• Record Label: Downtown
  • Release Date: Jan 19, 2010
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 6
  2. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. What this EP shows most effectively is the band’s seemingly innate ability to restrain themselves into a frenzy.
  2. Streamlined, confident, and cohesive, Behave Yourself finds Cold War Kids getting their groove back.
  3. There may be moments of repetition that indicate a bit a creative bankruptcy, and even for an EP this is perhaps all too brief an outing. However, Behave Yourself easily topples most of Cold War Kids' previous endeavors.
  4. Alternative Press
    60
    These four songs fulfill expectations for minimalist, rhythm-based deconstructions of genre. [Feb 2010, p.93]
  5. 60
    As usual, though, Willett also tries to showcase his brainpower, clumsily referencing works most commonly studied in AP literature....But the four-song EP is perfectly short; if you focus on the sturdy tunes and ignore the pseudo-smartness, it's plenty sweet, too.
  6. Under The Radar
    40
    With Behave Yourself, maturation means shaving off all those jagged edges that made the work so appealing in the first place. [Holiday 2009, p.82]
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 9 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. TimH
    Feb 2, 2010
    8
    Sounds great on vinyl. I especially like "Audience." Maybe not one of my favorite EPs ever, but it will definitely get lots of play (already has).
  2. CodyT
    Jan 25, 2010
    6
    I'd rate this higher if it were a full album! the material here is so good that its one of the biggest shames of the year that it didnt I'd rate this higher if it were a full album! the material here is so good that its one of the biggest shames of the year that it didnt go on to form a complete album. If only they had put solid tracks like "Coffee Spoon" and "Audience" on their last LP. Full Review »