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| Cage the Elephant: Bassist/Backup Vocalist Daniel Tichenor, Guitarist Lincoln Parish, Lead Vocalist Matt Schultz, Guitarist Brad Schultz, Drummer Jared Champion |
Hey guys, Lia here with Alternative Thursday!
And it's Cage the Elephant! They're a great band that writes eclectic songs that are full of energy. Their influences include: Airborne Toxic Event, Sublime, and the Strokes. To me, their sound is similar to Grouplove, Cake, and Beck. Matt's vocals are quite unique and slightly reminiscent of Beck. They both have voices with that raw, honest quality to them that I really appreciate!
The band got together in 2006 and released their debut album, Cage the Elephant, in 2008. If you've looked into this band or been listening to alternative music radio, then I'm sure you're familiar with "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" because it was literally played back to back by alternative radio stations near my area at the peak of the song's popularity. Their second album, Thank You, Happy Birthday, got recognized as the 15th Best Album of 2011 by the Rolling Stone! The most recognizable song from that album has to be "Shake Me Down" because it's such an optimistic, but sad song. I literally teared up the first time I watched that music video (it's so good!).
This new album, Melophobia, seems like an honest attempt at being themselves. Usually, three albums in, a band is more comfortable taking risks and writing more heartfelt music because they've already established a fan base in which to build off of. That's what Melophobia sounds like. That's what "Come A Little Closer" sounds like, a bit of risk taking. Matt's message in this song is to open our eyes to the beauty he sees in the world. Inspired by the view from a hotel room in Brazil and his own loneliness, Matt tells us to take a closer look at our lives, to not be blinded by the world, and to get past the problems that weigh us down. Towards the end, he injects his own loneliness into the song, singing that ten thousand people stand alone. With so few words, he criticizes all the unnecessary loneliness people feel because of our individualistic society and recognizes that yearning within himself to find where he belongs (which is something everyone can relate to).
It's such a moving song. Melodically, it sounds sad and nostalgic with a buildup to the chorus, but right at the chorus, it's energetic and emotional (a big call to attention for all of us to examine the beauty in our lives). Watch the tour video version for the song below and get ready to do some serious life evaluation...just kidding, please enjoy the song and...
see you next Thursday!
I'm also putting the Shake Me Down music video on here too because it will make you feel things and possibly tear up so I challenge you to watch the video and not become emotional!
Rating: 3 1/2 RECORDS
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