Is Cage The Elephant Making A Comeback After More Than Three Years Of Silence?
Cage The Elephant, an oddball alternative rock band known best for their tracks “Cigarette Daydreams” and “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked,” fell off the face of the Earth, and fans were practically in mourning.
Their 2015 album, Tell Me I’m Pretty, won the band their first Grammy, and their latest album, Social Cues, granted them their second. The band was hitting a peak in their career and seemed to have no intentions of slowing down. But the thing is, Social Cues was released in 2019, and fans haven’t heard any new music since.
Not only has CTE deprived fans of fresh sounds, they haven’t performed live since 2022, and they basically went ghost on all of their social media platforms. They’ve been inactive on Instagram since January of 2021, and their latest post has served as an outlet for fans to express their longing for the band’s return. Although CTE has been silent on the platform for almost two years, fans still leave comments every day, and all of them are screaming, “WE MISS YOU COME BACK!” While the band has made posts on Twitter in 2023, their activity has been fairly spotty. Their tweets consisted of "Happy Easter" wishes to fans in April and two random reposts in May.
But, as of November 20th, 2023, CTE has broken their Twitter silence, announcing the release of “Thank You Happy Birthday (Expanded Edition)” on digital streaming platforms and the opening of pre-orders for a deluxe version of “Thank You Happy Birthday” on a limited edition ultra-clear vinyl. The album was released on streaming platforms on November 17th. According to Cage The Elephant’s Twitter, the vinyl version of the album will be available on January 12th, 2024, exactly 13 years and one day after the original album’s release. While it’s exciting to finally have something released, the only difference in the expanded version of the album that's currently available for digital streaming is the addition of one song. The new song, “Shiver,” is simply a more acoustic version of another track on the album, “Right Before My Eyes.”
However, on CTE’s website, the tracklist of the vinyl does not include “Shiver” but does include an acoustic version of “2024,” “Shake Me Down,” and “Right Before My Eyes.” The reason behind their previous absence is still a mystery, but the arrest of lead singer Matt Shultz could easily be a reason as to why. Shultz was arrested in January of 2023 and charged with felony firearm possession. Shultz was released on bail and took a plea deal in June of 2023. Although Shultz only spent a night in the slammer, it's still possible new music was put on hold due to his legal issues.
The release of the deluxe version of their second studio album is somewhat cryptic, which is nothing out of the ordinary for CTE. There were no prior clues preparing fans for the release, and their motives behind the release could be any number of things. Could this simply be a tactic for the band to maintain relevance? Probably not. Since the album turns 13 a day before the deluxe version’s release date, it could simply be a tribute to their highest-charting album. The fact that it is one of their highest-charting albums could also cause the release of a deluxe album to bring attention back to the band, possibly in preparation for the release of more new music? It is also notable that the album contains the track “2024,” a song that has meaning revolving around the idea that there is more to the future than what we see in the present. Not only does a song named after the year we’re rapidly approaching happen to be on the album, but it's also being highlighted through an acoustic version on the vinyl. Could this be evidence of more new music in 2024? Fans are hoping so. Many of the comments on the band’s Tweet mention nothing about the deluxe album. Instead, they’re still wondering: where’s the new album we’ve been waiting for?
What Cage The Elephant has planned for the coming year is still up in the air, and all we can do as fans is hope for more music and pray they don’t abandon us again (and maybe pray for a tour?) I mean, come on, who wouldn’t want to hear “2024” live in 2024?
Strike Out,
Morgan Harms
Boca Raton
Morgan Harms is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine Boca. She is a Pisces mermaid with a love for the ocean. She spends her free time daydreaming, wave-watching and blasting whatever music she’s into that day. You can reach her by email at morganjharms@gmail.com or on Instagram @morganjharms.
