Cage the Elephant | B+

Cage the Elephant's sophomore album Thank You, Happy Birthday came out pretty early this January. From the opening track "Always Something," it becomes immediately apparent that this record is wildly different from the band's previous, self-titled debut album. "Always Something" begins with a scream from lead singer Matt Schultz and progresses into creepy, distorted guitar playing, giving the song a very haunting sound. The rest of the album is similarly abrasive and dark compared to the band's other work, but it somehow works to produce an alarmingly good record.

The album is meticulously organized and incredibly well balanced. The music easily transitions from loud, cynical tracks like "Indy Kidz" to more emotional songs like "Shake Me Down" to acoustic, orchestral pieces like "Rubber Ball". Schultz's voice is extremely versatile and capable of crooning soft lyrics or screaming at the top of his lungs.

In the three years that passed between their self-titled album and Thank You Happy Birthday, the group has matured as a band, and it shows through their music. An attentive listener can easily pick up on the great extent to which the band put themselves into this work and the risk they took by producing such an experimental sound. It is admirable to see a young rock band on the brink of fame stay true to their identity and produce music that expresses themselves.

Though mainstream listeners may need some time to truly appreciate this album, it is definitely worth a second listen because Thank You Happy Birthday is a fantastic work. It is a breath of fresh air for rock lovers everywhere.