Album Review: Cage The Elephant - Cage The Elephant

It always seems weird to me when an American band makes it bigger and sooner overseas than it does it on US soil. In the usually slow crawl of non major label acts, it doesn't seem to make sense. Even with some Major label acts. Tourmates Kings of Leon and We Are Scientists are both a lot bigger in Britain than the US, even with people trying to claim Kings of Leon as a "southern-fried Strokes" early in their career and now more of a "southern-fried U2." The same can be said for Kentucky based Cage the Elephant. Looking at their upcoming tour schedule, they have multiple sold out shows in England, whereas in the States I doubt they could really do much of a successfull headlining tour at all, for whatever reason. When I first read about them, I thought they were British, not only in sound, but I read about them in NME, a British mag. I don't know how this happens, but if I'm them, I buy the ticket and take the ride across the pond for as long as cash is there.

As for their album, it's a quick, energetic listen and a really solid debut. It mixes garage, blues, punk and classic/southern rock as well as any album out this year and reminds me a lot of Oregon band RocknRoll Soldiers, if that means anything to anybody. There is a little hint of early Kings of Leon (not too surprising, KOL being from Tennessee) mixed with the attitude of the Arctic Monkeys and some of the faster paced songs of the San Diego bands The Muslims and Delta Spirit. I've seen some people comparing it a little to Kid Rock, but I don't see it. Yeah there's some southern rock and some quick vocals, but I'm not buying the comparison. The highlights are singles (genius), "In One Ear," and "Aint No Rest For The Wicked." Opener "In One Ear" will be stuck in your head for days with vocals that just fly at you and a anthemic chorus. "Aint No Rest" really reminds me of "Aint No Easy Way" by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and that's a very good thing. While the album is worth a listen, the majority of the reviews I saw for these guys are based on their live show, which is apparently a tornado of energy, flying bodies and booze.