Cage the Elephant, straight from Bowling Green, Kentucky, is the kind of group that makes me happy the south exists. After a week of enough club music to make my ears bleed hair gel and fake tanner, Cage the Elephant's modern take on southern blues/rock that combines the sound of British rock groups like Arctic Monkeys with the grit of Black Keys is the magical glass of cold sweet tea that has the power to ease my mental hangover and hold my hand for the come-down. Don't be mistaken, these kiddies go hard every step of the way. Their self-titled debut came out last June, and the tinges of brit-rock favorite Arctic Monkeys in their distorted, frenetic sound can be held accountable for the fact that they've caught on quicker overseas. "Ain't No Rest For the Wicked," the song that turned me onto them initially, is a sure favorite for any Black Keys fans and won these gentlemen the 32nd spot on the UK Singles Chart. "Tiny Little Robots," on which lead singer Matt Schultz's vocal sounds crazily similar to that of The Kooks's leading man Luke Pritchard veers away from the guitar slide and takes on a harder sound closer to that of The Hives and Be Your Own Pet with great success. "In One Ear" throws in some southern white-boy rap à la Kid Rock (but infinitely less annoying), and combines it with some skillicious guitar licks that are easily the song's main attraction and a chorus that's catchy enough. As a whole, the integrity and quality of this southern rock is something I haven't heard since Kings of Leon's Youth and Young Manhood back in 2003. Cage the Elephant is definitely a band to watch out for in the future and enjoy now with a healthy dose of sunshine or whatever else you can find.Ain't No Rest for the Wicked - Cage the Elephant
Tiny Little Robots - Cage the Elephant
In One Ear - Cage the Elephant
