“Robbers and Cowards” is what got Cold War Kids over 400 thousand likes on Facebook, but a lot has changed in the eight years since that album was released.
The California-based indie group released their fifth debut “Hold My Home” last Tuesday, and with that came a new sound for the band we’ve always known.
With their signature echoed drums and piano, Cold War Kids added a new element to this album that proves the group isn’t ready for retirement yet.
As soon as you get through the first few tracks of “Hold my Home,” it’s clear that Cold War Kids is moving away from their repetitive Indie sound and towards an alternative rock feel. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it’s a fresh start for this band.
It’s different, but they're is moving in the right direction — without change this group was doomed to mediocrity. A change in sound is exactly what Cold War Kids needed to not only keep attention on them, but also to stay afloat.
“Hotel Anywhere” is one example of a track that can leave a listener questioning the theme of the album. It's extremely out of place, and the album’s fifth track sounds like an early 2000s U2 hit. It’s not a bad listen, but it’s a radically different style than anything Cold War Kids has put out in the past.
There’s something about Nathan Willett’s voice that puts the band on a new level. It’s hard to describe — whether it’s how it makes him sound like he’s on the verge of crying or the unnaturally high notes he hits, it works.
That saying “You’re only as strong as your weakest link" stands true with “Hold My Home.” Each track builds off the last with different elements, and it meshes well. Slower ballads recorded along side quicker pick-me-up tracks keep the album interesting.
Upon first listen, the songs come off as chaotic and mismatched, but this was no accident — each track works as a moving part, making for one solid album.