In New Age Norms, Volume 3, Cold War Kids complete the trilogy on a high note, with a satisfying mix of upbeat bangers and soulful crooners. Each of the eight-song volumes is loosely connected sonically and thematically. The songs are lean and compact, at times with an almost lo-fi quality, as they explore shifts in social norms and the creation of new cultural values.
Each volume was written and recorded separately in order for each to capture its unique moment in time. Volume 3 is full of infectious hooks but, unlike the more upbeat Volume 2, it also provides space for slower, more contemplative tracks.
“What You Say” might be the funkiest Cold War Kids song to date. A bouncing disco-funk groove from bassist Matt Maust provides a cathartic release to a song that contrasts seeking acceptance from others with the need to be open and free. “I’m waiting ’til I find the one, someone who will take me as I am,” Nathan Willett sings, his falsetto reverberating through a sweaty dance floor atmosphere.
The hip-hop-influenced “2 Worlds” finds the band exploring a similar desire to please others (“I say yes to everything”) while trying to stay grounded (“my self-worth is indestructible”). Willett’s soulful vocals are delivered in a fast, rhythmic style atop a nasty beat from Maust and drummer Joe Plummer. Despite strong blues and soul influences apparent in Cold War Kids’ music since its founding in 2004, Willett and company don’t often dig into hip-hop for inspiration. But when they do, it really works (see also “St. John” and “Sensitive Kid”).
The retro synth-pop track “Always” is a love song for an era that devalues commitment in favor of instant gratification. “I like to keep my options open in case I need to split,” Willett sings, his voice drenched in reverb. “But you’re consistent, always present, solid as a rock. That’s why we’re not gonna stop.”
That struggle with commitment is examined again in the ballad “Nowhere To Be.” The crooner features Willett at his soulful best as the band performs its version of doo-wop. “Promises we made before a cross; we’re losing our religion but hoping for a Pentecost,” Willett sings. It’s a modern love song, one that doesn’t take marriage for granted, assuming the relationship to be a struggle but one worth the fight. “I can’t believe when it all falls down you’re here with me,” he sings in the chorus.
\Though thematically exploring modern values, New Age Norms, Volume 3 is the most retro Cold War Kids album. But even when diving into influences like do-wop, synth-pop, and hip-hop, the album still sounds like Cold War Kids, or at least like the band since 2011’s Mine Is Yours. Each of the three volumes stands alone as great compact albums of indie pop, but they work better together, with each volume featuring a slightly different take on the material.
