Hot Fuss

iTunes Review

The British Invasion for the new millennium isn’t coming from England, but from inside the United States, where bands like the Killers emulate decades bygone with wonky synths and peppy, glam melodies that recall the days of Bowie, New Order, and Duran Duran. Ditched by his synth-pop group Blush Response, singer-keyboardist Brandon Flowers teamed with guitarist Dave Keuning in the Las Vegas sun and within a week had penned “Mr. Brightside,” the band’s first single and a musical blueprint for their debut album. Combining lyrically ambitious narratives – “Jenny Was A Friend of Mine” and “Midnight Show” confront murder, “Andy, You’re a Star” a stalker – with musically lush and anthemic riffs, the Killers instill their music with a sense of urgent drama and cinematic intrigue. “All These Things That I’ve Done” adds a gospel choir, whereas the single “Somebody Told Me” settles for an irrepressible chorus that sounds like the Human League discovering heavy metal in an after-hours leather bar.