10 Amazing Classic Rock Inspired Albums From The 21st Century

The Killers were in a strange situation after coming off their debut album Hot Fuss. The record sold in droves and gave the band instant hits like the immortal "Mr. Brightside," but frontman Brand Flowers didn't seem content with being just a synth-guitar hybrid act. Their music had to mean something more than just neon-colored pop.

While driving in his car one day, Flowers turned on the radio and heard "Born to Run" and was blown away. After sifting through the back catalog of Bruce Springsteen, he set out to make a record that would capture the same amount of inhibitions he heard from the Boss's work. Coming off their debut, Sam's Town shows a unique look for the band, as they turned into a 70's style rock band almost overnight.

Though the change was certainly strange at first, the songs certainly lived up to the standard Flowers had set, with "When You Were Young" having all the gravitas that heartland rock prides itself on. The entire record sounds like a type of rock music that was slipping away, but brought into the present to inspire legions of young fans yet again. It's debatable whether Sam's Town is on par with Springsteen's triumphs, but it's still a delightful piece of Americana that shows the band getting stronger after years of touring.