by Sam Farrell ‘12

California-based Cold War Kids have built their legacy by regularly producing desolate and descriptive lyrics that describe tragedies such as suicide by bridge jumping and alcoholic fathers. The band’s dismal topics of choice coupled with lead singer and rhythm guitarist Nathan Willet’s distinctive vocals have paved the way for the Kids’ fame in the universe of alternative music. Fans who have grown accustomed to the band’s signature sound and themes will be disappointed by their newest installment, “Mine is Yours.” With “Mine is Yours,” the Kids decided to clash with their normal genre and try a whole new sound that sounds more like Arcade Fire than Cold War Kids.

Consider the first track, which shares the same name with the album. It starts out with a simple U2-esque delayed guitar riff and Willet wailing some monotonous “ohhhs” and “ahhhs” you’d expect from Bono. This song is a clear contrast to classics by the Kids like “We Used to Vacation” and “I’ve Seen Enough,” which had firmly established that exact sound they are famous for. The rest of the new album is in the same vein, save a few songs. One could compare the transformation of their new sounds to that of the Kings of Leon, who went from simple, down south country boys to big shot, fashion label wearing millionaires on their album “Only by the Night.” This isn’t surprising considering Jacquire King, the man behind “Only by the Night” had a hand in producing “Mine is Yours.”

But even if your alternative spirit is crushed, keep wading through. There are indications that shows the Kids still have their touch in songs like “Sensitive Kid” and “Cold Toes on the Floor,” which have the strained guitar notes added with Willet’s haunting voice that resemble the past albums. These songs show that the Kids still have that unique song writing ability that has made them stick out in the music world, and they just need a firm push back to start making it again.

But, nevertheless, songs like “Royal Blue” and “Finally Begin” are perfect examples of what real fans regret to hear on this newest album. They both consist of catchy guitar riffs and songs about love and romance, which is contradictory to their original roots. Don’t get me wrong, the songs aren’t bad; they just deserve to be written by the Kings of Leon instead of the Kids.

In essence, all one needs to know is that all unique aspects of the band were essentially replaced. Lyrics about hatred and anger were swapped for love and girlfriends. The original Cold War Kids sound is gone, save a few remnants. Fans can only hope that these will be enough to make a rebound into something fans expect and will appreciate.