“A Change is Gonna Come”
from the single Hospital Beds
2007
iTunes
“That was a real risk-taker,” lead singer Nathan Willett admits at the end of this live recording. It sure was: Not many young rock bands would have the audacity to do a straight up-and-down cover of Sam Cooke‘s classic soul cry — even fewer could pull it off as well as Cold War Kids. Willett’s no Cooke (who is?), but his ragged voice strikes just the right note of weary determination. Maybe Cooke’s passionate secular hymn isn’t so different from what the Kids do on songs like current single “Hang Me Up to Dry,” after all.
~ Simon Vozick-Levinson, Entertainment Weekly
I think the author of the blurb says it best: “Willett’s no Cooke (who is?)”
I’m not familiar with Cold War Kids so I can’t really critique their music until I know more about their sound.
Sam’s voice is like melting butter… it’s hard to top that, sometimes.
I’m not completely sold on it myself. Something seems a little off about it… but I do know that I’m glad to see a “hip” modern band tipping their hat to the past.
There are a couple old CWK posts linked in the blurb. Check out those two songs (“Hospital Beds” and “Hang Me Up to Dry”) for a feel of their sound.