Cage the Elephant: Album Review
Self Titled Debut is a Blend of Rock, Punk, Funk and Blues
Upon first listening to Cage the Elephant's debut album, a number of influences come to mind. Maybe it's the familiar guitar on the album's third track, which sounds much like Loser by Beck. Maybe it's the lead singer's vocals which sound like a twangy version of Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys. The last track on the album could almost be described as Hendrix-esque.
Although Cage the Elephant has provided nothing too original on this first album, it's never boring. At least one of the songs is worthy of mega radio play, and is actually very good. The fact that they have borrowed the sounds of so many other popular artists and done so in such an eclectic way, should not be frowned upon. They've made some well loved styles of music fresh again.
The Album (RCA/Jive, March 2009)
Cage the Elephant's self titled debut released in the U.S. in March 2009 by RCA/Jive Label Group was recorded in just ten days under the direction of Grammy Award winning producer Jay Joyce. Their bluesy garage band sound integrates the use of slide guitar, and many of the tracks feature unexpected changes in tempo.
The lyrics are very much like storytelling on several of the tracks. Some songs deal with the frustrations of society implementing a punk element, while others like Ain't No Rest for the Wicked tell stories about the tribulations of the real world.
The first track, In One Ear, which according to the lyrics sounds as if the band didn't get the support they might of hoped for when first forming comes off like an anthem for letting the negativity of others not affect their confidence in making it big.
The fourth track, Tiny Little Robots, is upbeat at the beginning but then changes from fast to slow toward the end, where the band incorporates the use of heavy guitar. The last track, Free Love, also features the use of heavy guitar and has a retro rock sound.
Other songs on the album like Back Against The Wall, James Brown, Judas and Drones in the Valley are alright, but none of them seem to stand out like Ain't No Rest for the Wicked, the song that is by far going to be the band's biggest hit on this album.
Track List
- In One Ear
- James Brown
- Ain't No Rest for the Wicked
- Tiny Little Robots
- Lotus
- Back Against the Wall
- Drones in the Valley
- Back Stabbin' Betty
- Soil to the Sun
- Free Love
The Band
The five member band out of Bowling Green, Kentucky formed in 2005 and were previously called Perfect Confusion. Members include Matt Shultz on vocals, Brad Shultz on guitar, Jared Champion on drums and percussion, Daniel Tichenor on bass and extra vocals, and Lincoln Parish on lead guitar.
Cage the Elephant sounds like a combination of so many bands, it sounds as if they've taken some of the best elements of music from Beck, Arctic Monkeys, Jet, the White Stripes, and many others and made it their own. If they can put out an album that is worthy of listening to in only ten days, just imagine what they could do with a little more studio time.
Check out their Ain't No Rest for the Wicked - Wicked Devil Remix, a reggae style version of the original song not available on the album, to hear even more of the band's experimentation with mixing music genres.
Cage the Elephant
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