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Dear Miss Lonelyhearts

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Dear Miss Lonelyhearts is the fourth studio album by American rock band Cold War Kids. Produced by Lars Stalfors and Dann Gallucci, the album was released on April 2, 2013 through Downtown Records.

Background

Prior to recording, the band's original guitarist Jonnie Russell left the group, leading the band to recruit former Modest Mouse guitarist Dann Gallucci. Gallucci co-produced the record with Lars Stalfors, noted for his production work with Matt & Kim and Funeral Party. Gallucci strived for "spacious, audacious sounds" instead of the band's usual "grit-rock."[1] The record was recorded at the group's home studio in San Pedro, and experimented by adding drum machines.[2] Dear Miss Lonelyhearts takes inspiration from Nathanael West's novel Miss Lonelyhearts, which revolves around an advice columnist who has a crisis about his readers suffering. "The struggle of his character worked their way into many of the songs," said vocalist Nathan Willett.[3] The record features more electronic compositions, influenced in part by groups New Order and Depeche Mode.[4] The album cover was designed by bassist Matt Maust, who designs every Cold War Kids release. The typography uses Bodoni, a typeface commonly used by pop stars such as Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Mariah Carey.[3]

The band released trailers, detailing the making of the record, each week prior to its release.[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[5]
Alternative Press(favorable)[6]
Associated Press(mixed)[7]
The Boston Globe(favorable)[8]
Consequence of Sound[9]
NME[10]
Paste(7.1/10)[11]
Q(mixed)[12]
Rolling Stone[13]
Uncut(mixed)[14]

The album received positive reviews from music critics, who considered it an improvement following Mine Is Yours, which received a more mixed reaction. Alternative Press wrote that "After the wet noodle that was 2011's Mine Is Yours, California indie purveyors Cold War Kids come back al dente on Dear Miss Lonelyhearts."[6] Heather Phares of Allmusic felt the record played to the group's strengths: "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts is more about what the band does best rather than breaking new ground, and the result is some of Cold War Kids' most promising and satisfying music since their debut."[5] Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe was similarly positive regarding the varied musical direction: "[the] band [goes] in several different directions at once and [...] make that philosophy work for a good chunk of an album."[8] Kevin Perry of NME found the record a return to form for the band, following Mine Is Yours: "They’ve stopped trying to do indie rock by numbers and gone back to the sort of idiosyncratic weirdness that made us fall for them in the first place."[10] British music magazine Q wrote that "At only 37 minutes long, it never outstays its welcome."[12]

More mixed reviews came from Paste's Philip Cosores, who felt that while the band achieved new relevance, it still covered predictable territory: "[The album] is hampered by innocuous words and the lack of personality in the arrangements."[11] James H. Collins of the Associated Press felt the record was uneven, writing, "When the arrangements become crowded, instead of adding color or ornamentation, the songs get weighed down and are less interesting."[7] Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone opined that "All the literary ambitions and drama-rock gestures fall in a ponderous heap – like CWK are losing an arms race with their own pretensions."[13] Uncut wrote that "Four albums in, and Cold War Kids still feel like a band trying to decide what they are."[14]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Nathan Willett; all music composed by Cold War Kids.

  1. "Miracle Mile" – 3:00
  2. "Lost That Easy" – 3:24
  3. "Loner Phase" – 3:06
  4. "Fear & Trembling" – 4:42
  5. "Tuxedos" – 4:10
  6. "Bottled Affection" – 2:44
  7. "Jailbirds" – 2:43
  8. "Water & Power" – 3:12
  9. "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts" – 4:34
  10. "Bitter Poem" – 5:05

References

  1. ^ Mikey Cahill (April 4, 2013). "Cold War Kids are all grown up". Herald Sun. Retrieved April 4, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b Mark Rozeman (January 15, 2013). "Cold War Kids Announce New Album Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, Tour Dates". Paste. Retrieved April 4, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ a b Kia Markarechi (March 26, 2013). "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: Cold War Kids Return With New Concept Album". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 4, 2013. Cite error: The named reference "int1" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ Rachel Hohlen (April 2, 2013). "Q&A: Cold War Kids discusses Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, recording experience". Daily Nebraskan. Retrieved April 4, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ a b Heather Phares (April 2, 2013). "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: Review". Allmusic. Retrieved April 4, 2013. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 13 (help)
  6. ^ a b "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: Review". Alternative Press. IPC Media: 84. May 2013.
  7. ^ a b James H. Collins (April 1, 2013). "Music Review: Too much production spoils Cold War Kids' 4th album, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts". Associated Press. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Sarah Rodman (April 2, 2013). "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: Review". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 4, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Amanda Koellner (April 4, 2013). "http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/04/album-review-cold-war-kids-dear-miss-lonelyhearts/". Retrieved April 4, 2013. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  10. ^ a b Kevin Perry (April 2, 2013). "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: Review". NME. Retrieved April 4, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ a b Philip Cosores (April 2, 2013). "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: Review". Paste. Retrieved April 4, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ a b "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: Review". Q. Bauer Media Group: 99. May 2013.
  13. ^ a b Jon Dolan (April 22, 2013). "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 22, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ a b "Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: Review". Uncut. IPC Media: 69. May 2013.
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