Cage The Elephant

What is it with dirty Southern musicians raised in churches, catching success in England? Is there something our U.K. buddies can hear before we all catch on? Kings of Leon, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, found their success across the ocean, before getting any love at home, and this seems to be the case with Kentucky boys, Cage the Elephant. The five piece is composed of brothers Matt and Brad Shultz and friends, Daniel Titchenor, Lincoln Parish, and Jared Champion. The boys were raised in an alternative religious commune started by their ex-hippie parents, which definitely explains their "tree-hugging preacher on acid" sound. After relocating to the U.K., the band debuted their self-titled album in mid-2008, to have it sell over 40,000 copies, driven by their Top 40 charting single and extensive touring. The band could very well be mistaken as British, there are obvious influences by the Stone Roses, but perhaps this is just America's answer to the Arctic Monkeys, but certainly less saucy. The second song on the album "Soil to the Sun" sings "come one come all" calling everyone to the dance floor, while "In One Ear" is a throwback to London's swinging '60s. "Free Love" is the poster child of this funk-rock band, and you almost can't help finding yourself thrashing wildly, like you were at a Phish concert. By the time you get to the band's single and the last song on the album "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" you find yourself mentally exhausted from all the head bobbing, but ready to push play again.