Indie rock album's depth delivers a lasting impression
Brandon Thompson
Issue date: 10/28/08 Section: Entertainment
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Cold War Kids' newest album, "Loyalty to Loyalty," may be a more political take on their sound, but the unique ways in which they reach their audience is what gives the album its success.
With a vocal presence more eloquent but stylistically similar to Isaac Brock (the lead singer of Modest Mouse), frontman Nathan Willett belts out his dark lyrics in a way that captures his emotions in the rawest form. Lyrics about bohemian lifestyle and dark settings find a home nested within the music of Cold War Kids.
With the song "Something Is Not Right With Me," which kicks off with an 80s-like bass groove, shows the Cold War Kids' fascination with all things retro. The rest of the album portrays the same feeling, with its songs like "Against Privacy," and "Every Valley Is Not a Lake."
The SoCal band emerged as a jam session in their rehearsal space above a Mulberry St. restaurant. Band members stomped out beats, banged on pipes, and yelled lyrics into recorders, fully realizing the natural process by which music is created.
The band has crafted not only their music, but their identity on their Myspace page to fit their unique style. With graphic design that pairs photos of new age Americana or candid band photos with selected lyrics from their songs, the band has been able to achieve a greater sense of individuality in the music scene.
Cold War Kids' "Loyalty to Loyalty" is a far cry from the rest of the indie music releases this year which sound pleasant and have catchy lyrics but fail to deliver true meaning.
Cold War Kids' latest release is an album that can become an album of a lifetime for some listeners. The perfect blend of poignant lyrics and music that fits any mood has the ability to stick with a listener and influence a lifetime of decisions.