Rank em, tell us why, or just pick one. Link to all of the other polls here. You can leave suggestions for new polls there or here. Whatevs.
I expect Hot Fuss to take this one, but I'm going to bat for Battle Born. Just so many massive, wonderful songs on that record. I love it even more now that the band has essentially fragmented, because Dave Keuning especially is just going to 11 on that album.
Battle Born for sure Hot Fuss and Sam's Town might have higher highs, but neither are as consistent all the way through as Battle Born is.
For a long time, Hot Fuss would have been my number three. Over the past year or so, it's passed Sam's Town for the runner-up position. I still love a lot of things about Sam's Town, but something about the production on that album doesn't sit right with me. It sounds a little too claustrophobic at times. Maybe it's how they recorded/mixed Brandon's vocals? In any case, I think he sounds way, way better on Battle Born. He really evolved and grew a lot as a singer over the course of their career.
The nostalgia factor plays a big part in me choosing Hot Fuss, though to be honest Sam's Town is as good and Wonderful Wonderful wouldn't be far behind if its second half was better. I definitely need to check Battle Born out again as it didn't really click at the time. Not a fan of Day & Age.
HF > ST > BB > WW > DAA BB has grown on me a LOT over the past couple years, WW has gotten worse since it came out.
This is tough but I went with Sam's Town. The only one I don't return to ever for some reason is Battle Born. Love Sawdust too.
Battle Born for sure. I imagine one of the first two will win, but damn, what a fantastic record. Song after song that record kills.
Sam's Town. Not as many high's as Hot Fuss but that one I struggle to get through front to back at times.
Hot take: there is not an album from the 2000s, in any genre, with a better string of singles than Hot Fuss.
This is a really hard one...... I can't decide between Hot Fuss and Battle Born, although if I picked the one I listen to the most it is honestly Day & Age.
Battle Born mostly for Runaways which I've played likely over a billion times since it was first released as a single. But as others have stated, it's an extremely cohesive album and I can't find one weak link on it. Listened to it today on a long drive and it still holds up extremely well. I think Wonderful, Wonderful is good, too, but trying to follow-up Battle Born was much too great of a task.