ALbum Review: Cold War Kids

Cold War Kids’s newest album, Hold My Home was released on October 21, 2014.  Hold My Home is the group’s fifth studio album, and the first to be released after Dear Miss Lonelyhearts in April of 2013.  

I was extremely excited to see if the group would continue in the same indie-rock direction they have gone in the past, or follow some other artists’ moves of the same scene, and completely switch it up (I’m looking at you, Young the Giant).  

My predictions of a change in direction, away from the Cold War Kids norm was proven incorrect after I heard the group’s main single of the album, “All This Could Be Yours.”  Although my thoughts were proven incorrect, there were some CWK explorations conducted during this album, such as the relaxing track, “Harold Bloom.”  Overall, if you are looking for some new jam songs, this may be the album where you find what you need.  It is nearly impossible to take a full listen to the album and not dance, even if it’s just a bit.

The album opens with this power ballad, in true Cold War Kids fashion.  With a piano intro, strong vocals creating the focus of the song, and the priority of the strong drum beats taking second chair, the only change Cold War Kids has made to their music was adding a bit of sleekness to their sound and demonstrating that the most passion they were capable of portraying was found in their first album, Robbers & Cowards (2006).  The few attributes that the group seems to differentiate themselves by (such as the strong cries of lead singer Nathan Willett) have unfortunately proven, over many albums, to be some of their only defining characteristics.  

Willett’s challenge of the album appeared on the sixth track, “Go Quietly.”  His opening to the track was expected of CWK with the strong vocals 
and steady beat, but as the song continues, I noticed there was 
something behind it.  Not emotionally, quite literally - there was a 
chorus!  Willett took this chance to step back and be carried away in
his music; he even allowed the track to be closed without his final 
word.  This baby step with Willett demonstrated the group’s ability to try
out something out of their realm, and whether it was a success or not can 
be decided by the listener.  

The group’s sense of exploration is all placed into one track of the album, “Harold Bloom.”  This slower, very relaxing pace was a standout song off the album, yet the group fell short of  strongly capturing the audience’s emotions.

Overall, Cold War Kids used Hold My Home to prove they are able of exploration, but their best talents lie in their staple sound.  If you loved tracks such as “Miracle Mile,” this album will be for you, but one should not look for any deeper than to have a good time.  Be sure to comment below with your thoughts about this new album, or if you have a request for the next album/artist review

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