Cold War KidsThere's an intriguing darkness that shrouds Cold War Kids. Even the poppiest song on new album, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, the effervescent Miracle Mile, sounds like its catharsis has been hard fought. But these Californian indie rockers know the ever-present darkness is why their fans keep coming back and while there's plenty of experimentation going on within the boundaries of this album, the basic tenet that makes Cold War Kids who they are is here in spades.
Ex-Modest Mouser Dann Gallucci is now a permanent member of the band, replacing Jonnie Russell, and you can hear his former band's influence ghost through these songs. There's a gloriously messy and chaotic ending to Fear And Trembling that's all noodling brass, while echoing drums shadow Nathan Willett's vocals on Water And Power. There's even an unexpected electronica strain to Bottle Affection, though it is eventually drowned under layers of muted squall. More the sound of a band playing around with the studio tools at their disposal than a definite direction change.
But as with any Cold War Kids album, much of the drawcard is in the contrast between the abrasiveness of the snarling guitars and crash of the piano with the warm percussion and the thick soul strain of Willett's voice. With Willett out the front, Cold War Kids will always sound different to any of their peers and while this album loses some of its impact through its lack of focus, the band's willingness to play around with songs outside their comfort zone makes Dear Miss Lonelyhearts the start of a new phase for the band.
