#1252 Cage the Elephant - Melophobia

CtE's early stuff was uneven at best - they lashed out in every direction, occasionally rocking your face off, occasionally coming across as embarrassing and ridiculous. They've smoothed the edges off by now, making something perfectly agreeable and comparatively girl-ready. It's a little angular, but sort of in a early-00's Hot Hot Heat / Franz Ferdinand kind of way, which is to say there's not a lot of gamble in it. There's some unexpected moments, but while there's nothing as awkward as, say, Indy Kidz on here, there's also nothing as exciting. Melophobia's their best album yet, but not the one I'll reach for next time I want to hear 'em 3/5