Album Club, April 2016: Cage the Elephant - 'Melophobia'

[Album Club]

The Album Club choice for April comes courtesy of Mike (idlewithnodrive) with 'Melophobia' by Cage the Elephant. As always, please listen to the album in its entirety before you vote.


My first AoS Album choice is Melophobia by Cage The Elephant.


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1e/Cage_the_Elephant_Melophobia.jpg/220px-Cage_the_Elephant_Melophobia.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melophobia


Looking back over past AoS choices, there has been a definite 70's vibe going on, proggy, some old style rock, maybe into a bit of Psychodelia but not a lot too challenging, modern or different.

So, not wanting to upset anybody with my usual choices but not wanting to just stay in the same mould, I thought I would choose an updated (2013) version of the same ('ish).

Cage The Elephant are a Nashville based Alternative / Garage / Psych / Stoner Rock band with a liking for down 'n' dirty bluesy rifts. This is their 3rd Album and is a bit more mellow version of their usual Sixties garage rock, Seventies punk and Eighties alt-rock mix but not much.

I first came across them in the best way - I had selected 2 LP's in a 3 for £30 deal but couldn't find anything else I knew / liked, so chose a lucky dip as my third choice.

I think I was very lucky, let's see what you think.

https://open.spotify.com/album/2hvgnujpTiyjBxv9gLpmss

[Bazil]

Whoa this looks strange , stoner rock I like :)

[struth]

we all like a bluesy rift now and then ;)

[spm]

This isn't really for me, nothing particularly bad I just found myself hoping it would end, and then the last track came on Cigarette Daydreams - I like this track. 6 from me.

[Mike - H]

Not bad, just not my cup of tea 6 from me.

[high.spirits]

Thanks for the suggestion, always good to hear something different.
The album seemed very loud and not my usual listen. Some tracks were ok others like Teeth hurt my ears. So only 6/10 from me.

[Bazil]

Quite enjoyed it , a little too poppy in parts but overall not bad at all 7/10.

[lovejoy]

Well let's get this out of the way now. Other than the odd song on the radio, I've been guilty of completely ignoring this band, mainly due to their awful name. I thought it might be a euphemism for something but unless I'm being stupid, it would seem not, but it is a terrible name.

I like this though. The opening bars foretold of something like Queens of the Stone Age to come, but it quickly drew back and revealed a lot more subtle influences. There are bits of Supergrass and Eels in there, a bit of Vampire Weekend, maybe a little Pixies. A nice mix of styles from laid back East Coast rock to some very nice dirty scuzzy rock. I have to say that Teeth is the stand out track for me and I like them best when they're at their heaviest. I find the more straightforward stuff a little contrived so I'm not sure it gets past a 6/10 for me, but it definitely makes me want to explore the rest of their albums and that's what this thread is all about is it not, so a great recommendation. Fundamentally they sound like a band enjoying themselves and comfortable with what they're doing and there's a lot to like here.

[Idlewithnodrive]

Thanks everybody (so far ?) for your input.

Seems like it at least generated some interest for most and as Rich says, that is what it is all about n'est ce pas ?

[RichB]

A 6 from me. Listened to this via headphones whilst commuting as I do most album club selections. Not bad, but nothing inspiring me to seek out more from them unfortunately.

I'd imagine they'd be quite a lively act to see though. If I were to come across them on a festival stage somewhere they'd get the time of day.

[Barry]

Just had a listen to this, and have to agree with the majority here. It's not bad but it's not outstanding either. Parts of it sound like Vampire Weekend (that's good), whereas other parts sound unmemorably poppy (not so good), so it's a 6/10 from me.

However I enjoyed being introduced to a group that had obviously passed me by - so thanks for that: it's what the Album Club is all about.

[Pixelpopper]

A little to energetic for me, come a little closer was the highlight, 6 for me but I'm always willings to try something new, thanks.