Well, it’s official. The Kids are back. After teasing us with the Behave Yourself EP back in January, it actually sounds as if California’s Cold War Kids are ready to leave criticism of their last album and subsequent live performances behind them.

Just listen to “Royal Blue”, from their upcoming LP Mine Is Yours. The three-and-a-half minute track from the their third full-length (which drops on January 25th via Downtown Records) opens with a bouncy bass line from Matt Maust and features an upbeat update on the Kids’ signature guitar sound. It even finds frontman Nathan Willet seemingly telling himself to stop worrying about what everyone is saying, when he sings, “From now on trust my feeling is true.”

Although the cut isn’t as prodigious as anything on Robbers & Cowards, it is exponentially brighter than anything on their most recent effort, Loyalty to Loyalty, and even features a dance-friendlyy, clap-along passage that feels more joyous than anything the band has ever put out. While the band is clearly trying to explore new sonic territory, Willett doesn’t seem the least bit worried about polarizing the fanbase they’ve built thus far. In fact he sounds like he’s ready to lay it all out on the line.

“From now on I’ll fly as high as I want,” he sings as the song crescendos, “From now on I’ll show my weak side.” Check the song out below, then go see the band on one of the tour dates below. Tickets for select dates are available via Ticketmaster.com.

Cold War Kids 2010 Tour Dates:
11/05 – Pomona, CA @ The Glass House
11/06 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s Palace
11/08 – Visalia, CA @ Cellar Door
11/09 – Santa Barbara, CA @ SOHO Music Club
11/11 – Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s
11/12 – Oakland, CA @ The New Parish
11/13 – Big Sur, CA @ Fernwood Resort
12/02 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater
12/03 – Knoxville, TN @ Bijou Theatre
12/04 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
12/06 – Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club
12/07 – Charleston, SC @ The Music Farm
12/08 – Jacksonville, FL @ Freebird Live
12/10 – Birmingham, AL @ WorkPlay Theater
12/11 – Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall