‘Good Time’ is the latest single from GRAMMY-award winning rock band Cage The Elephant. Following ‘Out Loud’ and ‘Neon Pill’, these tracks anticipate the May 17th release of the band’s sixth studio album. A prolonged period of little output saw frontman Matthew Shultz plagued by severe mental health issues, leading to an arrest for gun possession in early 2023. After months of outpatient treatment and an avoided jail term however, it seems that chapter is now behind them. Cage The Elephant are now gearing up for a 45-date US tour, back on track to promote their upcoming LP Neon Pill.
‘Good Time’ doesn’t divert much from the sonic palette which carried the band to the heights of alt-rock stardom. Not to say that it’s a played out sound—an intoxicating headiness emerges skilfully through this tried and tested method. Schultz’ gritty vocals depict a chaotic, debauched fairytale: “I’m a lover, I’m a fable / I’m the glutton at your table”. Distorted stabs of guitar compete with the vocals, but ultimately add to their intense urgency.
The chorus arrives with surprising levity, as a twinkling synth accompanies a more optimistic chord progression. The simple lyrical motif of “everybody have a good time” seems undercut by the chaotic verse, a cult-like call to “get lit”. Stuttering pauses in the song give the effect of a cracked vinyl or a momentary blackout.
Shultz offers himself wholly: “Whatever you need from me/ My heart to hold, my hands, my feet/ My tongue, my cheek, my teeth, my more / And more, and more”. Holding the spotlight for years on end within an often viscous industry may take its toll. As audiences clamour for both artistic output and attention from their idols, this occasionally leads to God-complexes or breakdowns. Perhaps his lyrics address this, or do they maybe remind audiences to briefly let go of the varied pressures on their lives?
‘Good Time’ offers a promising prelude to a long-awaited full-length album. Among the tribulations of recent years, Cage The Elephant clearly have neither lost their focus, nor become complacent.
Words by Ben Browning
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