Robbers & Cowards

A confession: this review may be a bit impulsive or premature. I had never heard of the Cold War Kids until days ago. I caught the sample of "Hang Me Up to Dry" and instantly recognized it from somewhere. I have no idea where I know the song from, but I absolutely LOVE it. After sampling the rest of the CD I decided it was worth taking a chance. Having had the CD a few days now, the songs are just so darn listenable and catchy they are addictive. I probably will have to pry the CD out of my player soon just to avoid OD'ing on it. The group has a real gift for catchy melodies as evident in the aforementioned tune as well as in "We Used to Vacation" and "St. John." Really the CD is full of immediately catchy hooks and melodies that suck you in and don't let go ("Passing the Hat", etc.). Even if I overdose on them short term, I don't think I could ever hear these tunes without being captivated. They are just that good - instant classics for me. If you like your rock stripped down and raw with an edge, tinged with soul and containing a heaping helping of blues (think White Stripes), "Robbers and Cowards" will hit the spot. I am shocked (and a little annoyed) by the presumptuous nature of the Amazon review (by Jedd Beaudoin). Perhaps the reviewer actually knows the band personally and can speak to such things, but probably not (I can be presumptuous as well!). The one kernel of truth in his review is that the Cold War Kids do "have quirky-but-catchy [...] songwriting." He nailed it there, but he then presumes to climb into their heads to speak about their motivations and aspirations. He accuses them of being "fascinated with the first Stokes album" and of "trying too hard." He charges them with trying to deliver a "fresh take on life in suburbia" but, failing here, they only deliver "a minor variation of angsty clichés." Maybe the reviewer is so into the music scene he knows what would motivate himself to produce a similar record. Maybe such an effort on his own behalf would truly be derivative of the Strokes, etc. Maybe his view is jaded by his own experience. Why isn't it possible that these guys are just being true to themselves and the(ir) music? Why can't this music be genuine and heart-felt? Maybe it is others who are preoccupied with image and marketing, not the Cold War Kids themselves. That's what I choose to believe, anyway. I spent some time on their website reading their "journal". I was impressed with what I felt was sincere, genuine, and very humorous. As far as I'm concerned these guys created a fantastic album that is a representation of who and what they are rather than what they are "trying" to be. I'm blessed to have experienced it. I encourage you to experience it for yourself. Regarding the Amazon reviewer, I suggest he is projecting his own pretentiousness onto the "Kids."

This album is amazing! I haven't been able to take it out of my CD player since I got it! The music is creative and catchy. Upon my first or second listen, I wasn't sure if I liked it because of the singer's voice. I thought it might get annoying to listen to over and over. Once I realized that he uses his voice more like one of the instruments, I really started to enjoy it. He sounds a bit like Robert Plant (who I love). Some of the music, at times, reminds me of Zepplin or White Stripes, but with 50's surfer-type guitar riffs. I really like the drummer, too. Anyway, it's been in my CD player non-stop for about a month, and I'm still not tired of it! I definitely recommend it, if you appreciate talent and something different than all of the other crap out today.

Thanks a lot, Jacquire King. You helped rape Modest Mouse in 2004, you ruined Kings of Leon for us in 2008 (after working with Ethan Johns on one of the best albums of the 2003, "Aha Shake Heartbreak"), and then in 2010 you completed the burial of Cold War Kids. But thanks for not getting to them sooner, not before they completed their debut album, Robbers & Cowards, in 2006. The album sings of alcoholism and families, of church and homelessness, of clerk jobs and college boys, of hospital beds and wife-mother collusion. Sometimes boppy (almost hip-hop) in delivery, the lyrics appropriately capture what it means to be a middle-aged, middle-income, or middle-brained American. Blues roots are obvious, the guitar riffs on songs like Rubidoux approach something akin to Albert Hammond, Jr., and the howling of Nathan Willett on basically every song can send shivers down the spine of anyone having shared his sentiment at one point or another. The most popular song off the album, the much-aired Hang Me Up to Dry, might have the album's only drawback in that the obnoxious piano cacophony that hipsters pretended to enjoy disrupts an otherwise mind-pounding and fitting rhythm. Still, Willett's haunting screeches sound to be restrained by the mind of a man who doesn't want to tell all, which is what makes the album that much more enjoyable - the anticipation of more. Unfortunately, we never got more. Loyalty to Loyalty (2008) didn't come close, and Cold War Kids finally lost their way artistically when Jacquire King begged the mainstream for platinum status that never came.

8entire cd is good

I was introduced to this album by my cousin, whose brother and the band members are friends. Initially to me, they sounded like Franz Ferdinand, but with a more interesting sound to their music. At the same time, there were elements of Maroon 5's soul rock, but Cold War Kids created their own alternative (indie) rock music, completely unique and completely different from all the groups out there now. Most impressive. The lyrics in most of their songs sound like a twisted reflection of life, sometimes funny, sometimes sad. I found their music very refreshing as compared to all the groups out there now. Out of all the tracks, I enjoyed Robber, Red Wine, Success, We Use To Vacation and Hang Me Up To Dry. This album really grew on me to the point that I'm asking myself to look-out for the dates they're dropping by for a concert!

I'd barely heard any tracks from the Cold War Kids before listening to this album. I expected to like Hang Me Out to Dry but wasn't looking for much beyond that. Well, I'll admit I'm surprised that this is one of those albums where pretty much every song is great. There are no duds. Plus there are a bunch of songs that are fabulous. I've listened to the album a bunch already and I'm still not tired of it.

I was looking everywhere for this LP and finally found it. I have been a fan this band for a long time and have all of their albums on digital. But listening to it on vinyl is so much better.

Un album original, des bons textes et des rythmes de batterie qui vous entraine. Et donne envie de rejouer certains morceaux. Une trés bonne découverte dans le genre des kings of leons. Oui à écouter sans modération!

Amazing album, their best imo

Das Debüt von den Cold War Kids überzeugt durch ruhigen, entspannten, aber auch rockigen und melodischen Indierock . Jeder Song hat seine eigenen Vorzüge und die vier Jungen aus Kalifornien überraschen durch ungeheure Variabilität. So schafft der Opener "We Used To Vacation" zu jedem Augenblick eine entspannte und chillige Atmosphäre und gehört seit dem ersten Hören zu meinen Lieblingssongs. Dennoch hat das Album "Robbers and Cowards" mit diesem Stück seinen Zenit noch lange nicht überschritten. Das Album bietet ausnahmslos für jeden Geschmack ein nettes, kleines Liedchen. So sind zum Beispiel im Song "Hair Down" Groove-Elemente, in "Passing The Hat" Polka-Ryhthmen und in "Saint John" Gospel enthalten. Also Platte kaufen, einlegen und genießen!!!

So glad I caught a performance of this band for two songs. Immediately bought the album and it's a gem. Insightful lyrics, literary and good stories within great tunes.

Rock. Senza fronzoli. Senza bisogno di suffissi prima o dopo il termine rock. Quello suonato semplicemente con chitarra, basso, batteria e una voce che sappia trasmettere emozioni. In più, un pianoforte usato con parsimonia ma con interventi sempre miratissimi. Tutto li. I Cold War Kids fanno semplicemente quello. E lo fanno magnificamente. E' bello in questi anni 2000 che sono l'elogio della contaminazione, trovare dischi come questo. Il loro è un sound minimale che si abbevera alla fonte del blues moderno, cittadino, di matrice bianca. Quello a cui si sono appoggiati fior fior di solisti e gruppi da circa 40 a questa parte ogni volta che avevano storie cupe da raccontare. E questi ragazzi di storie ne hanno davvero da raccontare, storie fosche che attingono all'immaginario di certa letteratura decedente americana. Per album come questi una ripassata al proprio inglese o il consulto di un buon vacabolario non risulterà prassi noiosa ma aprirà nuovi modi di valutare questa band. Se poi però per alcuni conta sola la musica nessun problema perchè qui la qualità della musica è autoportante. Musica tipicamente americana non ci piove, qui si respira polvere di deserto, fumo di bettole equivoche, di autostrade senza fine. Senza enfasi, senza eccessi. Il caro vecchio rock è tornato a farla da padrone.