The Killers

Emboldened by a '04-'05 run that rendered them one of the biggest bands on the planet, the Killers drop their follow-up to Hot Fuss like a water balloon from the ninth floor -- splash! Sam's Town is a concept record, concerning the lives of down-on-their-luck folks itching -- at times dying for -- a little break. Often it's the music that picks them up: brash horns, whizzing synths and hooks as bright and eerie as the lights of the Vegas strip. This LP doesn't nail that mix of U2/Springsteen/Stones like its predecessor, losing some steam because of limp lyrics. But it's still quite a ride.

Why, Killers? Why? It's the oldest story in the New Wave book: (1) Boys get famous wearing
makeup and acting tarty to impress girls; (2) Boys wash off makeup and act sincere to
impress boys; (3) It never works. Loads of the original New Wave bands fell into this trap,
but the difference with the Killers is that we all thought they were too smart to take
themselves seriously. On their smash 2004 debut, Hot Fuss, the Killers were danc... More >