• Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Jun 15, 2004
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 373 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 22 out of 373

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  1. jyotirmayad
    Jul 10, 2005
    9
    Refreshing, exhiilarating, good energy -- this band has a good future.
  2. ExecutionerJones
    Feb 12, 2006
    9
    They're so tight, that when they turn it all on it hits you like a bomb blast! Incredible album.
  3. Helene
    Dec 18, 2005
    9
    I love Mr. Brightside. The lyrics, the music, and the video to that one song make the whole CD worth buying and the Killers worth listening to. And it's worth listening to again... and again... and again... and again. I should know; I've had it on repeat for the past two hours. haha...
  4. SP
    Mar 18, 2005
    9
    Can't believe the low score from the 'proper' reviews for this album. it's the best album i've heard fro ages, perhaps one or two weak songs but worth more then 65.
  5. Frank
    Apr 23, 2005
    9
    Only misses out on a 10 because of two songs that have rather repetitive choruses. I am glad to have spent my hard earned money on this album, and I am glad I bought it new - which is something I rarely do.
  6. carlos
    May 16, 2005
    9
    good beats love it
  7. JulieK
    Jan 18, 2006
    9
    The best album in years. And yes, I mean years! These guys have what most bands lack now(i e Good Charlotte, Simple Plan) Talent and style. Although very influenced by bands of the 80's, they still come out with a sound that's all their own. Great album!
  8. MateoG.
    Jul 18, 2009
    9
    One of my favorite albums of all time! Yeah!
  9. franm
    Dec 14, 2006
    9
    its a great album, i love the song "andy your a star" its very underground, also "midnigt show", and... well a lot. Its great to listen it in the bus when you go to college, it really wake you up. PS: I´m chilean (south america for the people who think its a spice) and here they have a lot of fans
  10. j30
    Nov 8, 2011
    9
    A near flawless pop rock album. From the opening bass line of Jenny Was a Friend of Mine you're under the Killers spell and you have no choice, but to dance your ass off.
  11. Nov 1, 2017
    9
    One of my favourite albums of the 00's. Full of catchy Indie rock and roll and has some of the best rock singles of the last decade. Mr Brightside, although played to death, remains a classic. This whole album suffers from U2 syndrome - great songs but overplayed to the point where you almost are sick of the music. I'd love to hear this record for the first time again as it was amazing.One of my favourite albums of the 00's. Full of catchy Indie rock and roll and has some of the best rock singles of the last decade. Mr Brightside, although played to death, remains a classic. This whole album suffers from U2 syndrome - great songs but overplayed to the point where you almost are sick of the music. I'd love to hear this record for the first time again as it was amazing. Still if you revisit after a while away from it it's still got the freshness. Expand
  12. Dec 15, 2012
    9
    Just a great album! It's definitely my favorite Killers album. It has great songs that are great to listen to over and over again. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
  13. Apr 28, 2017
    9
    A perfect example of how professional music reviews are absolute garbage and completely useless. Pop music is mostly shallow, repetitive dribble that has its few months of popularity and then fades, but this album has serious staying power. Not only that, it's analogous to the time period, its become a nostalgic collection of anthems. Is it groundbreaking? No, but its a great album thatA perfect example of how professional music reviews are absolute garbage and completely useless. Pop music is mostly shallow, repetitive dribble that has its few months of popularity and then fades, but this album has serious staying power. Not only that, it's analogous to the time period, its become a nostalgic collection of anthems. Is it groundbreaking? No, but its a great album that has stood the test of time. While Critics praised whatever flavor of the month fluff and were lukewarm on this, when people decades from now look at music from the early 2000's, this will be one of the landmark albums. Go to a bar with live music, when they play the Killers, everyone sings along, this was the album of a generation. Expand
  14. Feb 25, 2018
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The first 8 tracks (include Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll, f*cking love that song) are absolutely epic. They all sound like hits. The last three tracks aren't as good. Still, this record is exquisitely produced, remarkably written for a first album, and drips with swagger, energy and emotion. It's one of those albums I love singing to at the top of my lungs, because all the songs are so catchy. Expand
  15. MusicMaven
    Jul 10, 2004
    8
    I'd rate this one a 7.5. It's a very enjoyable entry in the recent log of 80's influenced rock-n-roll (i.e. Stills, Stellastarr, Interpol, British Sea Power, etc). The Killers offer a little more affected style and a little less depth and substance than some of their peers, but better than half the album hits the bullseye, and the rest is a decent effort.
  16. jens
    Sep 8, 2004
    8
    not bad :-) x
  17. KyleL
    Feb 3, 2008
    8
    Paul is dead on, first five songs rock and the rest is not worht listening to.
  18. bonF
    Jul 14, 2004
    8
    this album rocks! i cant wait to see them in concert. Most of the tracks are good, from 1 all the way to 5 and track #8. I cant believe some people rated it 0. Haters!, dont hate congratulate, its music man.
  19. davidl
    Feb 20, 2005
    8
    Better with more listening. Some weak moments, but for the most part it had a hold on me in some capacity, be it emotionally or melodically. Good stuff
  20. GaryA
    Jun 8, 2005
    8
    Great first half but gets dull towards the end.
  21. Paul
    Oct 12, 2007
    8
    The first five tracks are superb the rest of the album is OK
  22. stuartk
    Jul 4, 2004
    8
    hey shut, shut up. This is great album, mostly. Well, half great; half kind of forgettable.
  23. SamD
    Oct 3, 2005
    8
    the limited edition, with indie rock and roll, ballad of valentine and under the gun, is better. also the second half of the songs do not suck! they just take some getting used to
  24. NateM
    Oct 5, 2005
    8
    This is great pop, pure and simple. I can't believe that all of the hipster mags gave such poor reviews - and sad that so many did this while comparing the band to Duran Duran or DM - there is no comparison beyond the use of keyboards. The album is in the top 5 of 2005 pop.
  25. LukeT
    Sep 11, 2006
    8
    'Hot fuss' has alot of singles that made the killers very popular indeed. Such as 'Somebody Told Me' 'All These Things Ive Done' and 'Smile Like You Mean It' They are probably the best indie/rock band at the moment and this album proves it.
  26. nattybumpo
    May 11, 2008
    8
    I agree with Paul, the first five tracks are amazing and the rest of the album is mediocre.
  27. ScottW
    Apr 30, 2009
    8
    The Killers first album is truly A killer when it comes to pop rock. Flower's voice is going to go far. On this album it dose and the band along with him. The first 5 and last song rock the album. As for the rest not so much so as to reach a 10 rating just on the songs alone. Still though its a classic and its only the first.
  28. PeterM
    Jun 17, 2004
    8
    A very well-rounded album with some creative lyrics as well.
  29. VB3
    Sep 11, 2004
    8
    Critic are jealous this album is really , but u have to adapt
  30. KarlS
    Dec 29, 2005
    8
    I read this once in a review of another music album and it holds here as well: only the terminally joyless would dislike the killers and hot fuss. Well crafted it may be, but the
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 20
  2. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Most of Hot Fuss slides by without creating much of a stir, but it's got too many memorable moments to be written off.
  2. Blender
    80
    They're not the first--or even the fifteenth--recent band to draw on that era [of the 1980s], but they're among the most assured. [#27, p.138]
  3. What's most shocking about Hot Fuss, though, is how, after five sensational songs, the rest of the album completely implodes, as the other six tracks get weighed down by too much production, a lack of memorable hooks, and some inexplicable musical touches that may have sounded clever in the studio, but wind up sounding disastrous on the CD.