By Cameron Tillett
Though they’ve remained relatively unchallenged, My Morning Jacket has long held the title of best alternative rock group to come out of the great state of Kentucky. And while it doesn’t look like that will change anytime soon, some competition is beginning to emerge, in the form of the Bowling Green quintet known as Cage the Elephant. They’ll face endless comparisons simply because they’re the two best bands from the Bluegrass, but the respective overall sounds of both bands are nothing alike. My Morning Jacket helped create a style of alternative rock that’s sound is similar to mellow, Southern rock, whereas Cage the Elephant uses a punk-based formula to span an incredible variety of songs. Not one song on their newly released album, “Thank You, Happy Birthday,” sounds like another.
Cage the Elephant is comprised of vocalist Matt Shultz, guitarist Brad Shultz, bassist Daniel Tichenor, guitarist Lincoln Parish and drummer Jared Champion. On “Thank You, Happy Birthday,” the band takes the listener on a journey through the genres and subgenres of alternative rock. The album opener, “Always Something,” starts off with an electric beat but almost instantly morphs into an ominous punk rock anthem driven by chords that sound like they’ve been taken off a James Bond soundtrack. Brad Shultz’s guitar picks up in both tempo and mood in the hard-rocking but friendly-sounding “Aberdeen.” Matt Shultz’s lyrics take a bit of a shot at the hipster culture in a surf-punk rock hybrid track called “Indy Kidz.”
Though Cage the Elephant’s songs often contain ominous, dark melodies and their messages might be considered insulting to more conservative members of society, “Thank You, Happy Birthday” does have a few light moments. The grunge throwback track known as “Shake Me Down” parts the clouds briefly for the listener, as Brad Shultz declares that he will “keep his eyes on the sun.” Similarly, the nostalgic “2024” takes the listener back to the ‘90s rock scene, specifically with the upbeat ska guitar riffs. On “Sell Yourself,” the band seems to channel their inner Modest Mouse, both in guitar-playing and in Matt Shultz’s vocals. That is, until the chorus transitions the song from poppy alternative rock to a hard rock jam.
Cage the Elephant does a complete 180 on the dreamy “Rubber Ball,” in which both guitar and vocals blend into a softly spoken harmony, while equally soft synthesized strings make it easily the most tender song on the album. “Right Before My Eyes” is a mournful song in the vein of the band’s contemporaries, like the Strokes, and is most likely the song that everyone will be able to agree on as a favorite. The grunge-tinted “Around My Head” has a sing-along quality to it and is the type of song everyone would like to hear in a bar. Showing off their progressive ability in “Sabertooth Tiger,” Cage the Elephant starts with an up-tempo punk beat before shocking the listener with a transition over to a monstrous progressive rock jam session. On the frantic “Japanese Buffalo,” another transition occurs. A hysterical pace is set before the band slows the music down to a doo wop beat. The final track, “Flow,” is an excellent conclusion to such an album, hitting a broad range of sounds and styles. A folk guitar rhythm is set to a tribal drum beat before moving on into a Wilco-inspired alternative country performance before the final fade out.
It’s easy to see why Cage the Elephant has succeeded so quickly. Their all-encompassing sound appeals to everyone. They’ll leave people guessing, as well as listening, for years to come. Their effort on “Thank You, Happy Birthday” earns them a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
