Cold War Kids
Robbers and Cowards
Downtown (2006)
With a few EP's and a couple of renowned festivals under their belt - Lollapalooza and South by Southwest - Cold War Kids have finally released (in late 2006 actually) their full-length album, Robbers and Cowards. Like a few of their indie predecessors, Cold War Kids borrows from 1970's legends like Bob Dylan and The Velvet Underground for their sound, but it is within this sound that they embody that era rather than just copy it. This is evidenced by their stripped down, bare bones style, cultivated from years of banging on plywood walls and yelling into tape recorders (I stole that description from their record label's site, by the way). Their mix of sounds creates a smolderingly energetic loose-limbed blues that sets them apart from others in their respective genre. The album kicks off with "We Used to Vacation," a track that gives Cold War Kids a chance to strut their stuff with a rough piano arrangement coupled with jagged guitar riffs and frontman Nathan Willet's soulful, though occasionally whiny, voice. This is a recipe for the good, catchy, and accessible music that Cold War Kids are so skilled at crafting. There are many examples of this sound sprinkled … Read more
Rilo Kiley
Under the Blacklight
Warner Bros. (2007)
Rilo Kiley has finally joined forces again with their fourth full-length album, Under the Blacklight. It has been three years … Read more
Patton Oswalt
Werewolves and Lollipops
Sub Pop (2007)
For the most part, humor is always subjective. Not in this case, however. If Patton Oswalt doesn't make you laugh, … Read more
Between the Wars
Death and the Sea
Think Fast! (2007)
Everyone has his or her favorite guitar virtuoso. For some it might be the finger-tapping charmer Eddie Van Halen or … Read more
Tegan and Sara
The Con
Sire (2007)
What is it about Canada? You know, Due South, The Arcade Fire, Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Dan Aykroyd, Godspeed You! … Read more
