The Killers

[Tempest]

Well, I heard Mr. Brightside a long time ago and I thought it was decent enough, though not one of my favorite songs at the time. Now that I've begun to expand my musical tastes, however, I find myself listening to a lot more things that might be considered alternative. After Guitar Hero 3 came out (Totally my musical compass now), I heard "When You Were Young", and I absolutely love this song. Since then, I've gone back and listened to more songs of theirs, with still increasingly positive results.

That being said, I'd like to know of some good alternative bands that have a similar sound to The Killers. Too many times I've looked up a band listed as "alternative" only to find it gothic or emo music (Fuck that shit). I want some more like The Killers, closer to normal rock than emo, goth, or even punk (I listen to punk music for punk music.. Not alternative. I'm looking at you, Modest Mouse.)

[JonC]

The Killers, are okay. I'm not that fond of them to be honest. The only song I really like from them is When You Were Young.

I say just find some music that doesn't make your ears bleed. Simple as that. Go to your local record store and listen to random music. That's what I do sometiems and every once and a while i find good stuff.

[Idioteque]

Not exactly an "alternative" band per se but Bruce Springsteen was their main influence for the latest CD.
In terms of sound, The Hives and Franz Ferdinand are pretty close, garage bandy style.
If you want Alternative thats not emo, but doesn't sound like The Killers I could provide much better examples.
EDIT: JonC totally has the right idea there, thats pretty much how I found all my music.

[Tempest]

Not exactly an "alternative" band per se but Bruce Springsteen was their main influence for the latest CD.
In terms of sound, The Hives and Franz Ferdinand are pretty close, garage bandy style.

If you want Alternative thats not emo, but doesn't sound like The Killers I could provide much better examples.


I'm not a huge fan of The Hives, but I think I heard a Franz Ferdinand song once and liked it. I'll look into them. Also, feel free to list your other examples. Anything that can broaden my musical range a bit is fine by me. :)

[Tweek]

Recently I've been listening to Explosions in The Sky.

They sound nothing like the Killers, but you said anything is fine.

Oh, and maybe check out Bloc Party.

[CheesePlease]

Explosions in the Sky! I have been trying to find the name of that band for months. I had a few of their albums on my iPod, but then my iPod was screwed over and I lost it all. I love these guys, they're so calming. That said I'm not sure if it's what you would be looking for Tempest. I agree with Bloc Party, they're quite catchy. They only have 2 studio albums, Silent Alarm and A Weekend in the City. I recommend listening to A Weekend in the City first and if you like then that grab their first one.

[Knight of Cydonia]

Some of Muse is like the killers. Its a little harder though. But if you are going to get any CD get Absolution. Also I agree with the others with bloc party.

[MSB]

Some of Muse is like the killers. Its a little harder though. But if you are going to get any CD get Absolution. Also I agree with the others with bloc party.

I was just going to suggest this. Muse is definitely an awesome band. Absolution is amazing.

It's kind of hard to find bands that are similar. They have such a different type of sound. Here are the best I could think of:

Straylight Run has a bit of a softer sound, but definitely worth a listen.

Blue October. Soft, but rock-ish, and definitely able to jam out to.

[Fraudulence_Raft]

I really like the Killers, but for some reason it sounds like they're a really girly band. I don't know, maybe because I've heard it play on the radio so many times and I have a tendency to get away from music that's mainstream (not something that I particularly enjoy doing, it's just been a habit)

[Idioteque]

Alright, heres my list straight off my IPod, I scarcely think you'll like all of them, but here goes
Radiohead Absolutlyfanfuckingtastic. Notice how my name is one of their songs? Yeah, I love them. Radiohead, is in a word, indescribable. They do everything their own way, and it sounds amazing without being pretentious. You mentioned you don't like Emo bands, so heres one warning: They have some of the saddest songs ever written, but they are definitely not emo.
Queens of the Stone Age I hesitated at putting them in, because they are rather hard-rocking, but they make it different enough to be alternative.
The Flaming Lips I don't know why, but I love this band. They make beautifully psychedelic songs, thats you just can't get out of your head.
King Crimson Really classic prog-rock band that I discovered recently. "In The Court of the Crimson King" is probably one of my favorite albums of all time. Prog mixed with Jazz, priceless.
Hope that helps you a bit, music is my favorite subjects.

[Shagg]

I think The Killers have their own cool sound. It kinda resembles The Cars, but made it their own. I listened to their most recent album, and man.. it was good. The music had feeling in it and creativity, that's all an album needs to hook me.

So on terms of bands similar to The Killers? I would say The Shins. I rarely listen to them, but my Sister blasts their music all the time. Delve into them and see what you get.

[MSB]

Oh, I totally forgot, The Bravery. When I first heard their song called 'Honest Mistake', I really thought that it was The Killers. They're pretty good. Definitely check them out. :smile:

[gizzalove]

First thing I have to say is I do love The Killers. Alternative is a very broad category but I managed to pick a few bands that are somewhat killerish. The New Pornographers are great, all there songs sound different and to me they are way better then The Killers. Matt & Kim but they're a little punkier I suppose. Bishop Allen but softer and more piano. For a broader range of instruments Architecture In Helsinki. And for something completely indescribable Mother Mother.

EDIT: The Shins are great to as Shagg said.

[Knight of Cydonia]

I was just going to suggest this. Muse is definitely an awesome band. Absolution is amazing.


Thanks for agreeing. It's good to know there are other Muse lovers out there.

[JonC]

Check out The Elms, they're good. Their album (first one) is titled, The Chess Hotel. They're apparenytly working on their second album right now.

[Oofie]

The Killers are alright as far as that kind of bland (sorry, but it is a bit boring) indie music goes. There are a lot of bands around at the moment who manage to sound the exact same even though they may have varying styles. The Killers, Keane, Razorlight etc.

I'd suggest Slowcoaster or the Decemberists for slighlty more interesting indie/alternative. Also, I love Test Icicles and Arcade Fire, but I don't really know if they're what you're looking for.

[Tempest]

I didn't particularly enjoy The Bravery, King Crimson, Blue October, or Arcade Fire. But almost all of the rest of the bands listed in, I was pleasantly surprised with. I enjoyed quite a bit of stuff by Franz Ferdinand and the Decemberists, as well as The New Pornographers and Explosions in the Sky. Thanks for the suggestions guys!

[JonC]

I didn't particularly enjoy The Bravery, King Crimson, Blue October, or Arcade Fire. But almost all of the rest of the bands listed in, I was pleasantly surprised with. I enjoyed quite a bit of stuff by Franz Ferdinand and the Decemberists, as well as The New Pornographers and Explosions in the Sky. Thanks for the suggestions guys!

I rather listen to Emerson, Lake, and Palmer to be hoenst (Lake is in King Crimson if you didn't know). Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression Part, 2 is awesome. So is some of their other stuff. Though I haven't heard much of it.

[Shagg]

Doh, can't believe I almost forgot. You should check out The Fratellis. They're from Scotland, but they have a cool Indie-Altern sound that differs from The Killers, but is in the same ballpark. (Maybe a little more rock-ish).

[Hickabod]

You'll probably like The Kaiser Chiefs earlier stuff. I'm sure you've heard Ruby from Guitar Hero 3, but their early stuff was much better

[this is not a post]

Hah I'm the same way, my iPod is now filled with Guitar Hero 3 artists.

Do you not like 'Read my Mind' or 'Bones'? They're my favourite Killers songs, and the chorus of 'Bones' is how I got into Ska, which I masturbate to every night.
Joking, by the way, shame on you for thinking otherwise

[Profane Methane]

I for one hate the Killers. The direction alternative is going these days is far too mainstream for my liking, and is just going backward on the progress made in the 90's and sounding more 80's new wave.

[Triple J]

FM Static you might like if you like your lyrical stuff. Most of their music is happy but some are sad but usually in a good way. They are catchy trust me.
Switchfoot maybe but I really hate their new CD. If you listen to one album listen to Nothing Is Sound.
Weezer sounds a lot like the killers. Even though I like them a lot less

[spaj]

They're just indie rock with some synth sounds and the occasional pop-esque sound; needless to say their new album is just experimentation and is really a bunch of tripe, though.

The Killers are alright as far as that kind of bland (sorry, but it is a bit boring) indie music goes. There are a lot of bands around at the moment who manage to sound the exact same even though they may have varying styles. The Killers, Keane, Razorlight etc.


Eepha is pretty much the only one who's listed bands that are similar to the Killers (also, as Hickabod said, The Kaiser Chiefs).

[TheOtherWhiteMeat]

"Bones" was the first Killers song I had ever heard, and it is still one of my favorites, and another would be "Somebody Told Me."
If you like that side of Alternative, I would suggest Red Hot Chili Peppers or Sublime, not exactly the same as the Killers, but they have some large similarities.

[Tempest]

Keane, Razorlight

Didn't even notice these when I first read Aoife's post. She wins, I'm digging both of these bands quite a lot. The lead singer from Keane's voice is a little high-pitched and makes me giggle at times, but it's good music. At least, in my opinion.

Also:
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41999000/jpg/_41999790_chaplinatvpa203300.jpg

I didn't know Kwanza did vocals for Keane.

[Con-Con]

I think all of of my suggestions have been made but I'll give my opinion. The Strokes, The fratellis, the Hives, Razorlight.

[Fraudulence_Raft]

Doh, can't believe I almost forgot. You should check out The Fratellis. They're from Scotland, but they have a cool Indie-Altern sound that differs from The Killers, but is in the same ballpark. (Maybe a little more rock-ish).

Yes, check out the Fratellis. They are incredibly awesome as indie bands go, even some of their songs sound like a modern-day remixing of something from the 20's.

[Kass]

Check out Arcade Fire. The singer's voice is definitely an aquired taste, though, so chances are you might not like them.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eqGiCXtvokM


They're not really that similar to the Killers, I suppose.

[Slanski]

The closest to The Killers you'll find is The Bravery, definitely. They even had a quarrel (well, arrogant frontman of The Killers accused The Bravery of copying them). Check them out, the two albums they've released are very good imo.

An Honest Mistake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5fe6nZx6cw

Time Won't Let Me Go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5ZxQ8tnAG8

By the way, the same happened to me. At first (a year ago) I didn't understand why The Killers were being so much praised, I didn't get their music, but now I really appreciate it.

[Halucinagenia]

I dont really like the killers. the melody isn't really anything special for me, like many other alternative bands ive heard before
but what really concretes my disliking for them is the just naff lyrics.

best examples of this:
"They say the devil's water, it ain't so sweet
You don't have to drink right now
But you can dip your feet
Every once in a little while" ~ When you were young

"Well somebody told me
You had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year" ~ Somebody told me.

Lyrical GENIOUS isn't it? :l

[Profane Methane]

Hey, don't tar all alternative bands with the same brush.

[Quadros]

Hey, don't tar all alternative bands with the same brush.

If they don't want to be tarred they shouldn't all suck so close to my brush.

[llamaface]

Alright, heres my list straight off my IPod, I scarcely think you'll like all of them, but here goes
Radiohead Absolutlyfanfuckingtastic. Notice how my name is one of their songs? Yeah, I love them. Radiohead, is in a word, indescribable. They do everything their own way, and it sounds amazing without being pretentious. You mentioned you don't like Emo bands, so heres one warning: They have some of the saddest songs ever written, but they are definitely not emo.
Queens of the Stone Age I hesitated at putting them in, because they are rather hard-rocking, but they make it different enough to be alternative.
The Flaming Lips I don't know why, but I love this band. They make beautifully psychedelic songs, thats you just can't get out of your head.
King Crimson Really classic prog-rock band that I discovered recently. "In The Court of the Crimson King" is probably one of my favorite albums of all time. Prog mixed with Jazz, priceless.
Hope that helps you a bit, music is my favorite subjects.


Absolutely some of my fav bands ever also. But you forgot Audioslave. But since this thread is supposed to be about the Killers, I've listened to them for years and I gotta say I liked their old stuff a lot better. I still listen to them daily though. They've always been very original.

[Tempest]

I dont really like the killers. the melody isn't really anything special for me, like many other alternative bands ive heard before
but what really concretes my disliking for them is the just naff lyrics.

best examples of this:
"They say the devil's water, it ain't so sweet
You don't have to drink right now
But you can dip your feet
Every once in a little while" ~ When you were young

"Well somebody told me
You had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year" ~ Somebody told me.

Lyrical GENIOUS isn't it? :l

Hey thanks for your contribution man, I'll look those bands up right away!

[Idioteque]

Absolutely some of my fav bands ever also. But you forgot Audioslave. But since this thread is supposed to be about the Killers, I've listened to them for years and I gotta say I liked their old stuff a lot better. I still listen to them daily though. They've always been very original.
Hrm, I like Audioslave but I decided against mentioning them seeing as I consider them more hard-rock then alternative.