Melophobia means “the fear of music.” It’s also the name of the newest album from Cage the Elephant. Coincidentally, the new album showcases distorted zombie music from the 1960s instead of what most would consider “music.”

While it is true that music takes many forms, and the avant-garde should not be disqualified, there comes a point when attempts at creating unique sounds distract from the art of expression. Cage the Elephant plays with that line in this album.

That’s not to say that each song as an individual holds no merits, but that the album as a whole lacks a certain tidal flow that obstructs an enjoyable experience.

The album begins with schizophrenic imagery with matching rhythms and effects in “Spiderhead.” The lyric “I think your mother wants me dead/I am a schizophrenic man” sums it up nicely. The song isn’t bad, but it creates a sense of paranoia that continues throughout the remainder of the album with only brief breaks that are few and far between.

One of those breaks is in the next song, “Come a Little Closer,” which is arguably the strongest track on the album. The song offers “groovy” bass and guitar, with the melody creeping in like smoke slowly flooding into a room.

What follows is more of the same 60’s and 70’s style of psychedelic guitars and glitchy rhythms. Each song has its pros and cons, but as a whole, they clump together into a mess.

“Hypocrite” offers a brief break with interesting (and musical) rhythms and a strong melody, but it unravels back into the clump toward the end.

Finally, the album ends with “Cigarette Daydreams,” which showcases exactly what Cage the Elephant can do with actual music. It seems the band’s phobia slipped away for the last track, but it was too late to save the album.

2.5 out of 5