C&L's Late Nite Music Club - The 50 State Strategy with The Killers
Last week, a friend and I were recapping rock and roll in the 00s as the decade winds its final weeks down, and she argued that the Killers, proudly from Las Vegas, are the best and most relevant band to debut in this decade. I wouldn't go as far as saying they're the finest we've seen, but as far as relevance is concerned I'd place my chips on the Killers over Coldplay or Linkin Park, who strike me as the other serious contenders.
Up and coming they ain't, but the Killers put Vegas on the map as a source for music, not just a destination. "The World We Live In" is their latest single from Day and Age.
Every Monday night, C&L's Late Nite Music Club showcases an act from every state, alphabetically by state, as part of LNMC's 50 State Strategy. Know a band or artist that you think is the best in their state? Email suggestions to latenitemusicclub [at] gmail.com. Next week: New Hampshire.
I just came across this band last week, Black Moth Super Rainbow
Forever Heavy
rocked my world earlier this summer too - great, great new band. not nearly as "relevant" as the killers tho, ;)
Sorry, but this man made good old fashion Garage Rock n Roll cool again, and now it looks like he'd like to do it for new age synthesis disco. I don't know how many bands, and I mean real rock and roll bands, have been influenced by The Strokes. People love to bash them, but I dare they go back and listen to those first 2 cds. Some of the catchiest, tightest rock n roll to come along in years.
I mean come on, the guy's my friggen hero. Even the graphic design is fresh in a retro sort of way...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HpAMUokCbc
No one even cares or wonders why anymore,
why I've got music, coming outta my hands and feet and kisses.
Whoooo!
Maybe if you were discussing pop-music I'd agree, but there's precious little Rock & Roll in those bands.
If you want real Rock & Roll, you know, music with big, steel cojones, then probably the best band to debut this decade (outside the world of Corporate Muzak) has to be Sleepytime Gorilla Museum.
Seriously?
I'll nominate the White Stripes and the New Pornographers as the most exciting and relevant bands of the 00's decade, since their music is actually interesting and intelligent.
White Stripes are head and shoulders above something so profoundly derivative as the Killers.
To be clear, I don't dislike the Killers, I just find them unsurprising.
If Coldplay, the Killers and Linkin Park are the big three of the 00s, then this decade has been by far the worst for rock and roll, which it surely is.
Agreed 100%.
I'm not especially fond of The Killers's songs when I first hear them, but before long, they turn into fist pumping anthems.
this is exactly the way Limbaugh fans describe the process of becoming a dittohead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTW0y6kazWM
Muse is far more relevant. Not to mention the frontman's rock and roll legacy (his dad was part of The Tornadoes who penned the first british track to hit number 1 in the US charts). The lyrics are far more politically charged and relevant than anything the killers have written . Are we human or are we dancers? srsly?? Not to mention that for a 'pop' band they rock far more than them. Compare 'Uprising' or anything off of Origin of Symmetry for example. Now I know they formed prior to this decade, but their first album was released in 99 and saw little availability outside of England, at least at first.
(edit: my bad; they are british and i didnt notice the theme. I forgot in the haze of wingnut-bashing, which Muse is quite adept at, that this LNMC has a theme.)
I wouldn't pick either band as "band of the decade" but Linkin Park is WAY MORE relevant, influential to other modern rock bands and has many more good songs and original ones at that than the freakin Killers. Even LP offshoot Fort Minor was pretty damn good a few years back, as was LP's collaborations with Jay-Z.
That said, off the top of my head, my band of the decade vote would go to U2, and the best band to debut in the 2000s is Seattle's Minus The Bear. But that's just me.
If Linkin Park is considered in the running for 'band of the decade', then it's been a pretty crappy decade for music...
ALL Linkin Park songs are the same. The tempo, the structure/formula, the keys. It exposes that the band had no real talent and was made up like Limp Bisquik.
Please have yopu head examined if you are over 11 and think Linkin Park is the great band of the 00's.
http://www.youhavebadtasteinmusic.com/linkinp...
I'm not much of a fan of Linkin Park anymore (since they're now a generic rock band), but their sound was pretty uniquely heavy (and with their DJ, original) in their first couple of albums. And if you really think "In The End" sounds the same as "Bleed It Out" or "Lying From You," or that tempo-wise "One Step Closer" is the same as "Crawling," you need to have YOUR head examined (or at least your ears cleaned out).
on any kind of 'relevance' list for this decade. I agree that Coldplay are teh suck, but they emerged before the 00 decade anyways. my personal favorite would be a band in a sort of simliar vein as the Killers, in that they blend synth and guitar (which yes folks, IS rock) in a similar style that New Order once did so successfully - Cut/Copy, from Australia, made the two best albums of the decade so far by any individual act; 'Bright like neon love' from 04 and 'In ghost colours' from last year. they are the past & the future. but along those lines I'd nominate Midnight Juggernauts as well, also from Autralia. the Aussies are kicking our asses lately.
Linkin Park? they have a lot of fans, yeah, which mystifies me. people still want something rap/metal-ish, for whatever reason. but who have they influenced? where are the great songs? I don't hear 'em. I hate the Strokes and think there is nothing interesting about them. And again, where are the great songs? people always try to sell me on them, and when I ask to hear one real, great song I can get behind - nothing. its schlock. the Killers are OK, but not much more than an OK version of what Cut/Copy are doing brilliantly and without the cringe-worthy lyrics. the White Stripes are OK, and you could make an argument in their favor, I just can't stand that dude's voice, and most of their songs sound totally alike, to me anyway.
Muse would be the closest other artist I can think of. I don't hear them influencing many others, but they do what they do better than anyone else going right now, and then can melt either Linkin Park or the White Stripes' faces off no problem.
How about for starters, 12 Stones and their singer Jay's collaboration with Evanescence on the 2002 hit song "Bring Me To Life," which sounds a lot like Linkin Park's 2000 album track "Points of Authority" rhythm-wise. LP has sold out lately but before their last album, they had A LOT of great songs, including "Points" and just about every song from their first album, and about half of the tracks on their second and third CDs as well.
By the way, I agree with you that The Strokes aren't anything special - they made it big because their singer is a chick magnet and their guitarist is Albert Hammond's kid - and that Cut/Copy are way better than The Killers. But no, The White Stripes are more than OK, especially live, and they have a surprisingly diverse sound for a duo.
And that is the key to the Killers. They are the best live band I've seen since Springsteen was young. Caught them twice this year, once in Nashville, the other at the Horseshoe Casino in Indiana. Wouldn't miss 'em.
"but as far as relevance is concerned I'd place my chips on the Killers over Coldplay or Linkin Park, who strike me as the other serious contenders."
This is a joke, right?
What does relevant mean in the context of rock music? "Best" is surely subjective, but can relevance be measured objectively?
Kings of Leon
Ben Gibbard
Arcade Fire
Fleet Foxes
Cold War Kids
Franz Ferdinand
Feist
Modest Mouse
Death Cab for Cutie
These are bands I choose over the Killers, Coldplay, and Linkin Park.
I'd throw Bloc Party up there above the three of them as well.
i read crooks and liars everyday--but this is ridiculous. The Killers are decent, but seriously, SERIOUSLY derivative. Linkin' Park and Coldplay are pure unadulterated corporate crap. The 2000s, even more than the 1990s have had atomized scenes--truly relevant rock n roll bands haven't existed probably since the hair metal days. I love rock, indie rock, metal, or what have you. But these bands are about as potent as Pat Boone.
truly relevant rock n roll bands haven't existed probably since the hair metal days.
What do you mean by not relevant? I'd think that Jack White (last seen in a movie with The Edge and Jimmy Page) and his White Stripes are pretty relevant, number one. And number two, you don't think Pearl Jam, who rose from the ashes of the hair metal era, is relevant? How about the Dave Matthews Band? These bands have huge followings to this day.
Even Sublime, who's singer died over 13 years ago is still influencing countless artists and tribute bands in this country (including my hometown of Boston). Their songs are used in movies, soundtracks, etc. Or how about Rage Against The Machine, another trendsetter who set the stage for rap/metal? I could go on and on.
Sorry Dain but you need to see more shows then (like My Morning Jacket, Pearl Jam, U2, all of which will give you better shows than The Killers ever will).
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