To understand Cage the Elephant you have to first view them as a work in progress. 
Unlike most musicians, Matt Shultz (vocals) and brother Brad Shultz (lead guitar) grew up vastly underexposed to music due to the strict religious views of their parents. It wasn’t until Matt was in high school that he was able to grab his first album, Jimi Hendrix’s Live At Woodstock, which went largely unnoticed thanks to the fog of the divorce his parent were going through. With those conditions it is a wonder that Cage the Elephant even managed to exist, let alone take their self-titled debut album into the top 100 of Billboard’s chart.
Seriously take a second and imagine beginning anything from scratch at that age. For example, let’s say on your 16th birthday you set off on your quest to learn how to read. No one would honestly expect you to crank out the great American novel within the next five years and somehow manage to have it work its way onto the New York Times Bestseller list. Yet, that’s basically what Cage the Elephant has done in their respective field of music.
However, fans of the self-titled release shouldn’t worry themselves that this departure will leave them missing a band they once loved. Cage the Elephant is absolutely still Cage the Elephant. This will most likely remain true as long as the Shultz brothers are in the band. Their music is a reflection of themselves.
Thank You, Happy Birthday without question retains enough of that “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked” sound to link the self-titled debut to their sophomore effort. Both cuts focus heavily on the ills of humanity and the social shortcomings of people. In fact, “Always Something,” the opening track from the newest album reminds me very much of “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked” in terms of story presentation. Nevertheless, Cage the Elephant has taken that signature energetic sound that encompasses them and built on it. Think of it as an addition.
Thank You, Happy Birthday is a direct reflection of the band’s rapid growth. Having had limitless time to sit on a tour bus spinning records and discovering bands, it is blatantly obvious that Cage the Elephant’s influences have multiplied. Expanding drastically from the 1990s grunge revival for which their self-titled debut waved the banner, their sophomore effort supplies a stronger, punk meets Pavement feel to it at times. With their guitar riffs seeming slightly more spry and the in song changes appearing more dramatic, references to the next Seattle movement should start to dissipate, making way to praises including words like CBGBs and do it yourself. Frankly, tracks on Thank You, Happy Birthday sound very similar to songs John Cusack would put on a soundtrack. That’s a pretty good thing right?
Cage The Elephant’s Thank You, Happy Birthday hits shelves January 11, 2011. For more information on the release (and to play with their super fun painting pad) please check the bands webpage.
1. Always Something
2. Aberdeen
3. Indy Kidz
4. Shake Me Down
5. 2024
6. Sell Yourself
7. Rubber Ball
8. Right Before My Eyes
9. Tangled
10. Sabertooth Tiger
11. Japanese Buffalo
12. Flow
13. Shiver
4.5 out of 5 stars
