|  Thursday, October 23, 2008
cold war kids
loyalty to loyalty
  
|
The problem with revivalist rock in general is that it's oftentimes so niched and limited by the very history it draws from that it paints itself into a corner before eventually fading back into obscurity. The room for innovation just isn't there, and if music in itself is a progressive art form, then it's a nearly impossible task for revivalist bands to stay fresh and relevant. Compounded with the career defining test of making a sophomore album that doesn't suck, and Long Beach, CA's Cold War Kids had quite a daunting task ahead of them. Their second full length offering, Loyalty to Loyalty is, more or less, the exact same brand of Americana soul we've become accustomed to. In this instance, however, more of the same isn't necessarily a bad thing.
As they did on their full length debut Robbers & Cowards, the Cold War Kids attack each song on Loyalty to Loyalty with such tenacity and gospel stomp fervor that it gives off convincing illusions of newness, albeit illusions nonetheless. The first single, "Something is Not Right With Me" is a tambourine induced shout along, seeding itself in the old time antiquity of collect calls and smoking cars. Saloon pianoed tracks like "Every Valley is Not a Lake" breeze along with bluesy guitar riffs and lead singer Nathan Willet's shrilly tenor. However, story driven ballads like "Every Man that I Fall For" trudge along somewhat awkwardly, sounding like a band of 20-somethings doing their best caricatures of rocking chair wisdom. Thankfully, those tracks are kept to a minimum, and overall the album powers through with ferocious effort and sheer passion.
The Cold War Kids, however, go through a lot in trying to isolate themselves outside the status quo as they try to paint themselves as maladjusted old souls living in a modern world. However, these young timers manage to evade the sophomore slump by doing what they do best-- inadvertently blurring out their old world meanderings with the spry firepower of youthful energy. While Loyalty to Loyalty doesn't exactly break any new ground, if anything it vastly succeeds by staying loyal to its own sound. The Cold War Kids not only pass their sophomore exam and live to fight another day, but do so while easily retaining their thrones as the reigning kings of Americana rock & roll. - chris gayomali
Share To:       |
|
Reviews:
By Band:
A B C D E F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S T
U V W X Y Z
By Date:
March, 2010
February, 2010
January, 2010
December, 2009
November, 2009
October, 2009
September, 2009
August, 2009
July, 2009
June, 2009
May, 2009
April, 2009
March, 2009
February, 2009
January, 2009
December, 2008
November, 2008
October, 2008
September, 2008
August, 2008
July, 2008
June, 2008
May, 2008
April, 2008
March, 2008
February, 2008
January, 2008
December, 2007
November, 2007
October, 2007
September, 2007
August, 2007
July, 2007
June, 2007
May, 2007
April, 2007
March, 2007
February, 2007
January, 2007
Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew
Spirit If...
Hot Chip
Made in the Dark
japanese motors
japanese motors
|
