‘Breaking our back’ just to make this list…
Very few albums released in the last decade have resonated and been embraced by the Irish public as much as The Killers’ 2005 debut ‘Hot Fuss.’
The Las Vegas band’s chart-topping debut provided the soundtrack for many an Irish student, including this particular JOE, and it remained in the UK Top 40 for almost three-and-a-half years.
Today marks the first time that the album went to the top of the charts so we’ve decided to rank our five favourite tracks from the album.
5) Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
Let’s be honest, they had us all in their pockets as soon as we heard those rotating helicopter blades that were seamlessly mixed into the swirling guitar.
Brandon Flowers gives his most emotive vocals on the opening track, which is sung from the perspective of a boy that has been taken in for questioning regarding a girl’s (Jenny) murder.
The tour de force on the track is from bassist Mark Stoermer’s powerful and melodic bassline. The band seemed quite happy to show their influences right from the start as the sounds of New Order, The Cure and Duran, Duran all feature heavily.
4) Everything Will Be Alright
This song always reminded us of one of those tunes that’s played at the end of a house party, as some people still look for a bit of a buzz while others prefer to chill out and go with the flow.
The Killers ended the album on a swaying, hypnotic and optimistic note, which was a brave move considering the strong choice of tracks available.
It was the right decision, although it sounds like Brandon Flowers is singing through his sleeve jacket at times as he waxes lyrical about the pursuit, mystery and intrigue that comes from longing over ‘that’ girl.
3) Mr Brightside
Overplayed? Yes.
Brilliant? You bet your ass.
The opening chords, that sound like the most beautiful danceable doorbell chiming, instantly grab your attention, but what makes this song so engaging is that Flowers doesn’t delay his vocals… he came out of his cage in a hurry.
His shotgun delivery in the opening chorus is almost reminiscent of a rap artist, while the decision to tell everyone that “it was only a kiss, it was only a kiss” was genius, because it instantly gave fans a hook that they could sing over and over again.
On reflection, the song is extremely odd because the rhythm, tempo and energy is upbeat and infectious, while the lyrics are dark, depicting a story about a man that descends into the realms of jealousy, paranoia and loneliness as he suspects his girlfriend is cheating on him.
The song was nominated for a Grammy but lost out to Maroon 5’s ‘This Love.’
How? This YouTube video has 100,902,347 views alone.
2) Somebody Told Me
The band have never been as close to replicating New Order as they were on this track, with a brilliant mix of guitars, synths and dancefloor beats.
The song also was proof of Flowers’ knack for writing lyrics that instantly dwell in your mind, especially with the superb encompassing words, “somebody told me you had a boyfriend who looked like a girlfriend I had in February of last year.”
1) All These Things That I’ve Done
With similar trademarks to a gospel song, this tune demands to be sung out-loud by an 80,000 stadium crowd.
The anthem also bears Brandon Flowers’ favourite line from the album “these changes ain’t changing me”, while the most quoted line, “I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier”, refers to the singer’s struggle between the demands of his Mormon faith and the temptations of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.
That moment on 2:31 has become engrained in Irish music fans at festivals, nights out and drunken sing-a-longs everywhere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh_VBnhYTJw
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