The Cold War was a time of political rebellion and skepticism, where youthful Americans began to question their government. The Indie rock band Cold War Kids strives to preserve that thrill of insurgence through their independent style of music, which differs from that of the pop culture style enforced by the main stream media. Cold War Kids has been around since April 2005, when they recorded their first EP, entitled “Mulberry Street.” However, it was not until quite recently, when they started to appear on music television programs such as MTV and Fuse, that people really started to notice their talent.
Cold War Kids, who model themselves after The White Stripes and Morphine, have recorded four EPs over the past two years. In the spring of 2006, the band was finally signed to Downtown Recordings and were able to produce their first full-length album, “Robbers and Cowards,” released in October 2006. “Hang me up to Dry” is the band’s first hit single off the album, which has received the most media attention. However, the rest of the tracks on the album deserve just as much credit and would be a shame to overlook.
The voice of lead vocalist, Nathan Willett, is a smooth, soft sound which on some tracks such as “Robbers” and “Passing the Hat,” can resemble that of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke. While the band is dedicated to the literature of David Foster Wallace, who preaches of rebellion in a society created by the media, Cold War Kids remains loyal to its Christian roots. Nathan Willett, bassist Matt Maust and guitarist Jonathan Bo Russell, who all met at an evangelical Christian college, occasionally slip in the message of redemption. “We Used to Vacation,” sympathizes with a recovering alcoholic who has lost touch with his family.
The Cold War Kids’ latest album mixes barroom piano with high tenor to produce a captivating sound that is missing from most music we hear today. Although the band is currently touring in Europe with Elvis Perkins, they will be back in the United States in June for the three day Bonnaroo music festival in Tennessee. If you have not heard of the Cold War Kids yet, log on to myspace or itunes, where you can get a taste of the new album which gives Wallace’s phrase, “Real rebels, as far as I can see, risk disapproval,” a whole new meaning.
