when they are in "hit mode". I don't actually think this is a historically great album in terms of composition, narrative, or tone. It is not really fun despite what the disco drums tell me. Guitar, for me, on this album kind of saves it. I've seen a few live videos. That guy is machine precise. Singer is great too. Just theatrical in a way that leaves me cringing as much as I'm enjoying. Not a bad album but maybe too oversaturated with praise. If it was unknown I probably would not be so rough...so 4 stars?
Ok
There were more bangers than just mr bright side!
Light 4 based on the strength of the hits
Had this in the car growing up. We all loved the first six songs. My dad would turn if off after Andy your a star because no one liked the second half of the album. It's definitely the weaker half but not as bad as I remember. Overall the hits still stand up but I've probably heard them enough for one lifetime. Maybe a harsh 3/5 but that's what it's getting.
Better than I was expecting
My fan girl phase hit late, at 22, and the target of my obsession was the Killers. I played Hot Fuss back tonight because I remember thinking it was perfect then. The starting lineup is extraordinary. I really like each of the first five songs individually—all in a row, they’re breathtaking. Then there’s Change Your Mind, and Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll, and the rest of the songs, every one completely aligned, musically and thematically, with the album as a whole. Insofar as an album is greater than the sum of its parts, this is indeed a perfect album. The overall message: at a certain age, all of life is a rush, including: unrequited love, unhappiness, regret, suspicion, aimlessness, forbidden love, all Friday and Saturday nights ... and getting detained for the murder of a lady friend. Flowers for Flowers, and justice for Jenny!
I never was a fan of The Killers, but a lot of these tracks surprised me with how much I liked them. Side 1 is full of hits, while side 2 isn’t as good. Regardless, I’m still glad I got to hear this one finally.
I have a funny relationship with the Killers, this was massive when I was at uni my second year I think. I was big into HXC and Metal and everywhere you went all you would hear would be the singles off this album and I hated it. However if I sit back now it is decent, however I would be happy not to hear Mr Brightside, Smile Like You Mean It and Somebody Told Me ever again. I liked this album more that I thought I would. Stand Out tracks: - Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine - All the things that I've done - Andy, You're a Star - Believe me Natalie - Glamourous Indie Rock & Roll
Favourite tracks: Jenny was a friend of mine; Mr brightside; smile like you mean it; somebody told me; all these things that I've done; on top
Sometime in 2004, I was a poor student living in London trying to make an impression on my younger brother who was visiting my humble home for a week. I rushed out to the local Virgin Megastore and picked up a recently released album by a band that was getting a lot of hype from the British music press. That band was The Killers and that album got played non-stop that week. All this to say that in no way can I be objective about this album—it came out at a pivotal time in my life and was a listening experience shared with some of the people closest to me. With that out of the way, let's talk facts! Hot Fuss was a defining album of the early 2000s, ushering in a new wave of indie rock alongside contemporaries like Franz Ferdinand and Interpol. Most bands would be delighted to pen just one track that transcends eras and becomes a cultural staple. The Killers produced two in the form of “Somebody Told Me” and "Mr. Brightside," a track allegedly written in 10 minutes. Its blend of catchy melodies, polished production, and emotional depth made it accessible across genres. Everyone was listening to it, regardless of race, gender, or age. The album is heavily influenced by 1980s synth-pop and 1990s Britpop, with a mix of glam, rock, and electronic elements. Yes, the band wore their influences—Duran Duran, The Smiths, and New Order—on their sleeves, sometimes to a fault, but the end result was so accomplished that this felt like a continuation rather than a photocopy. Most of all, the album rarely lags, providing hook after hook. Dave Keuning is channelling his Brian May dreams, Ronnie Vannucci Jr. is a powerhouse whose propulsive energy drives the album's pacing, while Mark Stoermer anchors the band's rhythm and contributes harmonies. It wouldn't be the same without Brandon Flowers, whose voice carries both emotional weight and charisma—not bad for a Mormon. Hot Fuss is The Killers' most immediate album, filled with electrifying hooks and fresh energy. It is telling that they would never reproduce this form—after all, few bands could. But for a brief moment, The Killers' debut album set the world ablaze. Did/Do I own this release? Yes, on CD. Does this release belong on the list? Yes Would this release make my personal list? Yes Will I be listening to it again? Every time I hear these tracks it throws me right back.
This has to be in my top-20 albums of all time.
Sound of my childhood. Got weirdly emotional listening to it again.
It’s hard to deny an album which has contributed so much to excellent karaoke nights.
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine - Did not like at first, but as the song went on, I liked it a little. Will definitely need to listen again (3.5/5) Mr. Brightside - A classic. Love it (5/5) Smile Like You Mean It - Really enjoyed this one, but there was something holding it back that kept me from truly loving it like Mr. Brightside (4.5/5) Somebody Told Me - Really loved this one. (5/5) All These Things I've Done - Very different sounding compared to the rest of the songs so far. Love it, but it's not one I would actively seek out like Mr. Brightside or Somebody Told Me (4/5) Andy You're a Star - Meh it was alright. Wouldn't turn it off if it came on, but I wouldn't put it on myself (3/5) On Top - Really enjoyed this one. Loved the synths and the aura that the song created. Feels like spending a summer in LA (5/5) Change Your Mind - It was good, but it's just not all that interesting or memorable compared to what came before (4/5) Believe Me Natalie - Very slept on song from Hot Fuss. Not as great as On Top or Mr. Brightside or Somebody Told Me, but it's still a fantastic song worth listening to again and again (4.5/5) Midnight Show - Very interesting guitar play. And the synths are appropriately eerie. Kind of reminds me of Halloween (5/5) Everything Will Be Alright - Meh I didn't really like this one all that much. Not bad or anything, I just didn't really vibe with it (2.5/5) Glamourous Indie Rock & Roll - It was alright. Had some interesting instrumentals, but overall just didn't really find it all that interesting or memorable (3/5) Overall: It was a good, solid album filled with a bunch of good songs that I really enjoyed and thought were interesting. Not every song was a hit and there were very few that I truly, truly enjoyed. But this is an album full of songs that I would definitely come back to again and again. (4.1/5)
Album is a bit imbalanced, all the hits at the start and a weaker second half, however I enjoyed the whole album
Strong nostalgia hit with this one. I think I saw them play it live a couple of times which was good fun. Not really listened much in the 20 years since apart from the inescapable Mr Brightside/ Somebody Told Me. Listening again and it feels a bit too polished and flat and lacks real emotion for me. Its very listenable - but doesn't get the juices flowing. Should be a 2 but gets a nostalgia point.
Boring sorry Can appreciate the classics tho
13/12/24 The only reason I don't want to give this 1 star is because this is not to the same ilk as Raekwon. As poor as the lyrics and the songs are, at least it's semi listenable.
Oh boy, it's been awhile since I listened to anything by the Killers. Definitely a band I've outgrown but a lot of their hits still hit for me. "Mr. Brightside" will always be a white people anthem, "Somebody Told Me" is pretty nostalgic to me, and "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" goes harder than I remember. Unfortunately the rest of the album is just kinda ok. "Smile Like You Mean It" makes me cringe... Overall it's good for what it is but I wouldn't say its one of the best of all time or anything. Favorite track: Jenny Was a Friend of Mine 3.5/5 *rounding down
This came out when I was in my early teens - the songs were massive, and are still everywhere. When listening, the songs have aged well and it's a strong album back-to-back. All These Things That I've Done is a classic
Meh
I’m glad that we can stop pretending that Mr. Brightside isn’t the best song of the 21st Century.
Eh- I think it’s over hyped. The lyrics really kill me on the inside.
So many hit singles on this album. A really great listen. Incredible debut for the band.
Strong start full of hits, second part a bit weaker, after all it was their first album. Not their best but a solid start.
The Killers - killing it. Love this album! Five stars and an addition to my Tidal library.
In my opinion it might be one of the best, or most important indie albums of 2000s. In my mind this record started a mini-revolution of those soft rock/emo bands that are just perfect for a long sitting in a pub on Friday night. Great album, where every song has its own merits - not perfect, but very entertaining, simple but stylish. Small symbol of early 2000s.
Indie rock con influenze new wave. Alcuni pezzi simpatici.
Banger after banger
Excellent debut
Hot Fuss sound like timeless indierock and could easily deserve 5 stars, but the lyrics are so dull sometimes and Brandon is just a lil asshole, so I take a star for that.
Geen fan van the Killers. Mr. Brightside ben ik zo beu gehoord en Somebody Told Me is gewoon slecht. Sorry 00s fans, maar den deze krijgt een 1.5, omdat ik Mr. Brightside wel nog altijd meezing als ik zat ben.
Lots of classic tracks here, crazy for a debut. Didn't love the album songs as they all blur into each other a bit for me. Still a high 4/4.5 for Mr Brightside and All These Things That I've Done.
This one gets that nostalgia bump. Is it actually a 4? I didn't know, but it is for me.
Pretentious, cloyingly bombastic, heavily overrated but actually, with benefit of some distance, still a solid album despite all that. All These Things is a cracking track. Over-exposure at the time probably got the hackles up more than the actual music. I don't know who thinks this is in any way post punk though (as stated on the wiki). Power pop at a push. Can't really even see it as indie as it was always mega mainstream here in the UK. A bit like U2, both in terms of aesthetic and breadth of appeal but also in the way they front-loaded the hell out of this tracklist. The second half of this record falls off an absolute cliff 😅
- Опа, я случайно одну из лучших песен в истории написал - Mr. Brightside? - Да не, говновоз 6/10
I'm a fan of the Killers, and this is my favourite album of theirs. I was happy to see it show up, it's always a pleasure to listen through. I think All These Things That I've Done is my favourite track.
4.5
Great album
This was actually pretty entertaining the obvious favorites were “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me”
I expected to like this more but I did not.
Love this album! I've listened to Day and Age a million times, but somehow never listened to this one cover to cover. It isnt as slick as Day and age, but still has some real bangers.
Really enjoyed this. Those singles are just fantastic. But the whole album is great.
I knew what my rating for this would be instantly. What an album! We had Hot Fuss on cd growing up so these songs brought back a lot of nostalgia. I listen to half of these songs all the time, but it was nice to go back and hear the whole thing in full This album was banger after banger, and what a way to start the album with those first 5 songs!! Also they are so fucking good live, it makes me love these songs even more Muah chef's kiss 5 ⭐️
Awesome album, anthemic songs. The first five are incredible, powerful dance/rock/alt songs. The second half of the album cools of a little, while still enjoyable the songs aren't as special
Pretty good album. The popular songs were the best imo the rest was fine
Some absolute bangers on this album. But the rest fell a bit short.
Cool
What a debut!
This was a pretty solid and fun Rock album that I know I've heard tracks off of, and maybe my kids played for me before. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
Better than expected. Better than average. A good solid 3 star album.
Hot garbage
Classic indie album. Every track is a banger
Mormon rock. The production is good, it’s well mixed. Everyone did a very nice job. But this killer carries a water pistol. For such a ferocious name, this is just Top of the Pops. There’s no teeth, no danger, no fire. It’s very good mid-west pop music. Tame enough for children’s parties.
First listen. Meh. Felt like one maybe two long songs.
Front loaded with so many good tracks, but it plummets after Believe Me Natalie. I’ll always return to this one, though.
Corporate indie for elliptical machines and hockey games. Super high-energy hype up music expertly assembling the most excitable elements of millennial guitar rock from alt rock, emo & pop-punk, post-rock and garage revival (epic reverby guitars, driving bass, synth hooks, marching drums) to create an explosive anthemic sound. They blow their wad on track two with Mr Brightside though and the rest can't reach that level. A compilation of the best of Killers, Bloc Party, Snow Patrol, Twilight Sad, post Is This It Strokes, mid-career Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, the Arcade Fire jock jams and all the other bands from this era that sound like this would be an awesome CD-length album representing the last gasps and final dying fling of guitar rock. But there's too much samey filler on this album and oh my god the 'soul not a soldier' and 'INDIE ROCK AND ROLL' bits made me throw my headphones into the bin. What about this makes it sound incredibly British?
Karaoke HOF with Mr. Brightside. Honorable mention to Somebody Told Me. Overall banger.
Solid album but fell off at the end for me.
Yet another band I’m not overly familiar with apart from their big hits ‘Somebody told me’ and ‘Norman Whiteside’ - both decent songs. This is a characteristic of the whole album in the main, good solid tunes and perhaps that’s also one of its weaknesses. While there’s a good standard of material, it never elevates beyond this. A good album but not a classic
It’s like if The Cure had no soul (contrary to the singer’s claims).
Begin was beter en laatste
Nothing really to this besides Mr. Bright side and Somebody told me, maybe On Top. Smile and Things are ok. A lot of songs are just ok, Brightside is the only real banger.
Forgot about this album and how great it is. So much energy and what a voice! I enjoyed listening to this again.
Frankly impressed with how loaded this is - a ton of bangers, and just wholly consistent in a way that I don’t think any of their other albums are… very confident! I enjoy this one, probably like a solid 3.5
I'm not embarrassed by this :)
used to like this as a teen but i am def embarrassed by it now!
3 maybe 4
I JUST CANT LOOK ITS KILLING MEEEE jenny was a friend of mine- 5 mr brightside- I JUST CANT LOOK ITS KILLING ME AND TAKING CONTROLLLLL. idk its good but bad. imma give it a 5 all these things ive done- boooo 3 andy youre a star- 5 on top- 4 change your mind- 3 believe me natalie- 4 or 5 midnight show- didnt realize music was playing 5 everything will be alright- i wish i had jambalaya right now. thats how i would know everything will be alright. 4 or 5 theres apparently two songs just missing? oh well i dont really wanna listen to em anyway sorry
Awesome!
I rather like most of The Killers sound, and most of this is pretty good.
I’m significantly familiar with the Killers as a band, but I’ve never listened to this album in full and I LOVED it. A huge fan of this and yes a little bias because I’ve grown up with a couple of these songs for a while but I really like it.
eh i don't have to always make this so complicated: I want to *not* like these guys and the singer is more than a bit mid and I absolutely hate this mega-compressed terrible mix but ... dammit there's a dumb and irresistible catchiness to it all. Maybe it's good for me to not think too hard about rock music sometimes because I'd be stupid to deny the nostalgia here with the big hits. And even though those first 4 songs could carry the album alone, the second half (which I'd never heard) is actually just as fun, if not more-so. Much less wall-of-guitar-heavy and reliant on synths and melody.... I really like it. "Change Your Mind" is a straight-from-the-80s synth pop hit tarted up for this millennium. TL;DR: went into it thinking I was gonna be arrogantly rolling my eyes for the better part of an hour lumping them in with hipster and fecking horrible shit like Arctic Monkeys / Strokes / Hives but instead added an album to my collection. I feel slightly less-jaded tonight. 8/10 4 stars.
Mostly good and brought back some fun memories. But I am not a big fan of repetitive words in songs and this album had a lot of that.
Fun time
A few good ones. 3.5 but holding at 3.
Probably good but I don’t like the singer’s voice.
Heard it before. Thought it was meh then, same now. Mr Brightside and Smile Like You Mean it
Oh, man. I really liked The Killers when I was a preteen but the band doesn't stick with me as a seventeen-year-old :/ Their music is really generic, and they lost relevance a long time ago, to be honest. Vocals are kinda annoying too. They're rock for the non-rock people, along with Nickelback, Imagine Dragon, and whatever-the-hell people my age listen to these days.
Muy buen disco. Nada que decir de "Mr. Brightside", pero las otras canciones también son muy buenas, aunque se van apagando hacie el final del album. Debe ser el mejor disco de The Killers, a verificar con Sam's Town quizás.
yes
I was excited to see this come up - very much of my era, memories of university and one of few albums now that my whole family will get on board with. That said, it is pretty front-loaded with most of its best songs in the opening run and then sags in the middle. Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll is one of my all-time favourite songs though so I'm always happy to let it run to the end.
Classic album, brought back memories of being 18
Tu pariento parece tu parienta
I feel for my fellow listeners who got this album the day after the American election and just couldn't. There are some really great, propulsive, fun tracks on this. That may not match with current personal/political energy.
Most of these songs are 4 stars for me but I liked Mr. Brightside a lot so I’m going to give this a 5
Some good hits I've heard before, like Mr. Brightside and Somebody Told Me. Some good stuff I hadn't heard, like All These Things That I've Done and Andy You're A Star. The latter part of the album starts to drag a bit. Overall a decent album, enjoyable. Best song: Mr. Brightside
Iconic hits, solid all the way through! 4.5.
I wanted to write a lot, but I'm lazy so I won't. This album has a ridiculous 7 song tear of greatness. Personal enjoyment: 5/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
Easily one of the best albums of the decade
Really good early 2000s alt rock with catchy songs
Average nightclub at 2am music but still good
Loved loved loved track one. Has to be this bands best song. Then the hits started rolling, and while the older me appreciates these songs more now for their musical direction, they were still just the boring pop anthems of my twenties
I see why it’s a classic now.
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.
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.
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.
Easy 5 stars for me. It does lose some steam towards the end but ends with a strong song.
Great album.
This album was inescapable back when it came out. I probably haven't listened to the whole thing since then. Mr. Brightside is still pretty much played all the time. It's a good song and as many times as I've heard it I don't cringe when it comes on so that's a good thing I guess. Outside of that song, I like Somebody Told Me and Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine. The rest is pretty forgettable, it really fades away toward the end. Not bad, but nothing that would make me want to buy this album to listen to over and over. I get the hate for Brandon Flowers' voice. I heard someone say one time that he sounds like young Jerry Seinfeld trying to be a singer and that sort of ruined the whole band for me because that's pretty much all I hear now. 3/5
This is a very crucial album for me. I remember my mom playing this CD all the time and it slowly growing on me as I grew up. It starts and ends incredibly strong but a couple of songs (Change Your Mind and Believe Me Natalie) feel out of place on this. Still a great listen.
Mid The instrumental is good 👍😊
Tiene temazos pero en general es muy pop y basicon.
Had been removed from the latest editions of the book.
Good
A lot of hits on this but I still don't love it.
Flott plata. Mjög mikið Killers sound. Þétt og nokkrir bangers.
Britpop strákarnir frá Las Vegas hressir og skemmtilegir. Tveir smellir og restin bara fín. 3,5
One of the bands that started my music journey in the early 2000s. Hell of a debut and I can't help but be nostalgic for it.
Oh give me a break. Coldplay yesterday. The Killers today. The author of this book clearly made no effort to account for recency bias when making this list. It’s almost hard to judge this album objectively because many of these songs were inescapable when the album was popular (some of them are still inescapable). Still, there’s some really catchy songs on here. I don’t even particularly care for Mr. Brightside, but it gets an honorary “Highlights” nod as one of the anthems of the Millennial generation (2.4 billion streams don’t lie). I guess this album was/is so popular that it’s justified being on the list, but I can’t help but feel like there’s not enough staying power here to call this album “important”. I just find popular music from this era so boring and uninteresting. Catchy enough, nonetheless. Take my 4 and be gone, Soul Soldier. 4/5 Highlights: Mr. Brightside All These Things That I’ve Done
3.5 here maybe? Pretty solid debut
Jenny was a friend of mine is such a great track and I feel like it gets overshadowed cause this album is full of bangers.
I love this album and I refuse to admit it's flaws. It might be slightly repetitive and it might rely too heavily on distorted/fuzzed vocals. It might overuse synth and play it too safe but for the era it was a defining jewel of the alt-rock 00's. Fav Track: Believe Me Natalie
It’s hard to believe Hot Fuss has been around for twenty years. This album practically defined mid-2000s indie rock, and it still holds up. Listening takes me right back to shouting, “Hey shut up!” in the backseat of a friend’s car along with Andy, You’re a Star, or trying my best to sing Somebody Told Me on Singstar (though maybe without the rapturous applause I clearly deserved). Hot Fuss is packed with brilliant, anthemic tracks that demand a sing-along. What’s surprising, to me, is how strong the album’s second half is; even though the opening tracks got more radio play, every song here shines. Tracks like All These Things That I’ve Done and On Top showcase just how much range The Killers were aiming for, layering Brandon Flowers’ unmistakable vocals with that soaring, synth-heavy sound. Though the band’s later albums have their own highlights, Hot Fuss will always have a special place in my heart. It’s a debut that feels timeless, still every bit as exciting and raw as it was back then. Standout Song: Mr. Brightside Score: 5/5
If this were my childhood, I would've given it a 5 easily, but I only knew a few, so most of the songs were new to me. A lot of bangers and just long enough. A very strong 4 full of pop bangers
Brandon Flowers’ voice was a constant one when I was in elementary school. I grew up with much older siblings and this was a favorite in the house. Listening to it now I feel a bit of nostalgia and wonder how much that impacts these ratings. I believe the album to be something higher than a 3, but not quite a 4. However, if I were listening to it without my memories involved I think it deserves a solid 3 and no more. While the album is enjoyable, I do think it could be redone in a way that would feel more polished. I still believe that All These Things That I’ve Done is the crown jewel of the album. On Top was one I wasn’t too familiar with, but really liked. Everything Will Be Alright started out great and almost sounded like it could a Cure cover song, but as it went on it felt like filler as it droned on.
Great album with very recognizable songs
fav song - Mr brightside
Loved this album since its release. No skips.
Mr. Brightside // Smile Like You Mean It // Somebody Told Me // All These Things That I’ve Done // Believe Me Natalie // Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll
Альт рок. Довольно скучный альбом: однообразные рифы, мелодии. Зашла только одна песня Mr. Brightside. Желания переслушивать нет
The first five songs on this album are possibly the best opening to any album in the 21st Century. What’s great about this album, though, is that it doesn’t let up after “All These Things That I’ve Done.” Of course they don’t live up to the brilliance of the first few songs on the album, but they’re still fantastic songs. I can’t believe this album actually got removed from the list. I’d argue it’s one of the best albums from the early 2000s, and definitely the best one they had from that era on any version of the list. The Killers are a great band and Hot Fuss is brilliant. It’s a shame it’s no longer on the official list.
full of classics
4.5 really
A lovely debut from a more alternative fixture of the garage band scene in the early 2000s. One of the biggest singles of the new century which is still a great anthem for the time at large.
Decent album with lots of hits
Es ist das Debütalbum der amerikanischen Rockband und kombiniert Elemente von New Wave, Post-Punk und Synth-Pop und ist geprägt von eingängigen Gitarrenriffs, treibenden Schlagzeugrhythmen und markanten Synthesizer-Melodien. “Mr. Brightside” ist ein echter Ohrwurm mit treibendem Beat und melancholischen Texten über Eifersucht und Herzschmerz. “Somebody Told Me” ist ein tanzbarer Track mit eingängiger Melodie, der von Verwirrung und Missverständnissen in Beziehungen handelt. “All These Things That I’ve Done” ist geprägt durch den Refrain “I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier” und entwickelt sich von einer ruhigen Ballade zu einem kraftvollen Finale. “Smile Like You Mean It” ist ein melancholischer Song über Vergänglichkeit und den Verlust von Unschuld, kombiniert mit einer eingängigen Melodie. Insgesamt ist es ein starkes Debütalbum - unbedingt Wiederhören.
Solid album from start to finish. I’ve listened to this album hundreds of times, and some tracks thousands of times. Definitely has withstood the test of time and continues to hit playlists and streams.
Solid album
It was alright, the Killers are definitely a hits band that can stand by their hits modt of the time, but some of these songs are so overplayed that I can't help but find them a bit cheesy. However, the album still is good, and some of the deep cuts are pretty good, too.
A favorite of mine. Saw them live in Japan long time ago. Quite good!
Honestly The Killers are one of those bands I kinda overlook. I think iit could be the lead singers voice gets a bit redundant maybe? I don't know. But I get mixed vibes listening to this album. It is really "quite good" and gets boosted by a few real solid hits. I think it might be that thorn in my side that more often than not does not "enjoy" listening to "just the one band" too many songs in a row. I don't know. Not a huge fan of The Killers but this is a pretty darn solid album...
That final song sucks so hard. Great album, though.
Meh. Never cared for this and still don’t. I’ll give it a three for Mr. Brightside and some of the music, but much of the lyrics on this mean absolutely nothing at best and are total idiocy at worst (Somebody Told Me).
hot fuss, more like hot fucking trash
When I see this pop up, the phrase “Kill me” comes to mind. HOW IS THIS ONE THE MOST IMPORTANT 1001 ALBUMS EVER WRITTEN. Ugh. Anyway. I’m coming into this one with a touch of bias. First song starts off with the nothing guitars pioneered by this nothing band. This was worrying me. I thought “is this kind of good” for a total of 15 seconds. It’s over. The vocals are horrible, the needless drama is wretched. It sounds like a manipulative millennial predator spearheading a theatre production. It’s endless to boot. One of the top 5 most insufferable songs ever to reach the mainstream. It hits my ears like poison. I’m not even surrounded by drunk screaming white people. I’m just a white people listening to this by myself. So not only am I in pain, I’m embarrassed. Fuck the Killers. Let me check Wikipedia. Fuck Brandon flowers, fuck Dave Keuning, Fuck Jeff Saltzman, Fuck Island Records. Hell, Fuck Las Vegas for producing these people. This is a repetitive, overly simple piece of garbage that somehow sounds like a car commercial AND a joke song written by a character in a mockumentary. Genuinely awful and while I hope this is the last time I’ll ever hear it, I’m sure it’ll be shoved down my throat everywhere I go for at least the next quarter century. Boring. Lame. Sappy, yet no real emotion is even being insinuated. What is the emotion? Indifference? The colour grey? You guys suck. Congratulations on bilking the public with your lab created tripe. Another BANGER here guys. WOOOOOOO. The chord progressions, the synthesizers, the melodies, the drums. All awful. And the vocals. Jesus fucking Christ. Terrible. What is this song even trying to say? Yes, let’s get black parade piano notes in this. Let’s try to sound like the Beatles if they were parodied in a motion picture that didn’t acquire the rights to their songs. I’m sorry. I really have sympathy for people. I just know this song was played at weddings throughout the 2000s/2010s. “I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier.” That lyric irked me when I was 10. It doesn’t make sense on the face of it and insinuating “souls” were in any way involved with the creation or distribution of this record is fraudulent. Can’t even play guitar. And then it’s buried in the mire of lame synth. What is this song? Holy hell. Poor Andy. Being addressed by this dweeb. Come on. You’re joking at the point. This is AWFUL. I’m uncomfortable. I’ve developed hives. There are rumours that they’re a Christian band. Maybe I’m possessed because this is now causing me physical harm. That whiny guitar lick. Burn in hell. You’re the worst and you can’t change my mind. Believe me Natalie. I’m at a loss. I’m going to get my closest three friends in a Room with a Casio keyboard and a sheet of bob Marley Christmas music, add some horns. 30 million listeners a month. Mr. brightside feat Sublime. Trails off into more synth bullshit. Two more songs. I genuinely haven’t had allergies this bad in months. Did he just do vocal scatting for a minute??? They bury the vocals behind effects. I wish they’d bury the vocalist. I mean not really, but I do wish with all my heart that he would stop making music. And also invent a device that erased his entire catalog from current availability and also memory. Sick guitar solo Though may I sit microscopic, adrift in an ocean of stars, though I may crane my neck heavenward in search of answers, my cries for merciful truth unheeded. Darkness descends upon me in the form of tomes written by a heathen that besiege my wellbeing and cause my ponderance to descend into pleading. I beg for the end and all the gods can reply is “It’s indie rock and roll for me.” We are nearing the merciful end. After a four minute autotuned showtune about the genre they ruined, will I ever be the same? I feel like I have been prematurely aged. This is truly one of the worst things I’ve ever heard. A swath of nothing that still grates on me to the point of exhaustion and boiling fury. If you like this, shame on you. Examine your life. Music for people who hate it. I hate the killers with a passion they couldn’t manufacture in a lab. 0 HIGHLIGHTS: Being right about this band. Also an album where every track is awful, but also gets worse as the album continues is pretty special.
Songs 2-5 are an incredible stretch for any album ever.
Just a lovely album for me
Honestly, my least favorite song on the album is probably Mr. Brightside, and that's only because it's one of the most popular songs in the world at this point... i didn't know mr brightside also included some of these other songs I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the song 'everything will be alright' as it actually shows some of their depth versus the singles like smile like you mean it. The singles are just ..... yuck like great for a wedding or ball game or maybe road trip but not listenable outside of that and they really lean it to those a lot. 3.5 for me
If I could give 4.5 I would. This album was truly everything I enjoy, and if I sit with it for longer it could even be 5 stars. It really is just everything I enjoy :)
Middle-of-the-road 2000s indie pop-rock, right in the intersection between glam and heartfelt. Unfortunately it doesn’t get deep enough into either, and though there are some lovely tunes on here, rockin’ and pretty, on the whole it just doesn’t ever elevate itself in any particular way. A nice listen, but majorly inessential.
Some classics and some drivel. Close to 4
Dealt with
nice
I fucking love this album. It is just so damn good. Honestly, my least favorite song on the album is probably Mr. Brightside, and that's only because it's one of the most popular songs in the world at this point. Shout out to it being England's bar closing / final song of the night. This album oozes charisma and playfulness. It's so unique and just so awesome. This is already in my rotation and I can easily listen to it front to back. Easy 5 stars from me, and this would definitely be on a road trip mix.
Loved this album. Sure the front half is more loaded than the back but that really can’t negate how good that front half is. All these things that I’ve done is one of my favorite songs of all time. The use of the gospel choir with the I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier refrain is just so memorable. It’s hard to say at this point that Mr brightside is a favorite song just because it’s kinda like Colton eye joe, where you’ve heard it a million times so you’re kinda tired of it, but it’s nonetheless a banger.
After the first couple of songs on the album, I thought we might have another 5 on our hands. After the next couple songs I thought it might be a 4. By the end, I can only rate it a 3. The first part of the album is fantastic but it gets very forgettable afterwards. When the album ended, my phone auto played “When You Were Young” which is kinda what I was waiting for after the first few songs. It isn’t part of this album though. Overall, I love the Killers’ vibe.
This album has me split between a rating more than any of the 200+ we’ve rated so far. On one hand, there’s a four song stretch of hits that almost every millennial knows by heart, including an all-time anthem in Mr. Brightside. On the other hand, the second half of the album is incredibly weak compared to the first. Regardless, cranking out these singles from a debut album is super impressive, even if they haven’t topped that success since. I think this is one where the singles give just enough boost to round up from a three and a half.
You want white people to dance at a wedding? Boy do I have a song for you. Did you know that "Mr. Brightside" has spent 260 weeks on the UK Top Singles Chart over the a past 13 years?! This album would be on this list for that song alone, but this band/album is anything but a one hit wonder. "Smile Like You Mean It", "Somebody Told Me", and "All These Things That I've Done" are all awesome singles in their own right. The rest of the album is just a cherry on top. Unfortunately, the layout of this album suffers from the iTunes effect (I'm guessing). When iTunes started, you could sample listen to 15 seconds of the first 3 songs of an album before you bought it. Bands started to frontload their albums with their best songs to try and sell the whole thing. I'm guessing that's what happened here. I think this album would have benefited if the big hits were a little more spread out. The back half isn't bad, but it needs a little spice added to it. I hate this rating system, because I want to give this a 9/10.
Didn't dig it. Coldplay imitating The Strokes. Synth and gospel choir were not good additions. Listenable but barely.
Mr.Brightside, Somebody Told Me, All These Things I've done are awesome.....the rest sounds like some solid Duran Duran, just unremarkable.
meh. 2.81
Modern classic.
Did you know that in Super Metroid if you place bombs in sync to Mr Brightside you can propell yourself up and sequence break?
Comin' out of my cage and I've been doin' just fine Gotta, gotta be down because I want it all It started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this? It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss Now I'm falling asleep and she's calling a cab While he's having a smoke and she's taking a drag Now they're goin' to bed and my stomach is sick And it's all in my head, but she's touching his Chest now He takes off her dress now Let me go And I just can't look, it's killing me They're taking control Jealousy Turning saints into the sea Swimming through sick lullabies Choking on your alibi But it's just the price I pay Destiny is calling me Open up my eager eyes 'Cause I'm Mr. Brightside This is a pretty great album. 5/5
Fun album all the way through.
Some songs are just good. I hate the style though, and Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll is a dogshit song. Will I listen to again: 5%
This link took me to a version with an extra track from the US release - interesting, while it's more generic I prefer 'Change Your Mind' to the irritating 'Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll'. While it's part of a 2000s soup, it does sound better than the other Indie bands of this time, and has held up relatively well. I think? 'Mr Brightside', however, can fuck right off. I'll see you at the next wedding no doubt.
How can a debut album be this good? How did they know how to do that?
Come on, it's a millennial staple. Additionally, outside of the major hits like "Mr. Brightside," songs like "Smile Like You Mean It," "On Top," and "Midnight Show" are just as good, if not better.
I loved this when I was younger. I still do but I used to too
Has lost a little bit of its luster over the years for me but still a top tier album. -1 because I don’t trust Mormons
Irriterande
I love it
This is now the third album I've already listened to, and the second I own. And it's hard to rate, because I love the Killers, but I don't think this album is nearly as good as Sam's Town, Battle Born, or even Imploding The Mirage. The next albums are going to have better deep cuts. Some of these, like Midnight Show, feel like scrapped bit of other songs on the album. It's ultimately a fine debut, with one huge hit, that will lead to much better work down the line.
This album was awesome. It’s like teenage romance. Passionate, volatile, endearing. Loved the mix of rock and pop with synth. The bass in the intro track just hooked me. The ending was a bit too tongue in cheek for me, but it gets the job done. Standouts: Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine, Mr. Brightside, Smile Like You Mean It, Somebody Told Me, All These Things That I’ve Done, On Top, Change Your Mind, and Midnight Show.
Just brilliant 👏
literally only tried for the first three songs, they're calling it the worst closer in history, tragic loss of life, etcetera, etcetera.
I have listened to this whole album before but I relistened to part of it and remembered how good it is! Love smile like you mean it the most
What can I say....., you will have to go a long way to find a better debut album than this. Every song is top notch. Mr Brightside and All these things are 2 songs I hear all the time covered by local amateur pub bands and they always get great reception. I was at Glastonbury 2019 with my Girlfriend (now wife) and my Daughter when the Killers headlined and I can honestly say it was the best live performance I have ever attended and I've been to a lot! Great band, great album
The first half of the album was excellent 5/5 but the second half was like a cheap copy of the first half.
A timeless classic. I used to love it back during my uni days, and though my music preferences have changed considerably since then, I still occasionally put this album on. I doubt 'Mr Brightside' will ever go out of style. 4 stars
4.5 rounded up, a lot of bangers and at its worst is still listenable
First half amazing, second half not so much
This album is so aggressively bland. Realistically it's probably a 3, but owing to the critical acclaim that it simply doesn't deserve I'm punishing it.
Didn’t realise they had so many bangers on this album
Somebody told me to smile like you mean it, as it was only a kiss, only a kiss. And then some other songs until Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll. Gotta respect the bangers, but the back-to-back anthems are tiring.
Timeless classic. Indie rock done to perfection. Smile Like You Mean It in my top 10 songs of all time. Incredible live band.
A banger after banger stacked DEBUT album. It's perfect, ends perfectly. 2004/5 summed up in 50 mins
электронщина. не люблю альтернативу не много её слушал сравнивать почти не с чем. моментами было норм. звучат как саундтреки из подросткового малобюджетного фильма. 2/5.
First album off the list that I own. A classic, lots of great songs.
Its alright a lot of just okay songs mixed with some pretty great ones