Two years after the release of Robbers & Cowards, Fullerton, Calif.'s Cold War Kids are back with their sophomore album, Loyalty to Loyalty.
This is a highly anticipated album for hardcore Cold War Kids fans. They, along with many other not-so-fanatical Cold War Kids fans, had been waiting for the new album to drop for some time now. With such brilliance on their debut record, anticipation was running high to see what Cold War Kids would deliver next.
But sadly, with the release of Loyalty to Loyalty's single, Something Is Not Right With Me,"" this anticipation only resulted in disappointment. The song was unusually boring compared to previous tracks. Although lead singer Nathan Willett's vocals are as strong as ever, it felt like the band as a whole was lacking their creative spirit, which was so blaringly present on their first album. Each line of the single follows the exact same melody, and Willett repeats ""something is not right with me"" ad nauseam. It was uncharacteristic and a far leap from the chaotic sounds of Robbers & Cowards, and it appeared Cold War Kids were trying to match the enthusiasm of their first album but had completely missed the mark.
However, as the musical gods would have it, when Loyalty to Loyalty dropped in September, fans realized the overall quality of the album does not mirror that of its single. It is moderately good music. The overall tone of the album, however, is still a shocking
departure from the band's debut.
Loyalty to Loyalty is, by the Cold War Kids' standards, atypically mellow. The frenzy of their first album has diminished, and in its place is a more somber tone. Although Willett's voice isn't a perfect match for this newfound serenity, the songs still manage to keep the listener engaged. The best examples of their new sound on this album include ""Golden Gate Jumpers"" and ""Every Valley Is Not a Lake,"" both featuring progressive rhythms.
Overall, Loyalty to Loyalty is an interesting new side of Cold War Kids. However, their first album distinguished them as masters of hysteria, and that's a hard fact to forget when listening to these mediocre melodies.
It's clear Cold War Kids wanted to try out a different sound for their new record. Robbers & Cowards was thrilling and energetic, never letting listeners pause to catch their breath. In contrast, Loyalty to Loyalty is much more subdued and subtle. Its melodies are calmer and lyrics more poetic. Instead of hollering their message to the masses, Cold War Kids have opted to charm their listeners with poetic lyrics and resonating melodies. It's a decent album and worth picking up, but it is not what Cold War Kids do best.
