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Track Listings
| 1. Mine Is Yours |
| 2. Louder Than Ever |
| 3. Royal Blue |
| 4. Finally Begin |
| 5. Out Of The Wilderness |
| 6. Skip The Charades |
| 7. Sensitive Kid |
| 8. Bulldozer |
| 9. Broken Open |
| 10. Cold Toes On The Cold Floor |
| 11. Flying Upside Down |
Product Description
Review
At their best, California’s Cold War Kids balance overwrought bluster with undeniable and engaging self-belief, evident in the jackhammer riffs of songs like Hang Me Out to Dry or Something Is Not Right with Me. A lot of this is due to Nathan Willett’s impressively jagged tones, which, matched to his tales of down-and-out drinkers, destitute hospital patients and weary poets, communicate a dual sense of romance and ennui that brought about major excitement at their arrival proper with Robbers & Cowards half a decade ago.
Mine Is Yours marks the first time an outside producer has worked with the quartet, the results constituting a decidedly mixed bag. Jacquire King – who’s previously worked with Kings of Leon and Modest Mouse – expands and broadens the band’s sound to the point where shimmering electric guitars cloak the hard edges that made them such a force to be reckoned with in the first place. Meanwhile, Willett’s lyrics take a turn for the insular, focusing on "relationships and commitment" and for the most part forsaking the storytelling nous he developed on previous records.
Which isn’t to say that the record is an unmitigated disaster – just that it lacks the one thing Cold War Kids always had going for them, even when their albums didn’t flow as smooth or efficiently as this one: impact. When the band does ramp up the intensity the results are admirable, such as on the sprawling Out of the Wilderness, which breaks down at its halfway point only to bow out amid a haze of blistering righteousness. But if that song reinforces the band’s strengths, the following Skip the Charades places their weaknesses front and centre: Willett’s lyrics faintly awful, the whole thing hopelessly meek where it should sound impassioned. Elsewhere, though, Louder Than Ever boasts a sweet enough chorus while Royal Blue opens minimal only to expand into a playful, melodic ditty.
Indeed, there’s enough here to suggest Cold War Kids will eventually make good on the promise that haltingly accompanies them. But for now, Mine Is Yours occupies an unremarkable middle ground somewhere between their bluesy, abrasive tendencies and the kind of staidly proficient indie-rock that surely wasn’t part of the plan to begin with.
--James Skinner
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
No longer the bloggers favourites, with this release the critics have them as trying to "do a Kings of Leon" (same producers), but what we actually have here is if anything, even less fashionable - largely ditching the white trash blues storytelling in favour of - wait for it - the build-`em-up falsetto anthems of mid '90s indie alwaysthebridesmaids mancunians James (they of the daisy t-shirts). No, really - listen to Bulldozer to see what I mean.
So that makes this a giant leap forward!
So that makes this a giant leap forward!
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Superb Album! Well crafted songs, amazing voice, sounds as alive on recording as they are live
24 Jan 2011
Format:Audio CD
|
Length:
1:03
Mins
As a long time fan of Cold War Kids, and a massive fan of the last 2 albums of CWK I was really excited to hear this was coming and I had heard they were working with the producer who made the last two kings of Leon record's. You could say there is a slight similarity between Kings of Leon and Cold War Kids in terms of the singing style and rawness of his voice and bluesy guitar style. So fans of the last 2 kings albums would I'm sure really enjoy this album. Totally recommend to fans of Kings of leon, jeff buckley, killers, counting crows, jack white and any of the bands he has been a part of.
From opener 'Mine Is Yours' a slow building track that grows around his vocals and the piano. Nice chorus, interweaving bluesy guitar lead. to track 2 'Louder Than Ever' Big big song, reminds me of the Killers a little bit in the verses in his singing style/speed, awesome catchy chorus. 'Royal Blue' Gorgeous vocal, fantastic guitar and bongo drums, superb piano and the biggest chorus ever, my favourite on the album so far. Really sets them apart from any KOL here. ' Finally Begin' Awesome lyrics and story teller style build. Makes me think of counting crows a little bit. Love his voice on this one. 'Out of the wilderness' Layed back guitar built song with guitar looping bridges and explosive chorus and outstanding vocals. 'Skip The Charades' Slow burner, but no less of a brilliant song 'Sensitive Kid' Most unusual song on the album, electronic beat, stand out vocals on the album, raw and smooth all at the same time. Reminds me of some of the stripped back songs on the last album that i loved!! In my top 3 songs on the album. 'Bulldozer Builder of a song, awesome guitar wall of sound build with great vocals. 'Cold Toes on The Cold Floor' is another outstanding song, rings on Jeff Buckley in his voice and the stripped back instruments, very bluesy, awesome awesome song.
Overall a very strong album, warmer than the last album, more comfortable, surely coming from production by Jacquire King, but no less brilliant. I really really enjoyed this album and totally recommend it. Also check out the last 2 albums too. Robbers and Cops and Loyalty To Loyalty are slightly rawer and likely to be played more by me, but that's just personal taste, but 'Mine Is Yours' is no less brilliant and hopefully a great start for fans only just getting into Cold War Kids.
Robbers & Cowards
Loyalty To Loyalty
From opener 'Mine Is Yours' a slow building track that grows around his vocals and the piano. Nice chorus, interweaving bluesy guitar lead. to track 2 'Louder Than Ever' Big big song, reminds me of the Killers a little bit in the verses in his singing style/speed, awesome catchy chorus. 'Royal Blue' Gorgeous vocal, fantastic guitar and bongo drums, superb piano and the biggest chorus ever, my favourite on the album so far. Really sets them apart from any KOL here. ' Finally Begin' Awesome lyrics and story teller style build. Makes me think of counting crows a little bit. Love his voice on this one. 'Out of the wilderness' Layed back guitar built song with guitar looping bridges and explosive chorus and outstanding vocals. 'Skip The Charades' Slow burner, but no less of a brilliant song 'Sensitive Kid' Most unusual song on the album, electronic beat, stand out vocals on the album, raw and smooth all at the same time. Reminds me of some of the stripped back songs on the last album that i loved!! In my top 3 songs on the album. 'Bulldozer Builder of a song, awesome guitar wall of sound build with great vocals. 'Cold Toes on The Cold Floor' is another outstanding song, rings on Jeff Buckley in his voice and the stripped back instruments, very bluesy, awesome awesome song.
Overall a very strong album, warmer than the last album, more comfortable, surely coming from production by Jacquire King, but no less brilliant. I really really enjoyed this album and totally recommend it. Also check out the last 2 albums too. Robbers and Cops and Loyalty To Loyalty are slightly rawer and likely to be played more by me, but that's just personal taste, but 'Mine Is Yours' is no less brilliant and hopefully a great start for fans only just getting into Cold War Kids.
Robbers & Cowards
Loyalty To Loyalty
Format:Audio CD
First off, I want to say I loved this album. Sure, the first half is stronger than the second but overall it's really strong. My only concern is the similarities with Kings Of Leon, particularly on tracks 1, 4 and 6. These are near note perfect copies of KOL style (at least, the style of the last two albums, where KOL changed), which I'm sure is down to the use of the same producer. Can't complain, as these are the albums that saw KOL change both style and sales, but I loved CWK before!
Maybe it's unfair to criticise CWK for this, perhaps it's more the producer who has run out of ideas and has just done the same thing to them as he did with KOL, as it's proved successful in the past? Don't get me wrong, these songs are great, whoever they sound like, and I hope this album sees CWK reach the audience they deserve. It's just a shame they're not doing it on their own terms, sounding like they did before!
Listen to the album and make your own mind up, but I challenge you not to hear KOL in the chorus of Skip The Charades!
Maybe it's unfair to criticise CWK for this, perhaps it's more the producer who has run out of ideas and has just done the same thing to them as he did with KOL, as it's proved successful in the past? Don't get me wrong, these songs are great, whoever they sound like, and I hope this album sees CWK reach the audience they deserve. It's just a shame they're not doing it on their own terms, sounding like they did before!
Listen to the album and make your own mind up, but I challenge you not to hear KOL in the chorus of Skip The Charades!
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