Cold War Kids - Mine Is Yours (2011)

Cold War Kids has returned on their third album as a band that sounds closer to Train than the raw passion of their former selves exemplified on Robbers & Cowards. Now on Interscope, Cold War Kids suffer from over-production and under-enthusiasm, tell-tale signs of what is now the all-too-familiar Big Label Curse. Robbers & Cowards was a unique, fearless album that took a mish-mash of intriguing influences and churned them together to create something previously undiscovered. I won't lament. Mine Is Yours, in stark contrast, does the best it can to sound so... regular. Nathan Willett can still let loose with his impressive, identifiable voice, and does so on occasion, but when it is used to sing the rather insipid and empty choruses of "Finally Begin" and "Louder Than Ever," it is wasted. Instead of doing something interesting, five minutes of album space is stolen from the listener in the form of the Keane tribute track "Bulldozer." The attitude and artistry is gone, as I wrote here a few years back, which is too bad because from what I can tell and have heard, they are cool dudes who put on a great live show. Unfortunately, the music off of Mine Is Yours is obviously geared for ears other than mine.

Cold War Kids - Loyalty to Loyalty (2008)

I imagine I'll step on some toes with this one: First off, let it be known, the Cold War Kids' first album, Robbers & Cowards, took a little time to grow on me. At the moment, I thoroughly enjoy some of the swaggering rollicks off that album, such as: "We Used to Vacation," "Hang Me Up to Dry," "Passing the Hat," & "Hospital Beds." I'm on the boat when it comes to these tracks. In contrast, Loyalty to Loyalty, with the dual exceptions of "I've Seen Enough" & "Every Valley Is Not A Lake," is remarkably boring. A quintisential mixed bag of things that work—such as the saloon-style piano at the beginning of "Every Valley Is Not A Lake"—and shortcomings. There's no 'tude to this album, and for me, too many "what-the-fuck-is-this?!?" stretches. The charismatic cockiness that was displayed on the aforementioned piano heavy and bass thumpin' romps is practically nonexistent, leaving just a sullen shell of their waggish debut. This bland sophomore effort leaves a lot to be desired. Does this album have what it takes to grow on me? It's possible, but not likely. For now, its going on the shelf.

Despite my criticism, "I've Seen Enough" cannot be denied! Check it out.