The Killers - Hot Fuss

A lot of the time, it's harder to write reviews about stuff that you love than it is to write about stuff that you hate. Not just because love is so much more intangible, but because it's that much harder to pull a disc out of your car, bring it into your office and make yourself be objective. But that's the job of a music reviewer. Love it or hate it, you've got to back it up. The buzz surrounding The Killers right now is palpable. One recent Saturday morning, I saw the video for "Somebody Told Me" three times in a two hour period on different video channels. Now if that's not buzz, I'm not sure what is. Personal friends, whose musical tastes I trust, were going on and on about how they couldn't stop listening to the record, and the band is becoming hip tv darlings, with stints on the OC and other shows of the moment. If you're like me, that much buzz makes you leary of a band, almost cynical to the point of dodging the music altogether. But, like thousands before me, I gave in to the hype and popped in Hot Fuss hoping for the best. I'm happy to say that I was not at all disappointed, but it wasn't an immediate sale. Even the single "Somebody Told Me" had to grow on me. But it didn't take long. I'd say by the third spin, it was settled. I really like this record. One thing that I admire is the ability that The Killers have to blend indie rock with glam and the intelligent use of keyboards. There is not one time on this record where there is gratuitous use of keyboard or where it feels like the arrangement was not completely thought out. And yet, they manage to stear clear of having a purely retro sound. "Andy, Your A Star" is a quirky little song with a lazy hook ("Hey shut up/Hey shut up/Yeah") that has you singing along in seconds flat. And "On Top" is a great song, again with that careful use of keyboards matched up against strong guitars and slightly distorted vocals. The hard-driving power guitars of "Midnight Show" back up The Killers' cool indie rock cred, leaving no doubt that these Vegas boys mean loads of business. There have been a lot of people focusing on the singles on the album thus far, and while there's no denying the power of the gospel-infused "All These Things That I've Done" and the video über-success of "Somebody Told Me," don't shortchange yourself by neglecting the nooks and crannies of this record. The reward comes in being receptive to the whole package. Hot Fuss is yet another entry in the crowded race for album of the year in my book. [www.thekillersmusic.com]