Cold War Kids

Cold War Kids released "Loyalty to Loyalty" on Downtown Records September 23rd this year to pretty much poor to average reviews. I featured this band before and was very much into "Hang me up to dry" So I was excited when I heard about the new album. Pitchfork gives the album a 5.1 out of 10 and states:

"But ultimately, Loyalty to Loyalty leaves a weird aftertaste, and it's not just because the penultimate "Relief" tries to prop itself up on Willett's falsetto harangues and stuttering slap-bass, before "Cryptomnesia" ends the record collapsing into a rumpled heap."

NME gives it a 7 out of 10 which seems like a pretty average rating, while SPIN hits them with a 2.5 stars out of 5. The reviews could be better and I gotta says upon first listen, I am not as excited about this album as I was about the last.


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Wikipedia:

Cold War Kids are an indie rock band from Fullerton, California, USA. Band members are Nathan Willett (lead vocals, piano, guitar), Jonnie Russell (guitar, vocals, percussion), Matt Maust (bass guitar), and Matt Aveiro (drums).
Contents

History
The band started in 2004 in historic downtown Fullerton in guitarist/vocalist Jonnie Russell's apartment above the restaurant Mulberry St. Ristorante (their first EP title).[2] The band relocated to Los Angeles and began recording their first demos, and after signing to Monarchy Music, the band released their debut EP Mulberry Street in the spring of 2005. The band toured extensively in 2005-2006, which ultimately created internet buzz amongst the blogging community. While touring, the band released two more EPs, With Our Wallets Full and Up in Rags in 2006. In the summer of 2006, Cold War Kids signed to Downtown Records (home to Gnarls Barkley, Art Brut) and released their debut LP Robbers & Cowards that fall.
In 2007, they contributed to OKX, a tribute to the 10-year-old Radiohead album OK Computer, recording their version of the track "Electioneering." Willett identified Radiohead and the album as a strong influence, saying, "It's the only album that I feel compelled to say way too grandiose things about, that rock journalists have already said plenty: Like that OK Computer is the single most important album to be released during my youth and that it was a rite of passage. But that really is the truth and I have never had an emotional connection with an album quite like I have with this one." He also explained why the band chose to cover "Electioneering" from the album: "I'm not saying 'Electioneering' is the best song on the album, but (still, a big claim!) it's certainly the most badass. It's lyrically everything we want to do - bursts of concrete imagery."[3]
Also in 2007, "We Used to Vacation" was the second track on music magazine Q's Best of 2007 promotional album.
Cold War Kids were long said to be keen backers of organic farming, but this was recently confirmed as nothing more than a bizarre rumour by keyboardist Nathan Willett. They are, however, avid supporters of unsigned talent such as the band Electric Furs. They have toured in support of Two Gallants, Tapes 'n Tapes, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Sound Team, Muse, and The White Stripes. Their music is heavily inspired by artists such as Jeff Buckley, Bob Dylan, Velvet Underground, and Johnny Segment. Recently they starred in an MTV2 special titled "Cold War Kids Takeover!" They appeared on Soccer AM and were announced as Norwich City F.C. Fans. They were going to tour with The White Stripes for their Icky Thump tour, but The White Stripes had to cancel. They recently played to a sold out gig at London's Bloomsbury Ballroom on 11th August 2008 and will be returning to UK shores to play the legendary Astoria venue in London on the 7th November 2008.
As of December 2007, Cold War Kids have returned to the studio to work on their second album. In June 2008, the band posted a video on their website containing an in-studio video featuring new song material. Later they put up a free MP3 of a track from their sophomore album, entitled "Something Is Not Right With Me." They also revealed that their new album will be called Loyalty to Loyalty, and it was released on September 23rd, 2008.

Members

Nathan Willettvocals, piano, guitar

Matt Maustbass guitar

Jonnie Russellguitar

Matt Aveirodrums

Discography

Albums
Robbers & Cowards (2006) #173 US, #35 UK
Loyalty to Loyalty (2008) #21 US, #68 UK, #20 AUS

EPs
Mulberry Street (2005)
With Our Wallets Full (2006)
Up in Rags (2006)
We Used to Vacation (2006)
Live from SoHo (2007) (iTunes Exclusive)
Benefit At The District (2007)

Singles
"Hair Down" (2006)
"We Used To Vacation" (2006)
"Hang Me Up to Dry" (2007) UK #57
"Hospital Beds" (2007)
"Hang Me Up to Dry (Re-Release)" (2007) UK #65, #26 US Modern Rock[1]
"Something is Not Right With Me" (2008) #40 US Modern Rock[2]

Appearances in media
"Passing The Hat," from their LP Robbers & Cowards was featured in the episode entitled "The Dream Team" of the HBO TV show Entourage.
"Hang Me Up To Dry," from their LP Robbers & Cowards was featured in the series premier episode entitled "Pilot" of the CW TV show Gossip Girl.
"Saint John," from their LP Robbers & Cowards was featured in the episode entitled "Joan of Arf" of the Comedy Central TV show The Sarah Silverman Program.
"Something Is Not Right With Me," from their LP Loyalty to Loyalty was featured in the episode entitled "Fire Sale" of the HBO TV show Entourage.

References
^ "Cold War Kids". MySpace. Retrieved on March 10, 2007.
^ Band profile: Bonnaroo 2007, bonnaroo.com, retrieved November 27, 2007
^ stereogum presents...OK X: A Tribute to OK Computer

External links
Official Cold War Kids website
Downtown Records
Monarchy Music
Cold War Kids at MySpace
Cold War Kids at Last.fm
Cold War Kids at Amie Street
Cold War Kids Online - A Cold War Kids fansite
Cold War Kids feature on hardrock.com
Free video of entire Amsterdam concert (18-11_2006)
Cold War Kids live on WOXY.com, October 23, 2006
Cold War Kids music downloads from RCRD LBL
Orange County Weekly - Photo Slideshow from March 2008
Podcast of the Cold War Kids live in Paris, 2007

Interviews
Random Rules: Nathan Willett The A.V. Club
Daytrotter Session (Free Songs)
October 2006 Interview with Nathan Willett

Reviews
Silent Uproar review of Robbers and Cowards
Spin Magazine review
Rolling Stone review

Cold War Kids