Cobra Starship does not disappoint the least bit with "¡Viva La Cobra!" "The City Is At War" is an awesome time, I wouldn't have picked a better track to open the CD. Then right into "Guilty Pleasure" which is a slap in the face to anyone who criticizes Cobra Starship, it's got a sing-song vibe and every line is completely quotable, "If the world is ending, I'm throwing the party." Track three has more introspective lyrics. "Yeah, I'm still a kid even though I'm colder." It's a very cute love song, and you get to really hear Gabe's voice, and it's got a great synth beat, and assorted percussion to mix it up. "Kiss My Sass" starts off with "I'm bringing sassy back." No, seriously, and has a straight up hip hop vibe, then Travis pops in. It's track four and I love this CD already. "You're the kind of girl to take home to mom, if my momma was dead." Wow. Track five keeps up the straight hip hop sound with "Damn You Look Good and I'm Drunk." There's some silly trash talking half way through the track. Hey, at least you can still dance. The guitars come back in track six and seven, and "Smile For The Paparazzi" psyches you out a bit. You think the songs going in a reggae directions then the chorus pops in with a hard rock anthem sound. "Prostitution Is The World's Oldest Profession (And I, Dear Madame, Am A Professional)" is a crazy long song title, like the rest of their Fueled By Ramen brethren, but besides that it's got a techno sound, and starts off with an awesome line. "Do you know who i am? Good, neither do I." "Pleasure Ryland" brings not only a great play on words, but a whole new R&B sound to the album. It cools down the album, and let's Gabe spell his name out once since he didn't do it the whole album. Not really my choice for the last track, but it work. No track sounds the same on "¡Viva La Cobra!" Don't expect a lot of variation from the first album, but as long as you still want to dance and listen to some genuinely ridiculous, but honest lyrics, you won't be disappointed in the least. You'll never ever be bored, and whenever you're tempted to skip a track there's a tempo change, a new instrument, a new voice, or a new beat that will keep you listening a few minutes longer.
4 out of 5 [CO]