I know I haven't asked the question right but I wasn't sure how to word it.

I know The Killers have sold a lot of albums but I suppose I'm talking more about their legacy. They've never won a Grammy and haven't won that many big awards outside of their first album. They don't seem to get raved about like bands such as Kings of Leon or Coldplay and when people talk about the great bands from the last decade, I find they're usually an afterthought or just not mentioned.

Also since their debut all their most recent albums usually have one "hit" song and then one or two other singles that do nothing and then they disappear until the next album. They never seem to have got that one album that just blows up for them.

How do they measure up to other modern bands and why are they overlooked when it comes to awards?

Their "rock" legacy?

'Human' was a synth track. They've left their already dubious rock credentials behind them. Much like Coldplay, and new Kings of Leon material, it's rock music for people who don't like rock music.

The Killers and Keane are my favourite bands of the last decade. The killers should have won many grammys for all their albums. Their songs are emotive,anthemic, and have great melodies with religious imagery. Mr Brightside is one of the best songs ever written. Midnight show, Jenny was a friend of mine, Human, When you were young, Somebody told me are all excellent songs. Hot Fuss and Day and Age are very good albums that will last the test of time.

They are just underexposed and they don't get played on the radio often. I think they are definitely in the top 5 bands in the last decade. We haven't really had an exciting band like The Killers in a long while.
Brandon flowers is a great frontman and an excellent vocalist. They have also got a great style.

I agree with all this especially Brandon being an excellent frontman and vocalist.

There is something unmemorable about them as a band, in my opinion anyway. Brandon as has been noted, is a superb front man but I find the band in general......well, I can't even think of the word but unappealing perhaps? Maybe you really need to be a proper fan to appreciate them but as an outsider they aren't a band I would rush out and listen to. I also agree with the poster who said they were a rock band for people who didn't like rock. I get the impression they are a band for 15 year old school girls who don't enjoy chart music, but haven't yet fully explored a whole lot of different bands. A nice stop gap, or stepping stone. Don't mean to cause offence to Killers fans, this is just my impression.

You're saying The Killers are the most exciting band ever in the last 8 or so years?

It all went downhill after Hot Fuss. Even Brandon's vocals changed...

I enjoyed Sam's Town and Day & Age when they were released but after playing them recently I came to realise they are both very poor albums. Some good tracks, but way too much filler. I actually prefer Sawdust to both of them.

Brandon's solo album was such a snorefest, it doesn't leave me with high hopes for the new Killers album.

I enjoy their records, but I wouldn't say they're one of the most innovative or influential bands. A lot of their sound was influenced by people that came before them like Duran Duran. I think they're enjoyable for what they are, but I don't think they have changed the landscape of rock or the music business.

That, for me, is why they aren't an exciting band.

Agree. They entertain me. I buy their records.

Funnily enough, when i first fell in love with The Killers i was a 16 year old boy who disliked most mainstream chart music. and through The Killers i discovered loads of great older music that i also fell in love with, they are a very special band to me and are still one of my favourite bands to this day.

As for the OP's question, The Killers are very popular they've headlined major festivals all over the world and sold 15 million albums worldwide. In terms of awards and critical success they are percieved definately in the UK and US, they will never win a Grammy Award and never get a good review in Rolling Stone magazine, they're just not liked by the powers that be in the US music industry. Over here though they've won two BRIT Awards and all three of their studio album have been nominated for Best Int. Album, they've also won loads of NME Awards and Mr. Brightside topped alot of Song of the Decade polls and many other songs also made the lists.

They're alright, I can put all their best material into a mini album and discard the rest.

They are obviously successful (and are actually my favorite band) but I agree with the OP that they haven't quite moved on to become one of the biggest bands in the world (such as say U2 or Coldplay)

It will be interesting to see if their new album pushes them up the last couple of rungs up the 'ladder' or not.

Great debut, promised much. Downhill all the way since, and 'Human' is one of the worst songs in recent years

My impression of The Killers will always be that they're a band people grow out of, just from my experience with friends. At uni when they came out, everyone seemed to be listening to Hot Fuss, Sam's Town onward, not so much. Mr Brightside bought them a hell of a lot of fickle fans.

And I'm sorry but "Are we human or are we dancer" is a ridiculous line.

I love them, couldn't even get a ticket for their last tour, it sold out so fast and tickets were going for way over face value.

I think the fact they can go away for a couple of years and on their return, instantly headline a major festival kind of shows their standing.

I loved Brandon's solo material, was almost country rock but I can't wait to have the Killers back again.

I dont think you're example is a case of people growing out of them just that their first album was their most popular, i know alot of people who only really like Hot Fuss and the odd songs from other albums.

Another thing is their crowds have changed alot over the years, during the Hot Fuss days it was rare to see anyone Over 25 at their shows but nowadays its pretty diverse age wise.

They already did this, it is called Hot Fuss.

It's odd that they've won so little and have not gained the reputation of a band such as Coldplay. I honestly don't know of a band (aside from maybe Coldplay) more universally liked by the public. They have a massive, massive fan base. I know of both people who take music very seriously and people who only really listen to what ever Rihanna/David Guetta tosh is on the radio, but from what I've gathered it would seem all types are fond of the killers.
Hot Fuss is still their biggest and best, but I'm so glad they didn't go down the route of making Hot Fuss 2.0, 3.0, 4.0.... Each of their albums is so distinctive and I reckon that's a winning formula.
They may not be the biggest band on the planet, but I think they could stay a big band for a long while yet.

thats what i thought too

they may have been popular to a degree but created nothing new so surely cannot leave a legacy.