Spawned amidst the merciless heat and 24-hour avarice of Las Vegas, the Killers flaunt a similar swagger and glitz. In 2004, the band strutted onto the scene with Hot Fuss, a taut synth-rock experiment that took its cues from the dancehall days of early New Order and the Smiths. The record was an enormous hit in the UK, but its US reception was mixed (more than a few hating hipsters downloaded Killers hits like "Mr. Brightside" secretly).

The Killers are at it again, attempting to push the boundaries of what some might dismiss as a passing "pretty boys in skinny ties" fad. "It's a lot more fun for us if we're able to experiment," says frontman Brandon Flowers. "We're not going to turn around and become a country band, but we should be allowed to play a few country songs!"

Country twang or no, Flowers vows to keep the band pushing for persistent innovation. "We've had five decades of rock music," he says. "There's so much to learn from. You're a fool if you're not pushing yourself to evolve."

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