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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb debut!, 15 Dec 2008
Well, let me cut straight to the chase - this is a superb album, full of raw energy and passion and is just about as good as heavy indie gets. Also, for a debut, these guys from Kentucky have produced something close to exceptional. The opener, 'In One Ear' is a big, brash, brilliant stunner, featuring a looping, bluesy riff and some great lyrics delivered in a breathless, half-sung, half-spoken ballsy sneer. Track two, 'James Brown', continues the high-tempo, high-energy feel of the album and is a more-than-decent cut, even if the chorus sounds a little like a Terrorvision track. 'Aint No Rest For The Wicked' is a bluesy, sleazy, slide-guitar driven song which is extremely catchy. 'Tiny Little Robots' is less impressive, but still manages to be a decent, hard-rocking album track with some nice guitar work towards the end.
Pleasingly enough, Cage The Elephant mix things up nicely to keep the album feeling varied and fresh. 'Lotus' reminds me heavily of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, being a gratifying rock/funk high energy hybrid. 'Back Against The Wall', a future single, is a stop/start piece of classy paranoia whereas 'Drones In The Valley' is a loud, crashing piece of heavy, infectious rock. It is evident throughout the album that one of the major talents in the band is guitarist Brad Shultz but his work really shines on the raw, but crafted, 'Judas'. Both 'Back Stabbin' Betty' and 'Soil To The Sun' are good, pedal to the metal rockers which bring us, almost breathless, to the last track, Cage The Elephant's first single, the high-tempo, adrenaline-pumping 'Free Love', which finishes the album on a high.
Cage The Elephant's debut is the kind of album which is so energetic, it can either leave you feeling pumped-up or exhausted, depending on your mood. It's certainly one of the best debut albums of the year and, should they repeat the success of this album, there's no reason why their popularity and status shouldn't grow with their next release. Great stuff!
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