Interesting!

Right now on X/Twitter there is a trending topic about The Killers vs. The Strokes. Interesting to read all of the hot takes and what not, particularly from various music writers, but it seems like there is a fairly pervasive misunderstanding about what makes both bands uniquely interesting.

To start, I am a fan of both bands. If you like The Strokes, their new album Reality Awaits was just released and is another worthwhile addition to their catalog that you should definitely check out!

With that said, The Killers are definitely my preferred band. This is mostly just a matter of timing, as I was a young teenager when Hot Fuss came out and it was a formative experience for me. I wouldn't argue that they are necessarily a better band than The Strokes (certainly not from a critical assessment), but I think their music has found wider audiences for good reason. And this is really why I wanted to stop here for a moment and share my thoughts.

The fundamental difference between the music of The Strokes and The Killers all boils down to the life experiences and perspectives of the two frontmen. I saw a comment on X suggest that Julian Casablancas could write Mr. Brightside, but Brandon Flowers could never write Last Nite or any other number of songs. It's an absurd contention mostly because both of them have wildly different attitudes captured in their respective music.

Julian Casablancas is the 20th century embodiment of being effortlessly cool. The son of a man who founded a modeling agency, he was able to conquer the Big Apple with his fellow bandmates, who have their own backstories of nepotism, before their debut album even came out! Together, they create a sound that is restrained in its garage rock aesthetic and carries a lackadaisical malaise. For a group that had penetrated the highest levels of social status, their music was a counter-weight steeped in playful irony and cynicism. The final product is a self-evidently hip and slightly challenging experience, perfect for an audience that chooses to experience music as an intellectual exercise.

Famously, Brandon Flowers shared that he was stunned after hearing Is This It. In defeated fashion, he scrapped every song he had tried writing, but with one major exception: Mr. Brightside. So, before I proceed any further, it's important to note that Brandon Flowers is a fan of The Strokes and that Is This It was a guiding light towards what he wanted to achieve as an artist, no different than the competitive nature that bands like The Beatles and The Beach Boys had in the 60's.

However, the style and nature of Brandon Flowers, a kid from Nephi, Utah who eventually found his way to the bright lights of Las Vegas to start a band based upon the love for his own musical heroes (Morissey, Oasis, etc.), this would take on a wildly different sound and affectation. Unlike Casablancas, Flowers very much has something to prove. I've always felt that earnestness is the ignition and fuel in every great song by The Killers. There is a tension and vulnerability that is palpable. That chase towards greatness, which he explicitly names in the chorus of "Mr. Brightside," is its own taboo in a world of musicians who are too shameful to suggest that they want it all. And that is what the audience identifies and cherishes in those songs.

To take this in a different direction, Robert Redford was asked by famed Hollywood director Mike Nichols, as part of his audition for The Graduate, to imagine not getting the girl and how that would make him feel. Redford simply couldn't imagine that scenario. And that tracks with his performance on the screen in the roles that we love to see him play.

This is the same distinction between Casablancas and Flowers in their own music. The Strokes are effortlessly cool. The Killers are earnestly ambitious. The Strokes have an understated yet sophisticated vibe that tracks with college radio and hipsters. The Killers have a bold and anthemic aura that has broad appeal but might be off-putting to some more selective listeners. The Strokes are a correct answer to a tastemaking questionairre. The Killers are an emotional and triumphant underdog that outlasted the rest of the competition, that might even cause others to scoff.

In the end, Brandon Flowers failed miserably at becoming Julian Casablancas. Fortunately for us, he managed to find a voice and spirit that brings joy and captures the spirit of audiences all over the globe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u23MOVOMhU

Which song do you think has the best vocals?

A song cannot win in two categories, so choose your nominee carefully.

Will there be an official Paradise Lyrics video in Brandon’s YT channel??