Album Review: Cage the Elephant - S/T

CAGE THE ELEPHANT
CAGE THE ELEPHANT
(Jive Records)
www.cagetheelephant.com

It can't be easy being a rock band on Jive Records. The self-titled debut from Cage the Elephant finds itself released on Tuesday this week by the label more associated with Britney Spears and bubblegum pop than rock'n'roll. Don't be too quick to judge a band by its label, however; Cage the Elephant just may surprise you.

Cage the Elephant have already seen success in the UK, where their record was released last year. It make sense. The band sounds like some of Blur's more aggressive songs, not just because of the lead singer's voice but also the general feel of the music itself. The unexpected twist is that these guys hail from America's shores. Despite the heavy Britpop influence, there's clearly a bit of the boys Kentucky influence in the mix with some wailing guitar parts that hearken a Southern rock style.

Ultimately, if you could follow all that, the only thing that stops Cage the Elephant from being an "indie rock" band is the fact that they are signed to a major label and gaining steam on radio (their first single, "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" was number one most added on Alternative radio). Considering that the last time I turned on "Alternative" radio it sounded like this, Cage the Elephant is a sound for sore ears. It's unlikely that this will be a sea change in the world of major label music, but at least it's a step in the right direction.