PunchBook

Grade - A-

The debut LP from the Cold War Kids has been out for quite a while now; and it’s no longer a secret. Robbers & Cowards has propelled this Fullerton, CA group directly into the mainstream….a tour with the White Stripes didn’t hurt their popularity either. With heavy influences from Bob Dylan and Velvet Underground, this album contains captivating lyrics coupled with a palethora of differnt sounds and beats. For someone who is as ADD as I am, it’s a perfect combination.

This album starts off with my favorite song on the album, We Used To Vacation. A song about a man struggling with the realization that he’s no longer living an independant life and is a puppet controlled by the actions of his family. Oh, and he’s a recovering alcoholic. It’s one of those rare tunes that tells a good story, is great for singing along, and draws an image on your brain of someone you probably know.

Hang Me Out To Dry gets all of the radio play but I’m not sure it’s even a top 5 song on this album…but it’s still very good. Passing the Hat and Saint John are two strong, middle-of-the-album songs that tell interesting stories of struggle and justification for disregarding social norms. The rest can be said for the rest of the album (the title of the record should be an obvious indication of that), but it’s drawn up particularly well on these two tracks. The point of an album where most begin to run out of energy and creative substance is a strength on Robbers and Cowards. The album finishes off quite well and there are a few hidden gems including Red Wine, Success!

Get your hands on this album, it’s worth every second of time you give it.

Have you heard this album? If so, I’d like to get you thoughts on it. Is it as good as I say it is, or is it already forgotten?