Each day in December, I’ll be reflecting back on a song from the 2000’s. The decade saw the return of post-punk and the popularization of folk music, all while some of music’s biggest acts gained their indie footing. Thankfully, it’s a period that I can look back at fondly without cringing. #31DaysOf2000sSongs
When Hot Fuss first came out, it felt like a strange trip back to the 80’s. It didn’t simply borrow synth pop influences, it unabashedly took on the form of a new wave album. In doing so, it made the album irresistible to me. The songs rocked hard and took on giant slabs of synth jams without holding back. I have memories of riding shotgun in my friend’s car with Hot Fuss blasting out his speakers as we played air keys on his dashboard and did our very best Brandon Flowers when “Somebody Told Me” came on.
“Mr. Brightside” might be the track that everyone remembers and the one that has had the longer shelf life, due to the fact that it’s been covered by everyone, including indie bands and football marching bands alike. But “Somebody Told Me” rocked like it was on a mission to blow your mind. It’s hard to imagine songs that rocked harder with synthesizers as the main instrument. The lyrics were about a boy pining for a girl. But the hooks sounded like they came from outer space, like the soundtrack to an alien invasion. “Somebody Told Me” had this musical paradox built into it — one of worldly romance and otherworldly musicality.
“Breakin' my back just to know your name.”