ALBUM REVIEW: Cold War Kids - Dear Miss Lonelyhearts

Originally published at Middle Boop Mag: http://www.middleboopmag.com/music/music-news/cold-war-kids-%E2%80%93-dear-miss-lonelyhearts-vertigo-records

Three years on and the almighty Cold War Kids are back once again, with new album Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, named after a classic Thin Lizzy track. The Californian foursome have also added in Modest Mouse’s guitarist Dan Gallucci, to which most will agree is something to be very excited about.  

Now, four albums into their career, have Cold War Kids managed to scrape back that poignancy and poeticism that their first two sublime records brought to the table, or will it suffer the same fate their past album Mine Is Yours did, disappointing fans and critics alike with its overall mundanity?

After first hearing lead single ‘Miracle Mile’, all seemed right with the CWK’s, and their brilliance seemed somewhat restored. With its thwacking piano and supercharged vocals, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts became unbearable to wait any longer for. They set the bar exceptionally high with this track, and one wonders if they might have shot themselves in the foot by putting it as the albums opener. We live and pray.

‘Lost This Easy’ is okay-ish , sounding moody and woeful with a playful experimentation of electronic backing beats. One of the best things about this band is the vocalist Nathan Willett voice, which remains as characterised and raw as it always did. However, on multiple listens (almost unrelenting, wanting the record to click to be able to dub it ‘a grower’) there is alas, no such response.

‘Fear And Trembling’ has echoed vocals and a retro saxophone element, but whilst listenable, doesn’t give you much of a knee-jerk response. There is however another flutter of brilliance towards the end of the record with ‘Jailbirds’ which is powerful and crisp, showcasing Gallucci’s musical input astutely.

Whilst the album is highly polished and heavy on production, it does lack the quintessential rawness and soul that made Cold War Kids initially so relevant and prominent amongst their peers. Better luck next time we hope.