Robbers & Cowards

The Cold War Kids write catchy, well constructed songs that revolve around the versatile voice of Nathan Willett, whose soaring, theatrical vocals range from the falsetto croon of “God, Make Up Your Mind” to the snarl of “Red Wine, Success!” Surrounding his voice are sharp tempo shifts, snatches of dissonant barroom piano and jangly, ringing guitars, all of which are featured on the album’s standout tracks — the swaggering “Hang Me Up to Dry,” “We Used to Vacation” and “Hospital Beds.” The Kids boast observant, intriguing lyrics and clever song narratives, witness “Passing the Hat,” a justification disguised as a confession about stealing money from a church collection basket. Refreshingly, even when they push things too far (which they do from time to time) the results are still boisterous, indulgent and fun. This full-length debut contains different versions of songs previously released on two of their EPs, <i>Up in Rags</i> and <i>With Our Wallets Full</i>, along with two new tunes. Taken as a whole, <i>Robbers & Cowards</i> is a bold and imaginative statement from an ambitious young band.