Album review - Cage the Elephant

3:40pm Tuesday 12th August 2008

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Jason Tremain reviews Cage the Elephant's self-titled debut

For some time we have enjoyed a British rule over our musical shores. Reign has passed from band to band depending on public mood, from the Libertines to Arctic Monkeys to the Fratellis, Kooks and Franz Ferdinand et al.

But there is a new threat to our musical dominance. The Killers came and made themselves known. Interpol have long threatened from afar. Kings of Leon saunter in and out like they own the place. This US invasion, however has a new agent. Kentucky's Cage the Elephant, an eponymous debut with punky blues and political bile is their weapon du jour.

With the brazenly wielding opener, and previous single, (re-release please) In One Ear they set the place on fire with a punk/funk anthem full of Americana.

Current single No Rest for the Wicked comes in like a rabbit punch and jabs with a funky bass line, slide guitar and chorus which defies you to not sing along.

Lotus, with its more melodically vibed chorus, takes a vitriolic bite at their homelands government's stance on war. The album has a sense of anger and unrest but is also full of dangerous fun. Nothing is at a muted pace and lyrics are flung with Lydon-esque venom.

There is a powerful blues influence here yet they have made a sound which is strictly Cage the Elephant.

So do we lie down and let these Yankees waltz in and take over? Hell yeah.