My love for Cold War Kids started in 2010. That's when I first came across their first album, Robbers & Cowards. One of my best friends introduced the band and album to me and I know most people go on about how they find a love for bands because they changed their life and all this whimsical crap. The truth is, I loved them because at that time, only him and I knew who they were, in our circle, and the indie fiend I am absolutely loved just how little people knew about them. They were a little slice of musical heaven I could whip out in company and say things like, "Oh, you don't know Cold War Kids? Yeah you've just got to be in the know, you know." I was an insufferable music snob back then. More so now but I at least pretend a bit better now.

I loved the way their sound didn't seem to follow any discernable rules of music when it came to sound and lyrical content. They mixed a blues rock sound with some very intense lyrics that really drew you in. Is the song meant to sound like this? Are they sure they want to send out this message? It was a very eye opening experience for my still developing music brain.

Over the years I followed their releases closely. I can sing all the lyrics from Loyalty to Loyalty, Mine Is Yours, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts and Hold My Home. These are albums that were soundtracks to my nights where I'd had one or two too many drinks and just wanted to feel my heart move around in a warm haze like my insides were. Whenever I felt like I was straying too far from my indie roots, I'd put one of their albums on and just get lost in the days of checkered shirts, skinny jeans and flip flops. I was definitely a coastal hipster back in the day. No heavy boots for me, no thanks. Give me a pair of Havaianas, some craft beer and bands no one knows and I was happy.

I went a very long time after that when I didn't keep up with new music in general, only going back to songs and albums I loved in the past. I think maybe I was just trying to chase nostalgia over the last few years and I lost touch with what the band were putting out. My new entry to the band is New Age Norms 1, a three part album rollout that showcases the bands gradual change to what I think is a very new and different sound. The three album project is a little snapshot of where the band was at that moment in time, both with their sound and the themes within the album.

The same bluesy feel is still there but this time there's a definite dancey vibe to it. I mean this isn't going to get you on the dance floor at 2am in a sweaty mess with a sock and a whistle around your head but it will definitely having you bobbing your head a bit more than previous entries. The album follows a more traditional formula compared to some of the works they've put out before which I think makes it more appealing to a broader base of listeners.

I'm writing this right now listening to Dirt In My Eyes and I can clearly picture a scene at one of those parties where everyone pretends like they're sophisticated but really they're just pretending to have their shit together, standing around the canapes table and trying to not let the free booze go to their heads. Those types of parties where the host spends a small fortune trying to make it look like they really didn't try all that much and all the guests are made up of people who pretend to be normal, down to earth salt of the earth people but you know behind closed doors they're really insufferable cunts. This is the type of album that would make being in a crowd like that so much more bearable. There's more focus on piano sounds and great bass riffs this time around with great vocal work from front man, Nathan Willet. His soulful and passionate lyrics carry out so well in this project. This direction they've taken over the last few years has strongly complimented his sound.

This album has a very good wedding vibe to it, the type of stuff you'd play in the background during the break between the church ceremony and reception. I think that's the best compliment I can give to an album. If I can play it in public, in the background around people I barely know and feel like it fits the setting, it's golden to me.