"Here, are they the lot that sound like Maroon Five?" was a query put forth by a mate prior to Cold War Kids' recent Clap Your Hands Say Yeah support slot in Tripod. For those of you still reading; one could equate the two considering Nathan Willett has a piercing falsetto and enjoys the odd stint on piano, but thankfully that's where any similarities to Adam Levine end. In saying that, it made a refreshing change to people comparing Willet to Jack White and Jeff Buckley incessantly. If I'm being honest; I've not encountered a voice which rings with such soulful clarity since that of Beth Gibbons. But that's just another opinion. The plain fact is that the Californian four piece's debut album (which many berate for being comprised primarily of their prior EP work) is a glorious body of Americana which grabs the gut, speaks to the sacral and swivels you down a dirt track of sensual perfection. The rattle snake percussion of 'We Used to Vacation'; the undulating bass line of 'Hang Me Up To Dry'; the bible belt blues of 'Saint John'; the Latino rumblings of 'Pass The Hat'; the hip-shaking brush-drummed intro of 'Robbers' that carries the whimsical guitar and vocals beautifully. The urge to babble further in an attempt to convey the paragon of 'Tell Me In The Morning' is palpable but that's time best spent getting to know 'Robbers and Cowards' for yourself.
