SOUND BITES

Of all the rock bands to achieve widespread mainstream success this decade, you'd be hard pressed to find one as simultaneously radio friendly and weird as Cage the Elephant. They've been able to cover all sorts of sonic ground in the decade since Ain't No Rest for the Wicked smashed, and they've done it by hiding hit singles inside albums where they've fearlessly followed their muse. The title track of their fifth album acknowledges this in a way, as Matt Shultz sings about his anxiety over "play(ing) this part" and struggling with his thoughts about the true cost of success, summed up at the end of the chorus, "at least you're on the radio". Indeed, throughout Social Cues , there is a tug of war between commercial acceptance and the freedom to experiment. Much of the album resides in a dark retro vision not too different from the territory Arctic Monkeys traveled to on their breakthrough AM , although Cage the Elephant deals less in r...

As our look back on the year that was catches up to the present (and peeks ever so slightly into the future), it becomes clear that the vast majority of rock artists preferred to avoid the last two months of the year; though it's typically the stronghold time of year for pop superstar stocking stuffers, I still find it just a bit odd to see that two month gap emerge after mid-October with no nominated songs. In fact, that's almost as odd as two established bands deciding to release their albums one week before Christmas. Regardless, our last batch of nominees runs the gamut: here we find new artists to look out for, home grown Maritime talent hitting its stride, and no less than three bands with multiple Album of the Year nominations. Song of the Year nominees #41-50 are:

Just like last year, allow me to qualify this by saying that this isn't designed to be the "worst" of 2013. No, this space is reserved for bands I actually like and respect who underwhelmed and/or disappointed and/or outraged with their activities this year, whether through uncontrollable circumstances or their own volition. Let's get this over with!

CAGE THE ELEPHANT Shake Me Down From: Thank You Happy Birthday Released: January 11 In late 2010, Cage the Elephant premiered the lead single from their sophomore album to mixed reviews.  Many fans were expecting a return to the snotty, groovy rock that coursed through previous singles "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" and "In One Ear".  Instead, what we got was a more sombre, almost mature tune that eschewed instant gratification for a slower burning satisfaction.  And eventually everyone caught up to them, as "Shake Me Down" became a pretty substantial rock radio hit.  Unfortunately, much of the rest of the album proved much more difficult to find the joy in; a good number of tracks seem like hastily assembled deadline meeters that pile on top of each other with no regard for melody or common sense.  Maybe for album number three they'll take their time and craft a whole album's worth of solid tunes; "Shake Me Down" proves they...