The Killers

The Killers dropped English synth-pop down into their glitzy, scuzzy Las Vegas world, and a familiar sound became brand new. The group launched in 2001, when frontman Brandon Flowers—then working in casinos—answered a classified ad from guitarist Dave Keuning; they wrote their breakout single, “Mr. Brightside,” at their first meeting. Rounded out by drummer Ronnie Vannucci and bassist Mark Stoermer, they rose to popularity with 2004’s glammy, post-punk Hot Fuss, its single "Somebody Told Me" a cheeky summary of a million conversations in the clubs. While initially seeming like a flashier counterpart to the dourness of The Strokes and Interpol, The Killers traded synthesizers for more guitars in the early 2000s, introducing a new sound akin to U2 and Springsteen on albums like 2006’s Sam’s Town and 2017’s Wonderful Wonderful. They do believe in love and rock, but they seem to feel a little sheepish about it as they get ready to go out. They returned in 2020 with their sixth album, Imploding the Mirage, and the Lindsey Buckingham-assisted single “Caution.” The song serves as both a return to roots and a mission statement for their future, as Flowers told Apple Music that it reminded The Killers of a universal truth: "Rock 'n' roll can be transcendent.”