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TRACK: Something Is Not Right With Me

WHO: Critic-infuriaters Cold War Kids.

WHAT: Piano-bashing indie workout.

THE HYPE: "We love it so much we've managed to listen to it approximately five thousand times since downloading. You should do the same." - This Is Fake DIY

WE SAY: There’s been a fair bit of theorising going on about the problems of the acceleration of modern culture and stuff, the toll it takes on folk – and nobody will say amen to that quicker than Californian indie kids Cold War Kids. You see, they have the distinct misfortune of being the first band to ever have a backlash before they’ve had the fame, adulation and gold discs. And all the poor fools did was sign with Gnarls Barkley’s label, thus betraying the sunlight-starved bloggers who’d gushed so fervently in their favour. Judas!, they typed, using bold, italics and screamers.

It seems that perhaps prevented them truly crossing over - a missed opportunity. With a locker full of momentous, red wine-stained, hook-drenched arty guitar gems like Hang Me Up To Dry, they compare favourably to any of their preppy peers – though the Tom Waits love-in did leave them looking a bit like Coldplay for smart arses.

Still, God loves a tryer, and here’s their attempt to win back the fickle masses. And if the hype above is any indication, redemption may not be too far away. As mentioned, they openly tout Tom Waits as an influence, but Something Is Not Right With Me suggests a new-found, less expected muse. Previously a bit on the dour side, their new album sounds a sight more uplifting – singer Nathan Willett has always had an incredible ability to carry a tune even when he’s screeching as if he’s just got a splinter in his old chap, and on this wails gloriously over bassline that wouldn’t sound out of place on Pete Tong, incessant crashing drums that show no trace of their famed sombreness. But it’s all in the piano. The old dischordant piano solos were a bit try-hard, but here the tinkling is more simple, catchy and joyous. It’s no longer a piano, it’s a Joanna – that’s right, Cold War Kids have turned into Chas n Dave, and Something Is Not Right With Me is the 21st century’s first great knees up. And I’ll raise a warm pint of bitter poured by Peggy Mitchell to that.

IF YOU ONLY NEED TO KNOW ONE THING: Wikipedia says they’re big fans of organic farming (insert devil horns metal gesture here.)

WHERE CAN I GET MY HANDS ON IT: Something Is Not Right With Me is available to download for free from rcrdlbl.com. The album, Loyalty To Loyalty, drops in September.

FIND MORE: http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Cold_War_Kids/track/Something_Is_Not_Right_With_Me

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