Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds

These Californian "Reagan babies" seem to be getting into the stride of pulling together blues harmonies with religious fervour, and shaping it into indie-rock morsels. Hospital Beds may not have the foot-tapping immediacy of previous single Hang Me Up To Dry, but it is still a catchy piece of soulful, bar room social commentary. Singer and lyricist Nathan Willett succeeds in capturing desolate and mournful individuals in the most mundane of settings, whilst making their plight feel tangible. Feeling good about feeling bad is a tough trick, but Cold War Kids pull it off effortlessly. [Darren Carle]