kol/cwk against pitchfork

both of these reviews were written for my downtime column months ago, and although they are very brief each article hits key points. it is funny i say "review" but really i am selling the record to readers, trying to give people good shit to listen to instead of jonas brothers. that being said if you want to buy either of these records, go buy "only by the night" and then download pieces of "loyalty to loyalty". this blog is also a continuation of my last post against pitchfork, so i suggest reading both pieces accordingly. also a fun fact, both these records came out on the same day.

also note these are note the edited versions that were published, just to go along with my raw writing on the rest of this blog, if anyone can't tell, none of my posts are edited.

Kings of Leon – Only By The Night (RCA)

Kings of Leon are always youthful but now they add wisdom to their docket on their newest disc: Only By The Night.

On opening track, “Closer” the Kings use new tricks with an echoed guitar effect that plays through the whole song with heavy drums and mournful howls.

The first single from the album is “Sex on Fire” which also marks the Kings of Leon’s first number one hit on the U.K. charts. The song is infectiously catchy with a big hook that will have you singing along before you know what the words are.

Tracks like “Manhattan” and “Revelry” add depth and tracks like “Crawl” and “Notion” add rock to the album to make it very well rounded.

Only By The Night lights new fires and chills new bones. The Followill brothers (and one cousin) have successfully expanded their sound to new heights, which keep the Kings the band to beat.



Cold War Kids – Loyalty To Loyalty (Downtown)

Southern California has seen its share of bands come and go, but none quite like Cold War Kids. A band of young twenty something teachers and art students, they got an amazing start with their debut; Robbers and Cowards. Their newest album is Loyalty to Loyalty, and even though it may not be as strong as their first, Loyalty is no sophomore slump.

Opening with “Against Privacy” the Kids bring back their slow echoed jams, and then break into track two; “Mexican Dogs” which comes in with the same kind of rhythmic sensation of their first record.

“I’ve Seen Enough” starts with the same piano chord being hit, but after twenty seconds the song explodes into the most full piece that Cold War Kids have ever produced. “Every Man I Fall For” is a slow beautiful song that has reverb heavy guitar just coo lightly over slow basic rhythm.