Killers - Mr Brightside

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 12 / 5 / 2004

Label: Lizard King
Format: CDS

intro

Impressively urgent third single from the Killers, Las Vegas' best new band

Las Vegas' best new band finally have a massive hit with their third single, a re-recorded version of their debut 'Mr Brightside'. It sparkles like it did first time and it still has an urgency about it, even if it now has an echo effect on the vocal. The guitar and bass are up front and the 80's style keyboards help to make it float around in your head. It is perfect, but I said that first time around last September. 'Mr Brightside' has been reissued on two CDS and a coloured vinyl 7 inch. Each comes with a lovely gatefold sleeve and a pullout poster and has different tracks. The first CDS has two other tracks. 'Somebody Told Me( Insider Mix)' is a remix of the band's second single. The remix makes the band sound somethng like Client, and slows the song down. The vocal is put through a voice distorter, and generally it sounds like it could have been made in the mid 80's, but it's better. It ends with some great guitar playing that sounds like the sort of thing that Johnny Marr might do before fading out with some late 80's sounding Cure-like keyboards. 'Midnight Show(SBN Live Session) is very catchy and is reminiscent of early U2 and Big Country and has a great bit where the singer yodels like Morrissey, whom they recently supported in the States. The keyboards end it again and sound like the work of horror director John Carpenter. "Change Your Mind,' the only other track on the second CDS, is full of jangly guitar, chunky bass, and has brilliant crystal clear story telling vocals. It is frankly far too good to be a mere B side. 'Who Let You Go ?' is the B side of the 7 inch and again is very catchy. It is a tale of love and ends with the best sha-la-la-la noises you could imagine. It is again too good for a B side really. A fine band, and brilliant single. I can't wait for the album now in the middle of June...

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