(6.0/10)
If the the Cold War Kids sophomore release, Loyalty to Loyalty, were to be graphed it would look like a slide. All of the best songs on the album are at the beginning and the album drags as it progresses. The songs are not as compelling as the tracks on, Robbers & Cowards. When the Cold War Kids burst onto the scene in the Fall of 2006, I was all aboard. I played it all of 2007 and still have it on heavy rotation.
Loyalty to Loyalty is a decent album and follows in sound to its predecessor; however, it fails to capture the energy of Robbers & Cowards. Nathan Willet’s vocals are strong and still unique. His voice soars up and down across the thirteen tracks. The songwriting on this album though is just not up to par with their debut. On the tracks, “Welcome to the Occupation” he repeats the line (the devil’s in the details) so often you begin to think he could have used some details in the lyrics. On another song entitled, “ Every Man I Fall For” all the comparisons to the man he falls for is made to diminishing returns??? I think less of the sorrow he must feel but rather conjure up some free enterprise class term. The album is spotty to be frank. There are some really good songs on this album; “Against Privacy,” “Mexican Dogs,” “Every Valley is not a Lake,” and “I’ve Seen Enough.” The rest of the album sounds more like filler.
The Cold War Kids have toured with the likes of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Tapes ‘N Tapes, Muse and The White Stripes. I bring that up as a compliment to how well the band has done for itself and the respect they are given by their peers. The bottom line is that the Cold War Kids are for real. Loyalty to Loyalty is a solid effort but ultimately falls short for the aforementioned reasons. I recommend anyone not familiar with the Cold War Kids to pick up their debut album. This album was a let down to the hopes I had after such a strong debut.
If the the Cold War Kids sophomore release, Loyalty to Loyalty, were to be graphed it would look like a slide. All of the best songs on the album are at the beginning and the album drags as it progresses. The songs are not as compelling as the tracks on, Robbers & Cowards. When the Cold War Kids burst onto the scene in the Fall of 2006, I was all aboard. I played it all of 2007 and still have it on heavy rotation.
Loyalty to Loyalty is a decent album and follows in sound to its predecessor; however, it fails to capture the energy of Robbers & Cowards. Nathan Willet’s vocals are strong and still unique. His voice soars up and down across the thirteen tracks. The songwriting on this album though is just not up to par with their debut. On the tracks, “Welcome to the Occupation” he repeats the line (the devil’s in the details) so often you begin to think he could have used some details in the lyrics. On another song entitled, “ Every Man I Fall For” all the comparisons to the man he falls for is made to diminishing returns??? I think less of the sorrow he must feel but rather conjure up some free enterprise class term. The album is spotty to be frank. There are some really good songs on this album; “Against Privacy,” “Mexican Dogs,” “Every Valley is not a Lake,” and “I’ve Seen Enough.” The rest of the album sounds more like filler.
The Cold War Kids have toured with the likes of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Tapes ‘N Tapes, Muse and The White Stripes. I bring that up as a compliment to how well the band has done for itself and the respect they are given by their peers. The bottom line is that the Cold War Kids are for real. Loyalty to Loyalty is a solid effort but ultimately falls short for the aforementioned reasons. I recommend anyone not familiar with the Cold War Kids to pick up their debut album. This album was a let down to the hopes I had after such a strong debut.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment