The Killers came out of Vegas in 2002 and have what I would call a sort of '80s throwback alternative sound going on. Everyone remembers when Hot Fuss came out because they scored about 3 radio hits with that record and became a household name. That period around 2004-2006 The Killers were on top on the alternative music scene and garnered much success from singles like, "Mr. Brightside" and "All These Things That I Have Done."
They really had to prove themselves on their next album, which can be an impossible thing to do when your first is such a smash success. In 2006, they came out with Sam's Town, which lead singer Brandon Flowers says came from a hotel/slash gambling hall in Vegas. Brandon Flowers also said the single "Read My Mind" was the best song that the band had ever written. The inspiration for the bridge in the song came from Kurt Cobain singing it to him in a dream. The other single off the album was "When You Were Young." Both songs stuck with the sound The Killers mastered on Hot Fuss and could have been on that record as well.
Apparently the critical as well as retail success of those records went straight to Flowers' head because all he has done since is come off arrogant and cocky. His label Island Records carried The Bravery and Fall Out Boy and he was once quoted as saying that those two bands "are riding on the coattails of the success of The Killers." This did not go over well with The Bravery, and a short fight ensued. It has since been resolved, and Flowers admitted he was not proud of his actions.
Most recently The Killers put out Day & Age. This record has not gained as much success as the previous ones and has only produced one hit single, "Human." This song drives me nuts. The line in the song goes, "Are we human or are we dancer?" I went crazy trying to figure out why they worded it that way and what the hell it meant. Turns out Flowers was making a reference to the late Hunter S. Thompson who once quipped that America was raising "a generation of dancers." This still irks me to this day. First of all, Hunter S. Thompson hated electronically created music and would shit all over the amount on '80s synth The Killers reproduce. And as far as dropping the 's' off humans and dancers? Flowers told Rolling Stone that he was irritated over the confusion about the lyrics and also that fans were unhappy with the song's dance beat: "It's supposed to be a dance song, [the beat] goes with the chorus...If you can't put that together, you're an idiot. I just don't get why there's a confusion about it." Go ahead buddy, attack your fans, great idea.
They really had to prove themselves on their next album, which can be an impossible thing to do when your first is such a smash success. In 2006, they came out with Sam's Town, which lead singer Brandon Flowers says came from a hotel/slash gambling hall in Vegas. Brandon Flowers also said the single "Read My Mind" was the best song that the band had ever written. The inspiration for the bridge in the song came from Kurt Cobain singing it to him in a dream. The other single off the album was "When You Were Young." Both songs stuck with the sound The Killers mastered on Hot Fuss and could have been on that record as well.
Apparently the critical as well as retail success of those records went straight to Flowers' head because all he has done since is come off arrogant and cocky. His label Island Records carried The Bravery and Fall Out Boy and he was once quoted as saying that those two bands "are riding on the coattails of the success of The Killers." This did not go over well with The Bravery, and a short fight ensued. It has since been resolved, and Flowers admitted he was not proud of his actions.
Most recently The Killers put out Day & Age. This record has not gained as much success as the previous ones and has only produced one hit single, "Human." This song drives me nuts. The line in the song goes, "Are we human or are we dancer?" I went crazy trying to figure out why they worded it that way and what the hell it meant. Turns out Flowers was making a reference to the late Hunter S. Thompson who once quipped that America was raising "a generation of dancers." This still irks me to this day. First of all, Hunter S. Thompson hated electronically created music and would shit all over the amount on '80s synth The Killers reproduce. And as far as dropping the 's' off humans and dancers? Flowers told Rolling Stone that he was irritated over the confusion about the lyrics and also that fans were unhappy with the song's dance beat: "It's supposed to be a dance song, [the beat] goes with the chorus...If you can't put that together, you're an idiot. I just don't get why there's a confusion about it." Go ahead buddy, attack your fans, great idea.
The Killers are playing on Sunday night at the same time as Jane's Addiction. If I had to choose I would go with The Killers since I never really got why Perry Farrell thinks Jane's Addiction is good enough to reunite. What do they have past "Been Caught Stealin'? The Killers should at least put on a good stage show and with the amount of hits they created over the past 6 years they should play at least one song you used to love.
These guys definitely don't deserve to be headliners.
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