The Killers
Biography
Few bands in the mid-2000s rose so quickly to the forefront of pop music as Las Vegas quartet the Killers. With a mix of '80s-styled synth pop and fashionista charm, the band's street-smart debut, Hot Fuss, became one of 2004's biggest releases, spawning four singles and catapulting the group -- particularly their dandyish, 22-year-old frontman, Brandon Flowers -- into the international spotlight. Hot Fuss reveled in the garish glitz of the band's native Las Vegas, spinning tales of androgynous girlfriends and illicit affairs to a public whose taste for revivalist dance-rock would prove to be virtually insatiable. Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, and the Bravery all benefited from such retro-minded interest, but the Killers unapologetically trumped them all -- even when their sophomore effort, Sam's Town, deemphasized the group's new wave sensibilities in favor of something more akin to the heartland rock of Bruce Springsteen and Rattle and Hum-era U2.
Brandon Flowers (vocals/keyboards), David Keuning (guitar), Mark Stoermer (bass), and Ronnie Vannucci (drums) first came together in 2002, two years before the stylish Hot Fuss introduced their band to the public. Flowers had been sacked by his former synth pop band, Blush Response, after refusing to move to Los Angeles alongside his bandmates.
Selected Discography
I've heard many people complain about "Sam's Town," but after "Hot Fuss" the Killers had to choose between trying to duplicate that admittedly great album or going in a different direction. "Sam's Town" is practically a Springsteen tribute CD (I can easily imagine Springsteen singing about half these songs), but it works. By the way, I saw them live last year and was surprised how entertaining they were. Brandon Flowers was the most charismatic lead singer I'd seen in a long while.
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"glamorous indie rock and roll" on sawdust is FANTASTIC!
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Come on!!! They're alright but derivative driven. See the Cure... but be prepared for less of a fake rock disguise.
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i luv the killers they r just amazing. i luv somebody told me and when u were young
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I can't get enough of Mr. Brightside!! !
Anytime it comes on in my car I turn it up soooooo loud (probably too loud) and sing along because it is Amazing with a capital A!!! |
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Okay, about two years ago i found an ipod at my bustop..
The entire hotfuss album was on there, naturally i was curious, "the killers". I havent let go since, they are fantastic really. |
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They are and always will be my favorite band ever. You just can't beat them...they' r e so versatile. Hot Fuss was Brit-pop ish, Sam's Town was a more American sound, and Sawdust was a great compilation type album. And the next one soon! :D
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killers is one of those bands that if i'm in a certain mood i really love them, but if I'm not- well, it's like a cheese grater on my ears.
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The Killer sort of "grew" on me and after listening to what was playing airwise I listened to their body of work....they culled their music from their heroes and added their own spin....this is the evolution of music, as it were. Who needs to be original...o r i g i n a l can suck, too. But music that grabs at you and won't let you go...that's what the Killers added.
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ive loved these guys forever and im dyin for them to come out with a new album!!<3
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i tried really hard not to like this band. i started out listening to more prog stuff and classic rock and more advanced musicianship , lots of classic jazz masters and stuff. this was to pop for me, but i listeded to sam's town and it was just addictive, as were the next two. love them, and they've helped to broaden my musical horizons. sweet talk and my list are great, midnight show blows my mind.
i wish my band could be this exciting to listen to. |
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Thought it was James when I first heard. Turns out the two songs went back to back in Pandora (started thread with David Bowie!)
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these guys are a little poppy for me but not bad for a pop band. Nice music overall
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bromide.01 you crack me up with your "safe" comment. :)
Killers fall into the realm of guilty pleasure for me. Music doesn't always have to have "cred" or be ZOMG DEEP for me to enjoy it, y'know? |
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f-ing A, whats ur problem? u hate them so much u keep coming back here to complain, if u dont like them DONT LISTEN, its not too difficult, watch ull probly reply to this cause u monitor this daily
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F**kin A is 100% correct.I wish you all would give in and agree with him(or her), come on dont fight it,just give in and please realize...TH E Y SUCK BALLS!!!!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
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im pretty much in agreement w/ Jay Pork's post, i think its good to evolve as a band. but sawdust is not there best. hey at its not screamo..lol
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I heard these guys are pretty safe. They always wear their seat belts and reflective clothing at night.
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A huge risk they took was releasing Sawdust, i think its a B-sides collection, that record is weird man, thats my description of it. But the Killers are a good band, and i hate everything that comes out nowadays. The Killers on my iPod....
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Yeah, these guys pretty much rock a lot. Especially Mr. Brightside, one of their best songs.
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The mid 2000s is like saying the mid 90s, in ten years it will be the mid 20 teens or something awkward like that. And the Killers Rock!
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Whoever said they're "safe", you're desperately wrong. One of the reasons the Killers are so fantastic is BECAUSE they take risks; they play what they want to play, regardless of the pressures of the media surrounding them. Every song, every album is completely unexpected! They are anything but "safe".
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"...in the mid-2000s... "
Who wrote this crap? We just entered the 21st century! Anyway, give that genius a raise!! |
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