D+
There is a saying that’s always used, directly or otherwise, that if one tries their hardest, they can accomplish anything. But there is such a thing as trying too hard — to the point of desperation.
That sums up the entire career of Cold War Kids and the aura that surrounds them.
Coming into being in 2004, but debuting in 2006 , CWK has been fraught with the search for a sound that exemplifies both the image and songwriting skills of the group.
But with every release under its belt, it still remains inconsistent and lost.
“Hold My Home,” the 2014 effort, is one more disappointing notch in the strap.
Emanating a vibe reminiscent of U2, The Black Keys and maybe even a smidge of Franz Ferdinand, CWK has the inspiration and aforementioned talent residing within it; it just doesn’t know what to do with it.
Every song feels like a slogging chore not only for the band but the listener as well.
Another major flaw is the band appears to be focusing too much on perfecting the atmosphere and intensity of its influences instead of concentrating on a solid rhythm or song structure. In layman’s terms, style over substance.
The most frustrating aspect of “Hold My Home,” much less any other release of theirs, is that some of the tracks have the chops to be truly enjoyable.
But it all unravels because there is no flow, confidence or natural instinct to be found on anything, anywhere.
It has all the blueprints laid out, as well as a foundation to build on.
Unfortunately, it keeps missing the mark, and the result is a documentation of a band awkwardly trying to sweat out a hit or a decent album.
It’s disappointing and a little sad that CWK tries so hard to claw through the thin ice but never seems to have the right tools to break through and come into its own as exceptional.
Instead, no matter how upbeat the tone or how euphoric the lyrics, it all ends up being boring and forgettable.
