Bright lights and the big city never sounded better than they do on The Killers' 2004 debut, Hot Fuss, a collection of towering, synth-heavy alt-rock that glows and burns with the same intense excess as the band's neon hometown of Las Vegas. But they weren't content to coast on those new waves. Instead, the group blazed surprising creative trails, as golden-voiced frontman Brandon Flowers led them through muscled-up heartland rock on Sam's Town and onward into Day & Age—a gloriously vibrant and powerful effort that put them in contention for rulers of the stadium.