The Killers

While other bands seem to thrive on sameness, The Killers embrace a sense of difference and confusion. Frontman and principal songwriter Brandon Flowers best embodies that sense with his disparate songwriting influences – he loves Bruce Springsteen and Oingo Boingo – and the juxtaposition of his glam-influenced style of dress with his inner introvert. The Killers' artistic and personal conflicts make their music crash with the noisy discord that makes rock and roll so exciting while still achingly chasing a sensitive artistic balance. Their struggles are their appeal: religion versus the party-heavy lifestyle of a rock band (Flowers is a devout Mormon), glam versus roots rock 'n' roll.

Despite having made three full-length albums and touring constantly together, The Killers still operate as individuals offstage. The reason for that could be that they didn't know each other outside of the band at all. The genesis of The Killers lies in a 2002 "let's start-a-band" notice in a local music paper placed by guitarist David Keuning that Flowers as well as drummer Ronnie Vannucci and bassist Mark Stoermer each answered separately. All four were working various hourly jobs in Las Vegas and looking to make a life out of music.

Throughout their first year as a band, The Killers' original music appealed to audiences in local clubs, and the band quickly attracted label attention. Lizard King Records, an independent label in the U.K., signed them and guided them through the recording of their debut album Hot Fuss . The record was an instant success in Europe, and Island Records grabbed the band for a U.S. release. Singles "Somebody Told Me" and "Mr. Brightside," with their electrifying beats and dark vibes, started creeping onto radio playlists and into DJ sets at clubs along with the anthemic track "All These Things That I've Done."

With critical praise spilling in and mainstream success just around the corner to the right, The Killers took a left turn. Their sophomore record, Sam's Town, took a nod from grandiloquent Wall of Sound records, ditching some of the dance influence of their debut in exchange for bigger, fuller rock 'n' roll sounds. Although the critical response was mixed, the record sold more than 700,000 copies worldwide in its first week of release.

The sudden change in musical style from Hot Fuss to Sam's Town left everyone wondering what would be next for the band. Yet another surprise plot twist, or a more familiar sounding record? In November, 2008, the band finally responded with Day & Age , a spaced-out David Bowie-influenced record that reached into the future where Hot Fuss was the present and Sam's Town was the past. Already platinum, Day & Age seems to have cemented The Killers' place as a modern rock phenomenon.

– Lavinia Jones Wright