Unglued Reviews

The debut full-length album from US indie-types Cold War Kids draws the bulk of its material from their three previous EPs, albeit in re-recorded form, but nevertheless manages to sound cohesive, though not flawless.

Leading off with two popular singles, the bluesy jeremiad We Used To Vacation and sparkling Hang Me Up To Dry, the rest of the tracks on the album typically follow in similar suit: a sturdy bedrock provided by the rhythm section of the two Matts (Maust on throbbing bass and Aveiro on drums and jittery percussion), topped by off-kilter guitars and almost scattershot upright piano from Jonathan Bo Russell and Nathan Willet. And like those first two tracks, the album really takes a few listens to grow on you. In this department, the band’s secret weapon is lead singer Willet’s soaring, distinctive vibrato – the vocal melodies and inflections he weaves throughout the songs are typically what keeps you coming back while the music works its way into your subconscious.

There are several highlights to be found on the record, from the animated Hair Down through the irrepressible Hospital and frankly chaotic God, Make Up Your Mind to the rocking Rubidoux. However, for my money the best song on Robbers & Cowards is indisputably Saint John: sung from the perspective of a black man on death row for killing one of several white college boys who drunkenly grabbed at his sister with “hands all fidget electric”, this narrative is as evocative as the best traditional outlaw folk songs, and is backed by a spacious, primarily rhythmic arrangement.

The album does have a couple of dead spots – Pregnant being the most obvious – but the lively cuts mentioned above undoubtedly make Robbers & Cowards worthwhile.

Owen Heitmann