Product Description

Before releasing this 2006 full-length album, California's Cold War Kids toured relentlessly, released some EP's, and whipped the nation's youth into an evangelical rock-&-roll frenzy with their charismatic stagecraft and songsmithery, which updates classic rock conventions with a bit of angular, post-punk experimentation. Judging by the tunes here, the enthusiasm is well-deserved.

Track Listing

1. We Used To Vacation
2. Hang Me Up To Dry
3. Tell Me In The Morning
4. Hair Down
5. Passing The Hat
6. St John
7. Robbers
8. Hospital Beds
9. Pregnant
10. Red Wine Success
11. God Make Up Your Mind
12. Rubidoux

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1827 in Music
• Released on: 2007-02-05
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Think of an accessible mix of The Strokes, The White Stripes and Tapes & Tapes, with a bit of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Neutral Milk Hotel thrown in for good measure, and you'll more or less have the sound of Cali indie rockers Cold War Kids nailed. One of the latest blog-hyped bands to have made their reputation via word of mouth and a series of ebullient live shows, the quartet finally present a debut album, Robbers & Cowards. Melding subtle blues motifs, indie rock and Southern soul with a range of ambitious lyrical themes (religion, death, alcoholism, delivered by vocalist Nathan Willett, who sounds like Jack White, Alex Ounsworth and Julian Casablancas rolled into one), the band do a good job early on with infectious, intelligent tracks like "We Used To Vacation," "Hang Me Up To Dry" and "Tell Me In The Morning." As the album wears on however, Willett's warbles sound increasingly unconvincing and the band seem to run out of ideas. A great live experience they may be, but the disproportionate number of fillers here makes for a disappointing studio profile. --Paul Sullivan

Customer Reviews

May i be as bold as to say
This record makes me feel very uncool not for buying it but because it's damn cool. The lyric's have the feel of gang* bad boys killin muggin and dealin but there way more clever than those crouch grappin rappin asprin takin yardies just out of the hood blood thirsty and savage with the mental age of 15 after hoe's and hot rides these guy's are about changin the world in own way about morals and just.
Style: There sound is based around raw drums on some tracks they sound live, with honest lyrics and naughty bass lines this is a great record

Listen Hard
A struggle. To sum it up. Likened to bands such as The French Kicks, Jeff Buckley and The White Stripes this album should have been a sure fire winner. But until the third listen I was prepared to give this album 1 or 2 stars. Then I realised that you need to give this album your full attention.

The album begins at a reasonable pace with a distinctly rocky White Stripes-esq track. All music on this album has a twist and a style that makes is a rather difficult listen. There are definite leanings to the Walkmen and French Kicks in the lyrical delivery style.

Maybe it is just this style of music I don't get along with too well, but much like Tom Waits with 'Bone Machine' [2000], The Walkmen 'Bows + Arrows' [2004] I can't listen to more than a couple of tracks before having to shuffle off to something else. It is a rather intense album, not the type for background music - the listener is demanded to give his full attention - anything less and the album loses it's appeal.

The opener on the album is a good song, but nothing more, nothing less. The album continues in much the same vain but seems to lack any variance to keep the listener interested, falling away quite quickly come the 4th/5th song.

Give it a go if you like the Walkmen - I am 100% sure if you liked 'Bows + Arrows' you will like this too. If you are looking for a more accessible mainstream effort with the White Stripes influences then stick with a band like the Raconteurs or the French Kicks who I think delivered similar music more effectively.

*** Like :- The Walkmen, The Velvet Underground, Tom Waits***

Stunning
I decided to buy this album after hearing the excllent Hang Me Up To Dry and the rest of the album is just as brilliant. They offer a unique sound of alternative rock which for me is very welcome in an period where much indie sounds very similar.

Other standout tracks are: Hospital Beds, We Used To Vacation, We Used To Vacation, Hair Down and Passing The Hat.

For me, this was one of the best albums i have heard for a few years. It is so unique and their live performances echo the brilliance of this album.

If you are thinking of buying this album, just buy it! You will be glad you did.