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July 10, 2006

New Killers - "When You Were Young" Preview

Why am I posting a 40 second clip of the brand new Killers single? Because their Hot Fuss follow-up Sam's Town (out 10/3) is one of the best albums of the last 20 years, if you haven't heard.

The Killers - "When You Were Young" (MP3 Sample)

I'll replace the link with a full version when Fall Out Boy leaks it to me.

Posted at 2:39 PM
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133 Comments

Meh.

Posted by: los at 07/10/06 2:50 PM | Reply
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Meh X 2.

Posted by: K at 07/10/06 2:52 PM | Reply
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that was worse than the picture of tim harrington beneath it. *shudder*

Posted by: JT at 07/10/06 2:57 PM | Reply
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Flowers wasn't kidding about the Springsteen influence. Unfortunately, judging from this sample, he has a superficial understanding of what makes Springsteen's anthems soar.

Posted by: dave at 07/10/06 3:02 PM | Reply
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Man I can't wait until this album gets slammed. Apparently, making one of the "best albums in the last 20 years" involves keeping the same sound you already had and trying to incorporate bad lyrics with a Springsteen keyboard.

Posted by: Killy at 07/10/06 3:24 PM | Reply
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Oh my gosh. I love it. Love it love it love it.

I cannot wait for it to be released. But it's definitley not my favorite Killers' song.

I agree, I totally see the Springsteen influence.

Posted by: omg-er at 07/10/06 3:25 PM | Reply
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i know bruce springsteen. you're no bruce springsteen.

losers. sounds like a mountain dew comercial. fuck off already and kill yourself. that would be the best thing in music in the last 20 years.


Posted by: dinty at 07/10/06 3:29 PM | Reply
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I'm not feelin' it.

Posted by: D-Spa at 07/10/06 3:32 PM | Reply
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Man they really captured that 'Glory Days' feelin!

Posted by: f u at 07/10/06 3:40 PM | Reply
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Wow, blatant Springsteen lyrical motifs, and crappy synth = best music in 20 years???

They should call the album "Take it slow on the Highway Skyline headin for the back of a Hurricane"

Posted by: Fred at 07/10/06 3:40 PM | Reply
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He sounds like Eddie Vedder on this track - kinda goat-y.

Posted by: seeking irony at 07/10/06 3:42 PM | Reply
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i wanna say counting crows, but i don't want to hurt anybody's feelings.

Posted by: chis at 07/10/06 3:45 PM | Reply
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i hope he does a duet with willie.

there is nothing that reads 'greatest blah blah blah in 20 years' apart from the comparisons he'll get to better artists.

am i the only one who really liked their sound before with the whole keyboard and the strong bass lines and the hey hey hey it hurts me?

Posted by: steve perry at 07/10/06 3:47 PM | Reply
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he's battling bon jovi for the worst springsteen rip-off...so bon jovi ish.

Posted by: Axl at 07/10/06 3:49 PM | Reply
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It's not entirely unlistenable! Sure, the Springsteen-ness of it is a little on-the-nose, but if you're going to cop someone else'e style, you could probably do a lot worse. Don't get me wrong, I have no intention of BUYING this album... but I wouldn't object to hearing it on the radio or TV commercials or some future installment of Kids Bop.

Posted by: Joey Headset at 07/10/06 3:50 PM | Reply
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Ok - everyone gte this straight:

Springsteen = genius
The Killers = douchebags

Please let this discussion end now.

Posted by: wally at 07/10/06 3:57 PM | Reply
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what a steaming pile of crap!

Posted by: mathamatic at 07/10/06 4:05 PM | Reply
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Wow...that was like, inspirational, or something. I liked them better when they had absolutely nothing to say.

I too will be actively rooting for this album to fail miserably.

And please stop dragging Springsteen's name through the mud in connection with this group, I can't imagine anything more insulting. Seriously.

Posted by: jason at 07/10/06 4:07 PM | Reply
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their first album, which had some decent tunes, is apparently a bigger fluke than anyone - including the killers - realized.

Posted by: s at 07/10/06 4:11 PM | Reply
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Doesn't Ryan Adams have some new stuff floating around that you can post? I much prefer him and his goal of the best 20 albums of the last year.

Posted by: Lawyerlike at 07/10/06 4:13 PM | Reply
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"Seeking Irony" - love the "goat-y" comment although I personally like Vedder but yeh, throughout the clip sounds to me like Brandon is jerking off, which is what one does when they know they're creating a top 20 masterpiece........meh indeed!

Posted by: Fall Out Boys at 07/10/06 4:18 PM | Reply
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i was impressed, this is a good radio song, there arent that many of those around anymore

Posted by: Clashed at 07/10/06 4:24 PM | Reply
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"I much prefer him and his goal of the best 20 albums of the last year."

AWESOME.

Posted by: mattshu at 07/10/06 4:34 PM | Reply
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Hating on the Killers is like loving Snakes on A Plane, masturbating to your own opinion gets boring real quick

Posted by: Dan at 07/10/06 4:36 PM | Reply
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i have nothing to add on the crappiness of the song. however, someone implying the song is bad and belongs in a mountain dew commercial breaks my heart. i love mountain dew.

Posted by: safeguy at 07/10/06 4:49 PM | Reply
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touche, dan

yeah, it's a ripoff. what isn't? for something that's going to be all over the radio, at least it's halfway decent.

Posted by: alex at 07/10/06 4:53 PM | Reply
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personally i think it goes beyond being a springsteen ripoff to a damn impressive tribute to his style. you cynical stereogummers might not like it, but millions of teenagers burning down the last days of summer will, at that's the goal of this kind of music. don't hate.

Posted by: george at 07/10/06 5:14 PM | Reply
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Everyone here was so ready to hate this. And c'mon are we really going to pretend that Springsteen was/is that awesome?

Posted by: grabs the rebound at 07/10/06 5:22 PM | Reply
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haha grabs' got a point...

Posted by: rgr_moore at 07/10/06 5:27 PM | Reply
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He does? Huh. Coulda fooled me.

Posted by: David at 07/10/06 5:37 PM | Reply
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springsteen IS awesome. but let's not forget that born to run, though awesome, is also incredibly cheesy sounding. could you imagine it coming out today and the title track being posted here? it would get flammed to high heaven. music snobs just have no ear for good contemporary mainstream rock.

Posted by: george at 07/10/06 5:39 PM | Reply
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You can keep The Killers. I'll just keep listening to Low, thanks. That's what the kids at BYU are rockin' out to. Even. As. We. Speak.

Posted by: Maggot von Yorkington at 07/10/06 5:46 PM | Reply
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Random Music snob comment.

Posted by: Random Music Snob at 07/10/06 6:14 PM | Reply
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shit sandwich.

Posted by: frank at 07/10/06 6:23 PM | Reply
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This isnt even remotely enough of the song to judge it, without having any sense where in the song this clip is, what the build-up to it is like and whatnot anything more than compareing a few cords to older songs but you can't really judge if the song is any good.

Posted by: SkiSax22 at 07/10/06 6:30 PM | Reply
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stop reading my mind, frank.

Posted by: Matt at 07/10/06 6:46 PM | Reply
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I think Indie Band You've Never Heard Of is way better than this. Getting in the Top 40 is totally not art.

Posted by: everyman at 07/10/06 6:47 PM | Reply
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This pretentious, ponderous rock psalm prompts the question "On what day did God create The Killers, and couldn't he have rested on that day too?"

Posted by: Laflin at 07/11/06 1:08 AM | Reply
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Wow, how horribly generic. How can Brandon Flowers keep saying that they're the best band in the world if they have to resort to echo and various obvious vocal effects to cover up the failings of his voice?

http://www.musictimes.com.au

Posted by: Music Times at 07/11/06 2:02 AM | Reply
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"This isnt even remotely enough of the song to judge it, without having any sense where in the song this clip is, what the build-up to it is like and whatnot anything more than compareing a few cords to older songs but you can't really judge if the song is any good."

Posted by: kev at 07/11/06 2:12 AM | Reply
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It sounds rather american. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't very interested in hearing the whole song...in a good way.

Posted by: Max Imam at 07/11/06 2:52 AM | Reply
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From that snippet, one could easily tell they sound very different from before. Now to be certain whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, we'll have to wait a full three months more, which is a bummer -- for both fans and non-fans (it's too long a time to wait to take them down and rip them to pieces!!!). As for Brandon's voice, I think they hardly put any effect on that at all. If they computerized it, it would've been more amazing than that 'coz that just sounds like plain Brandon to me. Whether that's good or bad, well, we all have different tastes.

Posted by: finn at 07/11/06 3:10 AM | Reply
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his singing is terrible, as anyone who's seen them live can attest, on their previous record they managed to cover it up, but this time the cat's out of the bag. a screeching wobbly cat on heat. and the track sounds like a late period suede to me....

Posted by: the idiot at 07/11/06 3:54 AM | Reply
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Does the vocal sound a little Roy Orbison-esque to anyone else? Weird. First Justin Timberlake goes all robo-androgyne and now Brandon Flowers goes Pretty Woman.

Posted by: Gary at 07/11/06 4:43 AM | Reply
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Springsteen is a god, if only everyone copied him

Posted by: bob at 07/11/06 5:20 AM | Reply
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Sounds like a 27th rate Bon Jovi clone with a wall of Casios.

Shit Sandwich indeed, but sprinkled with cocaine.

Posted by: Tony G at 07/11/06 9:09 AM | Reply
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not as good as radiohead, and all that shit you wankers listen to.

Posted by: matt at 07/11/06 10:39 AM | Reply
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was never a fan. but that is particularly awful. his voice is so awkward and weak. sounds more dashboard confessional than springsteen.

Posted by: trousermouse at 07/11/06 10:43 AM | Reply
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i have a good feeling that finding a good track on this album will be like that south park episode when the kids are voting on new class mascot, deciding between douche bag or turd sandwich....

Posted by: Julio Enriquez at 07/11/06 12:48 PM | Reply
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it's like they chose to pay tribute to the Boss, but instead of emulating anything worthwhile (i.e. classic songwriting, great vocals), they picked gratuitous references to highways and cheesy synth sounds from his kind-of-bad Born in the USA-era.

similar to how "emo" bands claim to be influenced by Morrissey, while the only discernible evidence of this influence is really really long song titles.

Posted by: jason at 07/11/06 1:06 PM | Reply
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Too many strings, but that's just some people's way of making something sound "epic."

Their first album was really good. People praise nada surf and weezer, but this isn't really that far removed from the good guitar rock bands of the 90s...

so it's a little emo-- it's a lot better than the screaming "i hate my dad-isms of most of that scene.

i guess it's easier to talk shit, but would you rather be hearing TRAPT on the radio? I kinda think they're the smashing pumpkins of our generation... kinda pompous, really catchy, prone to moments of ridiculous pomposity, but in 10 years time, when they come on in the bar, we'll all be saying "these guys were actually pretty awesome."

Posted by: Kip at 07/11/06 3:05 PM | Reply
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I kind of enjoyed it, but his voice sounded very weak and wobbly unlike their last cd.

Posted by: Ryan at 07/11/06 5:44 PM | Reply
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Jason's comment above is on point. Springsteen's arguably worth looking up to more than Duran Duran or whoever their previous influences were, yeah, but I still don't know what the point is in paying attention to mediocre music when there are better things out there.

For the sake of fun rock feuds, we all have to admit it's better than Fall Out Boy.

The Killers are the Counting Crows to Fall Out Boy's Sister Hazel. SLAMMMM!!!!

Posted by: Patrik at 07/11/06 6:59 PM | Reply
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To me this sounds like Conor Oberst fronting a shitty Springsteen cover band. In other words, bad.

Posted by: burnwash at 07/11/06 9:35 PM | Reply
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Sorry. On second listen, it's more like a gay, British Conor Oberst fronting a shitty Springsteen cover band.

Posted by: burnwash at 07/11/06 9:38 PM | Reply
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You can not post the whole song because it will be able to buy in a couple of months so you will be breaking the law (plus the full song has already been played)

Posted by: nintendo at 07/12/06 3:18 PM | Reply
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This song has leaked, but I can't find it anywhere. They've been playing it on KROQ, apparently. And I heard this clip does it NO justice, so don't be so cynical. I love The Killers, by the way, but I'm not trying to be biased. It's a good song after a few listens, but it doesn't exactly pop the way some songs on Hot Fuss did. And I have to agree Brandon's voice sounds more wobbly, which is really a shame. I'm not entirely sure why he's doing that now, but I wonder if he'll do that on tour.

Posted by: Jamie at 07/12/06 3:53 PM | Reply
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Oh, and when I first heard this the first thing that popped into my head was Bon Jovi's "Livin On A Prayer". Which is a good thing, to me.

Posted by: Jamie at 07/12/06 4:02 PM | Reply
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Its shocking to me how many haters there are out there. Finally a band comes around that writes songs with real integrity and breaks into the mainstream (and sells a few records) and everyone is quick to shoot them down. They are trying to evolve-- that is admirable. Most of the music "cognoscenti" that are blabbing about the Springsteen reference would never have even caught it had it not been placed in their feeble minds. If Hot Fuss had sold 250K they'd be hailing the band kings of the indie-rock world.

Since when do we critique new music based on 30-second clips anyway?

Posted by: Tannylyle at 07/12/06 4:40 PM | Reply
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you guys are really pounding on this song. i can be honest, i didn't like this song upon first hearing it. i was very dissapointed. after listening to it a a few days later, it really grew on me. in my opinion, its a really good song (hard to base it on a 40 second clip). his voice is very good, and those who say he is dependent on effects, have you ever heard them live? he sounds very much the same. there one of the best live bands ive seen.
until we here a full song, please dont pound this song to dust.

Posted by: Joe at 07/12/06 5:52 PM | Reply
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Someone post the full version

Posted by: steve at 07/12/06 6:29 PM | Reply
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I guess I can be biased and say I LOVE it
because all of you people are being biased in saying it (as in the 40 SECOND preview) sucked. But the snippet and the full version I think are awesome whether I liked them before or hated them.
Bruce Springsteen is an INFLUENCE as in they aren't covering his songs or making something they predicted would come from him so stop comparing The Killers to Bruce Springsteen because those are 2 different sounds.

Posted by: qqqqqqq at 07/12/06 9:34 PM | Reply
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does anyone have the full version?

Posted by: tyhler at 07/12/06 9:42 PM | Reply
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it has been overrated by anyone who says its best music in 20 years, and its not the best of the killers either. But its just 40 seconds of a single. Also, anyone who picks on his voice in this track, its really crappy mp3 format, get it on vinyl or at least the cd before you say it sux.

Posted by: james andrew at 07/12/06 9:52 PM | Reply
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it has been overrated by anyone who says its best music in 20 years, and its not the best of the killers either. But its just 40 seconds of a single. Also, anyone who picks on his voice in this track, its really crappy mp3 format, get it on vinyl or at least the cd before you say it sux.

Posted by: james andrew at 07/12/06 9:53 PM | Reply
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Maybe Brandon Flowers should spend less time on his mascara and more time on living up to his inflated prediciton. "Hot Fuss," unbelieveable, but we all know that an artist is truely measured by their sophomore release. I wait with open arms though.

Posted by: jared at 07/13/06 9:40 AM | Reply
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Hello Stereogum,

I'm a producer of xfm radio in Lonodon, love your website.

To let you know we're playing the new Killers single in full today 13th July at 4.15pm GMT. Listen at www.xfm.co.uk

All the best

Paul

Posted by: Paul Raffaelli at 07/13/06 9:45 AM | Reply
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Shitty.. missed it.. Anyone catch it?

Posted by: Stefan at 07/13/06 11:57 AM | Reply
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Any song that can exert excitement amongst the lowest time in radio history is saying something, and by the way, Springsteen emulated Dylan,
Tommy Marolda / The Toms

Posted by: TomKat at 07/13/06 4:00 PM | Reply
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Any song that can exert excitement in todays dull radio environment is saying something, and by the way, Springsteen emulated Dylan,
Tommy / The Toms

Posted by: TomKat at 07/13/06 4:03 PM | Reply
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This clip really doesn't do the track any justice, it's the worst bit infact! Having heard the song in full, I love it! I think it's probably a bit of a grower too, very girly though!

Posted by: nat at 07/13/06 5:39 PM | Reply
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Check out www.islandrecords.com/thekillers/ for more.

Posted by: bmballer at 07/13/06 5:41 PM | Reply
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TomKat hit the nail right on the head. Bruce emulated Dylan and everyone was up in arms about it. "Haters" some might say. Then that style became all his own. Who talks about Bruce biting Dylan anymore-- nobody.

Posted by: tannylyle at 07/13/06 7:09 PM | Reply
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if this is their single .? and im sick of the 40 second clip already //... they got problems

THE SHOULD LEARN FROM THE BEST .... TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS.....


P.S THE BRAVERY ARE FUCKING BETTER !!!!!

Posted by: mike at 07/13/06 10:58 PM | Reply
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Let´s not forget the wonderful album that hot fuss was, i mean, we don't have to pretend a magic album, it´s gonna be a good one but i don´t think it will replace easily his perfect brother hot fuss, i notice something weird in brandon´s voice, but i really like it,

Posted by: Ariel at 07/13/06 11:10 PM | Reply
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I heard the entire thing on Sirius tonight, and yes, your suspicions are correct. It's fucking brutal.

Posted by: will at 07/13/06 11:49 PM | Reply
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The Killers....Best New Band of the year obviously u who say they are crap arnt the majority..and listen wait what are u doing right now...? yeh not anything close to what these guys have done so have a nice cup of shut the fuck up kk thanx bye now

the killers are one step below U2 and they just started

Posted by: Dan at 07/14/06 12:04 AM | Reply
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why's everyone saying it sounds like springsteen? if anything, it's all billy joel!

Posted by: kory at 07/14/06 12:41 AM | Reply
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IT doesn't matter what they do. all of you will hate them and their new music. it can be gold.. but it won't matter.

this happens with a lot of bands.

Posted by: hm at 07/14/06 1:00 AM | Reply
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I think everyone's getting a little over-excited about a 40 second clip... I think it's wiser to be non-judgemental until the full release in October.

Posted by: Nick Groll at 07/14/06 4:14 AM | Reply
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well the full version is way better than the clip on here,im sure you will hear it soon cos all the big radio stations have it..radio 1 played it this morning! cant wait to hear the rest of the album..

Posted by: amy at 07/14/06 8:06 AM | Reply
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never the killers biggest fan, i did like hot fuss but this is really......bland. hopefully the rest of the album will be better.

Posted by: opiun at 07/14/06 10:25 AM | Reply
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Mike your an idiot The Bravery blow and can't even compare to The Killers. The Killers worst songs are better than The Bravery.

Posted by: Steve at 07/14/06 11:02 AM | Reply
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I am actually very fond of this new style. Hot fuss was a very good album and I think that's why people are slagging this song. It was a hard album to live up to. Anyway, the song is of crappy quality anyway and it will be better on CD. I love The Killers and Im sure that this new album is going to be great. The best music in 20 years? We'll have to wait and see won't we. But don't smash on the song, anyone who does that is either, drugged up, hypocritical, drugged up, jealous, too opinionated or drugged up.

Posted by: ben at 07/14/06 11:07 AM | Reply
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Just got the full version of the song, its a fucking amazing song.
They're my favaourite band and Brandon Flowers is to die for...they are fucking awesome...

we're burning down the highway skyline on the back of a hurricaine that started turning when you were young. woooo!

Posted by: Emmo at 07/14/06 11:50 AM | Reply
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At first, i didnt like this song but it grew on me, i think its Brilliant,It's their first song for a couple of years Give them a break! I didn't know they were so many Haters out there.

Posted by: Bee at 07/14/06 12:10 PM | Reply
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I am a big Killers fan. I loved Hot Fuss. Almost every song was great (Everything Will Be Alright definitely isn't that good). Unfortunately, a snippet this short isn't enough to judge the whole song but you get the idea- you can't expect EVERY song of the album to be top notch, although you wished it was to be that way. And yes, this is not a typical Killers song, it's different. And let's hope, at least I am hoping "Sam's Town" is going to be awesome...

Posted by: Narden at 07/14/06 12:19 PM | Reply
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Wooow, I fucking love it... U can listen the full version online... http://www.islandrecords.com/thekillers/

Posted by: Chris at 07/14/06 12:50 PM | Reply
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ok so i love the killlers and i love this song!and brandon flowers is the hottest man on earth! butt all you people that are tottaly dissing it you can screw off you dont know a good song when you hear one! I LOVE IT! ROCK ON KILLERS!
YOUR #1 FAN!

Posted by: holly at 07/14/06 2:07 PM | Reply
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ok so i love the killlers and i love this song!and brandon flowers is the hottest man on earth! butt all you people that are tottaly dissing it you can screw off you dont know a good song when you hear one! I LOVE IT! ROCK ON KILLERS!
YOUR #1 FAN!

Posted by: Brandon Flowers #1 fan! at 07/14/06 2:08 PM | Reply
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the more i listen to this song the more i love it! at first i wasnt sure about it but now its awesome! i cant wait for their album ! they defintly sound more american , or they do to me anyway. but The Killers are the best ever and im sure the album will do awesome

Posted by: thekillerslvr at 07/14/06 3:44 PM | Reply
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