Cage the Elephant Brings On Shivers In Mass Quantities

Bowling Green Kentucky's Cage The Elephant storms back into the spotlight using the delectably eerie track "Cold Cold Cold" as its undeniable calling card. The manner in which the band's instruments mesh together is bound to make you want to sleep with the lights on for the foreseeable future. This track's bound to tickle the fancy of funeral directors the world over. I can see the pallbearers assembling right now for their somber march to some unfortunate soul's eternal rest. Were I to single out one band member in particular who's chiefly responsible for upping the ick factor on this simply gorgeous composition it would be bass player Daniel Tichenor. While the notes he hits don't exactly venture into minor key territory they are nonetheless unsettling. You and I both know the ride we're taking isn't going to be lousy with rainbows and moonbeams. What good's a seat belt anyway if you're too petrified by what you see coming on the horizon? Adding to this comes drummer Jared Champion who keeps the beat emphatically, borrowing just a nanosecond at a time. His is the underlying exclamation point boosting vocalist Matthew Shultz's cries for prompt medical attention. Matthew's sentiments get pulled straight from the desperate core of a man who really isn't sure of how much time he has left but isn't erring on the side of longevity at this moment. Try not to be sympathetic in the face of Matt's predicament. I'm not sure whether or not Matt's pointless breathing stems from a failed relationship, general apathy, or basic medical malfunction but the fear comes across as genuinely unmistakable. Ratcheting up the discomfort in the second verse we get Brad Shultz dropping in keyboard fills that send added discomfort straight to our rapidly beating hearts. This is where "Cold Cold Cold" excels without argument. Each new verse shuttles in added complexities. By the time the song heads for home goosebump vibes have flooded our nervous systems. It's a question of when doom will catch up with us...not if. "Cold Cold Cold" sounds like it would've felt right at home in the '60s alongside other shade of gray downers like the Mamas and the Papas' "California Dreamin'" and Jan and Dean's "Dead Man's Curve". Kind of a suicide selection playlist of sorts. "Cold Cold Cold" stands out as a prime example of a song in the key of nausea. It's vulnerable, beautiful, and Pepto Bismol worthy simultaneously. Trust me when I say that combination packs quite a powerful wallop. The cliff up ahead looks plenty foreboding yet we're drawn to it like the proverbial moths to flame. Usually drummers play at least a supporting role in a song's composition. Even though Jared isn't churning out hooks alongside Matt's vocals his short bursts of power would be missed were they not included. I compare his badda bing oomph to a much loved car's backfiring boom. Maybe it's not the prettiest jolt you'll ever hear but vitality carries the day all the same. Thanks to "Cold Cold Cold" Cage the Elephant has once again placed a hot nail biter on Billboard's rock charts. You'd best have your primary care doctor on speed dial. We can't rule out the onset of depression.