COLD WAR KIDS

New Age Norms 1 CWKTWO/AWAL

5/10

Pop Kids plough deeper into the mainstream

Envying hip-hop’s instant releases, Nathan Willett means this to be the start of a trilogy of rapid LP bulletins. The latter-day Kids have already absorbed the compressed production of the mainstream, while at their best slipping gospel affirmation into Tv-soundtracking anthems. “Why would anyone want to stay young?/ No nostalgia, I’m glad that it’s done,” Willett sings in strutting highlight “Fine Fine Fine”, and his band’s engagement with our commercially post-rock times is largely admirable. As the strident piano ballads and flatly aggressive production pound on, though, it’s more AGT then Kanye.