THE KILLERS vs THE CARS = Somebody Told Me

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"Somebody Told Me" is a perfect example to me what The Cars would sound like if their debut single came out in 2004. Slightly cynical, quirky lyric hooks about what else- a chick. Whirling keyboard riffs that take center stage when appropriate and driving rhythm guitar lines throughout.

I guess the biggest difference would be Ocasek wouldn't nail the vocals the same way and Orr would probably have sit this one out. The trademarked Cars backing vocals are also missing but if you concentrate hard you can almost hear Ric hiccuping the start of that fantastic second verse: "Ready let's roll on to something new.."

― Ric C Stone, Tuesday, 3 August 2004 18:12 (twenty-one years ago)

no.

― Huck, Tuesday, 3 August 2004 18:39 (twenty-one years ago)

It's a bit more emotive than the Cars ever were, isn't it? Like, by several orders of magnitude?

― Sean Thomas (sgthomas), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 18:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Agreed that "Somebody Told Me" is clearly more emotive. However, while The Cars were justifiably frigid at times there were plenty of instances (especially in the early recordings- "You're All I've Got Tonight", "Since I Held You", "Just What I Needed" ) where emotional yearning came across with intensity and fire. Remember we're also talking about the way emotion played out on pop records some 25 years ago.

― Ric C Stone, Tuesday, 3 August 2004 19:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Killers are way more like Queen.

― Huck, Tuesday, 3 August 2004 19:21 (twenty-one years ago)

i wish the killers were like queen. who knew las vegas would produce something so appropriate. they're shit.

― johnny and luther (johnny and luther), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 19:26 (twenty-one years ago)

The Killers
The Cars
Queen

Like 'em all. Would never in a million years mistake one for another.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 19:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm still confused by your "in 2004" clause, Ric, though if you added "on American FM rock radio" maybe I could see it. In 1978 there were a lot of emotive new wave bands just around the bend -- the Cure, the Chameleons, U2, all of whom sound more like Killers progenitors to these ears -- though they didn't make it onto U.S. airwaves until a few years later, which seems to be the real subtext here (though are the Killers really getting that much airplay?).

xpost haha were the Killers produced by Roy Thomas Baker too?

― Sean Thomas (sgthomas), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Mariooon

― Fergal (Ferg), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

"indie rock and roll," the track on the import version "hot fuss" is just hideous.

― costa! (costa!), Wednesday, 4 August 2004 02:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Apparently they were getting bottled on tour for playing that one. So y'know, there is some justice.

― Fergal (Ferg), Wednesday, 4 August 2004 18:55 (twenty-one years ago)

They are more like the Psychedelic Furs. I quite like them, on the basis of 'Jenny was a friend of mine'.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Wednesday, 4 August 2004 19:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I like the Killers, and I freely admit "Indie Rock and Roll" is definitely their weakest point. It's like I'm always waiting for some clever lyric or chorus or some just climax to save the sinking ship and it never comes.

― Bimble (bimble), Friday, 6 August 2004 07:14 (twenty-one years ago)

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