To give some context: I admired “Tell Me I’m Pretty.” It was slower, smoother, and all around a nice deviation from their usual style of literally screaming into your ears. Not to say that their previous work was bad, just different from the new style they seemed to aim for with “Tell Me I’m Pretty.” So, are these new songs from “Social Cues” following suit, or maybe their best work ever? 

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Ehh

 

First, “Ready to Let Go” isn’t bad, just the same. Throw it in a mixed bag of their previous work and a non-diehard fan would never be able to pick it out and say, “That’s it, that’s the new one.” “Ready to Let Go” just feels like they're going back into their roots of heavily-distorted, alternative rock. Lines like, “Sun went down over Pompeii, On both sides the vow was broken. . .” and “One day, all our secrets will be spoken,” don’t really fit in with the rest of the song, especially since it’s the first verse in the new work. It’s not really putting their best foot forward with their new album. 

 

Throw in their newest song, “House of Glass” which overall, feels like a half-baked attempt at whispering angrily behind your shoulder. The song contains nothing new we’ve never heard before from other artists, themselves included. The only real substance here is a really great guitar riff during the instrumental break at the end of the song, used for only 15 seconds max. Where was that style the entire song? I want more of that. I had to rewind through the entire song just to double check I wasn't missing it, but no. Why would you tease us like that? That’s the kind of sound that works perfectly with Cage the Elephant, but it’s tragically underused.

 

So, right up until writing this review, I thought they were just losing their vibe. Until, I went a little deeper into the backstory for this upcoming album. Turns out, it’s inspired by frontrunner Matt Schultz's recent trip to Pompeii with his wife, where he quickly realized his marriage was heading towards a divorce. Sprinkle in the monotony of the “Rockstar” life, and, I believe, his dissatisfaction of life and the isolation of always being on-stage and in front of the camera. The two singles combined are no longer bleh, but pretty good - and also really depressing. After looking at them in that light, I adore these new singles. Cage the Elephant really hit the nail on the head for the theme and style they're aiming for, even if it takes some getting used to. With, what seems, like their new album focusing on more emotional themes, along with announcements like collaborating with Beck later on, my excitement for Cage The Elephant’s new album has been rekindled. Now, I can’t wait to hear more from their new sound of taking the same old, but spicing it up with different styles here and now again. Releasing April 19th, I’ll definitely be the first to listen to their new Album, “Social Cues.” See you later, I’m Parker Carlson.