The Killers

Formed in 2001, The Killers are an American band led by Brandon Flowers as the lead vocalist, Dave Keuning on the guitars & background vocals, Mark Stoermer on the bass and Ronnie Vannucci Jr on the drums & percussion. The name ‘The Killers’ was derived from a logo on the bass drum of a fictitious band - I should give you all the extras that are given on 'Wikipedia' and all the numerous sites, but that will obviously bore the life out of you. 

We are in this for the music and The Killers delivered exactly that with four studio albums: Hot Fuss, Sam’s Town, Day & Age and Battle Born. All four albums have gone to number one in the UK and Ireland and combined they have sold an estimated 22 million albums worldwide. Should I add their b-sides and rarities compilation, Sawdust or a live album, Live from the Royal Albert Hall and a greatest hits album Direct Hits or their annual Christmas singles like, “Don’t Shoot Me Santa” “Boots” or “Joel the Lump of Coal”?

With their first album, Hot Fuss, the tunes were iridescent, dark and painfully fun; the album put songs about late-night murders and high school crushes back to back. It was strange, and it was not cool at all, and it was so, so cool.

Presenting to you my Top 5 songs by The Killers hoping you will listen to them and probably fall for them like i did. Here it goes

“When You Were Young” (from Sam’s Town, 2006)

There is something inescapably awesome about this song. This maybe the only one of a few times that the killers’ experiment in rugged Americana has actually come out exactly as they had planned. “He doesn’t look a thing like Jesus, but he talks like a gentleman…….”

Under The Gun (from Sawdust, 2007)

If you’re one of the many singing along to the likes of “Mr. Brightside” and “When You Were Young”, you probably aren’t familiar with this little treat, but it is worth your time. Hot and full of youthful energy, this rarity from the Hot Fuss sessions is as sweet as it is seriously sharp.

“Mr. Brightside” (from Hot Fuss, 2004)

This was the dark, dangerous power anthem for most romantically mistreated teens in the mid-2000s. Though it’s not the best example of The Killers’ melodic brand of synthy eccentricity, it is a brilliant case of tying internal angst with expressive, open-air rage.

“Somebody Told Me” (from Hot Fuss, 2004)

This is the killers playing the very best of their theatrical instincts, gravely chugging through the verse, yelping and whining through the bridge. It’s melodic too: Flowers’ voice nimbly works through a classically disco chord progression in a pop vocal line smart enough to compete with his top 10 influences. “Somebody told me you had a boyfriend who looked like a girlfriend that I had in February of last year”

“Human” (from Day & Age, 2008)

I am the weird kind who will listen in to request shows, but never request for anything (aren’t we all?) and I could count the number of people who request for this particular song. It is that popular among people and yes, it is an amazing song. The lyrics “Are we human, or are we dancer?” created much more confusion and debate due to its grammar and ambiguity, with some believing it was “dancers” or “denser” rather than “dancer”. According to Flowers, the line was inspired by a Hunter S. Thompson quote where he stated America was raising “a generation of dancers”. It has been voted by one poll as the most confusing song lyric of all time.

 

Random Picks

Tranquilize
Shot At The Night

Bones (video directed by Tim Burton)

Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll

Smile Like You Mean It

Just Another Girl

You can share your best songs by The Killers using the hashtag, #RockSunday

....................... written by Jo Heath@Joabyxnx