Cold War Kids - "Loyalty to Loyalty"

Cold War Kids - Loyalty to Loyalty

The cold war isn’t over yet for these kids, and thankfully so. Loyalty to Loyalty, the Cold War Kids’ sophomore album, is dripping with their original flavor. The album displays the same minimalist, bare-bones jams their 2006 debut CD Robbers & Cowards was famous for, while simultaneously carrying the band into a new era. However, fans can sleep well knowing the Kids haven’t given anything up. Loyalty prominently displays one of the Cold War Kids’ many fortes: manipulating dynamics. Tracks such as “Against Privacy” and “Avalanche in B” improve upon the best moments from Robbers. Lead singer Nathan Willett’s fragile vocals soar over riffs and beats branded with that signature flow-of-consciousness feel. Jonnie Russell’s guitar is as random and rhythmic at the same time as possible, and Matt Aveiro’s drums have a tribal tinge that reinforce Willett’s raw emotion. Then, when least expected, a track like “I’ve Seen Enough” sneaks into your eardrums. It begins with a luring, hypnotic piano beat and soon explodes into a full-force rock song big enough for Kings of Leon, but still captures the raw originality of the Kids. On “Welcome To The Occupation”, Willett closes the album singing about the growing burden felt by those who speak out against social injustices, crying “Whistle blowers gotta get outta school/They don’t want poets, they want pigeons on a stool.” Loyalty has proved the Cold War is here to stay. Ronald Reagan must be rolling in his grave.