You can always count on Cage the Elephant. After releasing four advance singles (and an additional track to Alternative and AAA radio) from their sixth long-player, Bowling Green, Kentucky’s favorite sons presented Neon Pill just before summer, their first since 2019. Perhaps because the singles released after the title track didn’t gain any traction, this album almost got by us. As of this writing, the track “Rainbow” is topping the Alternative airplay charts in the U.S., so now is the perfect time to revisit Neon Pill.
The album opens with “Hi-Fi (True Light)”, which instantly tells the listener Cage is back. It’s a slightly mellower, but still rockin’ Cage to be sure. “Turn it up, slow down,” sings Matt Shultz, perfectly setting up the rest of the album.
The aforementioned “Rainbow” veers toward the mellow side, perfect for the fall season. Similarly “Float into the Sky” and “Over Your Shoulder” are slower tracks. The former emphasizes piano while the latter is built around acoustic guitar. “Same” also does, well, the same with its gently strummed guitar.
Cage dabbles in synthpop on “Metaverse,” while also giving Strokes energy, and “Good Time,” which starts off with some crunchy guitar, but brings the keyboards forward halfway through. These stylistic shifts don’t compromise their sound, though.
While they’ve released five singles from this album (including “Rainbow”), they could easily squeeze out a few more. Seeing as “Rainbow” has been so well received at Alternative and AAA radio, the instantly catchy “Silent Picture” should be sent out next. It’s the perfect companion piece to the albums other #1 hit, the hooky and memorable title track.
Another stand-out, in an album full of them, is “Out Loud,” co-written by the lead singer Matt Schulz and indie chanteuse Caitlin Williams. It’s probably the mellowest track on the album and you can hear the strings before they even come up in the mix. “Who am I trying to be?” muses Schulz, “still trying to figure it out.” Well, musically, at least, Cage has it sorted.
Neon Pill is testament to the fact that Cage the Elephant are still one of our most important bands and certainly one of one of the most influential indie acts to come out of the aughties along with The Killers and Vampire Weekend, to name just a few.
The radio play on this has been up and down to be sure, with some tracks hitting the top of the Alternative and AAA charts, as we’ve discussed, while others seem to go unnoticed, which is shame because this is a more-than-solid effort for band that still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
PF Wilson has been writing about music, TV, radio, and movies for over 20 years. He has also written about sports, business, and politics with his work appearing in Cincinnati CityBeat, The Houston Press, Cleveland Scene, Cincinnati Magazine, Cincy Magazine, Atomic Ranch, and many more. Check out his podcast PF’s Tape Recorder available from Podbean or in iTunes.