By Abbey Cadieux
North Pointe
Grosse Pointe North HS
1st Place
Division 2, News Writing
Review
It’s a rare opportunity for fans to live through the mastery of a favorite band’s sound. Listening to a favorite
underdog band fully come into into their own sound is a beautiful thing for fans to witness. Fans of Cold War
Kids are cherishing the last moments they have before the band explodes into full-on indie fame.
Ditching the old uneasiness of past albums, indie rock band Cold War Kids is bursting out of a sluggish
stretch of whiny, straggly tunes with their sixth clean and resounding album “L.A. Divine.”
“L.A. Divine” is a more palatable album and fans of other mainstream giants like Imagine Dragons, Bishop
Briggs and Kongos will enjoy the streamlined sound Cold War Kids has perfected. Lead singer Nathan Willett
maintains his distinct croon but ditches the wobbliness that made the band hard to listen to in the past.
Cold War Kids has ironed out any wrinkles and imperfections in songs and put out a shiny, clean alternative
album—one worthy of countless commercials and TV show spots.
New lead guitarist David Quon livens every track and is likely the force behind the band’s evolved sound. On
tracks like “No Reason to Run” and “Can We Hang On?,” Quon’s skills carry the songs past the typical Cold
War Kids-esque vibe.
Matching a new grittier, spooky sound that is gracing almost every alternative radio station, “Open Up the
Heavens” is an interesting switch-up offered on the album. While the group tends to stay pretty upbeat, the track
shows an unexpected darker side.
Tucked in the solid arrangement of songs are a few experimental tracks that show snippets of intimate trialand-
error that is often left to be cut in the studio. “L.A. River” and “Cameras Always On” give listeners a better
look into the creative process and a real glimpse at the meaningful moments one has, especially dealing with
the distorted sense of self that fame brings. Cold War Kids are owning up to their big status in the industry, and
it shows through in these little moments offered on the album.
Blending their typical existentialism with current events, “L.A. Divine” is slightly politicized,
marking a bold move for the band. The maturation of sound and content is most evident on
tracks “Wilshire Protest” and “Invincible,” where Willett battles with internal struggles
that every impassioned bystander in a chaotic political climate feels.
While the album as a whole is impressive in quality and intensity for most
tracks, fans may be let down at “So Tied Up” featuring alternative favorite
Bishop Briggs. Briggs adds little to the track, leaving fans who are used to
her awesome vocal presence feeling cheated. The opportunity for greatness
was lost on the track, as the blending of the two voices held immense
potential.
Breakout tracks “Love is Mystical” and “Restless” show that Willett
can access the same emotional depth that he has for his entire career
without the croaky nonsense that grated over earlier albums. With
“L.A. Divinel,” Cold War Kids shows that they have the potential
to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other alternative giants like The
Black Keys and become an even more entrenched household name
in indie music.
“L.A. Divine” shows that the band has taken what they do best
and built on it to create something that has the strength to last. Their
swooping ballads and heavy-hitting songs are reinforced by years
of experience that make almost every
track golden. For longtime fans, “L.A.
Divine” will come as a satisfying addition
to a long stretch of monotonous tunes.