Back Against the Wall (song)
Encyclopedia
"Back Against the Wall" is a song by American
rock
band Cage the Elephant
. It was released as the fourth single from the band's 2008 self-titled debut album
. In the issue dated March 6, 2010, the single peaked at number one on the Billboard
Alternative Songs chart. This is the band's first number one single.
Released in February 2009 in the United Kingdom, the single's B-sides
include the acoustic track "Cover Me Again", a cover version
of MGMT
's "Kids
" recorded for Radio 1
's Live Lounge
, and a cover version of Pavement
's "False Skorpion", a B-side to their 1995 "Rattled by la Rush" single. On iTunes, an exclusive cover of Iodine's Monkey Disease is available as the B-side.
The song peaked at number one on Billboard
's Alternative Songs chart in March 2010.
It also reached number 12 on the Rock Songs
chart, number 92 on the Canadian Hot 100
,
and number 127 on the UK Singles Chart
.
Robin Murray of Clash
magazine described the song as a "raucous blast of grimy rock 'n' roll".
Aysha Hussain of This Is Fake DIY
says that while the song "chugs along pleasantly enough", it sounds "a little contrived" and "finds itself too comfortable, in danger of being throwaway".
In 2009, the song was featured in an episode of the television show "One Tree Hill
."
s. The grandmother of the Shultz brothers had several gnomes in her yard, which used to 'creep out' Matt Shultz. The video was directed by Isaac Rentz
and shot in Los Angeles, CA.
Digital single, CD
iTunes version
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Cage the Elephant
Cage the Elephant
Cage the Elephant is an American rock band from Bowling Green, Kentucky, that formed in mid-2006. Since their formation, the band has gained a large following in the US as well as the UK and Canada for their sound and their high-energy live performances. The band released their self-titled debut...
. It was released as the fourth single from the band's 2008 self-titled debut album
Cage the Elephant (album)
- Cage the Elephant :* Matt Shultz – vocals* Brad Shultz – guitar* Jared Champion – drums, percussion* Daniel Tichenor – bass, vocals* Lincoln Parish – lead guitar- Technical personnel :* Jay Joyce – producer* Jason Hall – engineer...
. In the issue dated March 6, 2010, the single peaked at number one on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Alternative Songs chart. This is the band's first number one single.
Release and reception
Cage the Elephant re-recorded "Back Against the Wall" from their debut album for the release of the single.Released in February 2009 in the United Kingdom, the single's B-sides
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
include the acoustic track "Cover Me Again", a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of MGMT
MGMT
MGMT is an American alternative rock band founded by Benjamin Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. After the release of their first album, the members of their live band, Matthew Asti, James Richardson and Will Berman, joined the core band in the studio...
's "Kids
Kids (MGMT song)
"Kids" is the third single from MGMT's album Oracular Spectacular. It was released as a single on October 13, 2008.The song was the center of a legal dispute with the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, over the "insulting" compensation he offered for his illegal use of the song during a party...
" recorded for Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's Live Lounge
Live Lounge
The Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio station BBC Radio 1. Originally hosted by Jo Whiley on her mid-morning radio show and now hosted by Fearne Cotton, it exhibits well-known artists usually performing one song of their own and one by another artist, in an acoustic format...
, and a cover version of Pavement
Pavement (band)
Pavement is an American alternative rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. In their career, they achieved a significant cult following, and they were called the best band of the 1990s by prominent music critics Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine...
's "False Skorpion", a B-side to their 1995 "Rattled by la Rush" single. On iTunes, an exclusive cover of Iodine's Monkey Disease is available as the B-side.
The song peaked at number one on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's Alternative Songs chart in March 2010.
It also reached number 12 on the Rock Songs
Rock Songs
Rock Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the airplay of songs on alternative, mainstream rock and triple A radio stations. The first chart was published in the issue dated June 20, 2009. "Know Your Enemy" by Green Day was the first number-one song. The Rock Songs...
chart, number 92 on the Canadian Hot 100
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...
,
and number 127 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Robin Murray of Clash
Clash (magazine)
Clash is a popular music and fashion magazine based in the United Kingdom. Its magazine title is published 12 times a year. It has a circulation of around 40,000....
magazine described the song as a "raucous blast of grimy rock 'n' roll".
Aysha Hussain of This Is Fake DIY
This Is Fake DIY
This Is Fake DIY is a United Kingdom-based music webzine dedicated to alternative music. It is named after a song by the Scottish alternative rock group Bis....
says that while the song "chugs along pleasantly enough", it sounds "a little contrived" and "finds itself too comfortable, in danger of being throwaway".
In 2009, the song was featured in an episode of the television show "One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill may refer to:* "One Tree Hill" , a song by rock band U2 referencing One Tree Hill, New Zealand* One Tree Hill , an American television drama originally aired on the WB/CW network, named after the U2 song...
."
Music video
In the song's music video, the band members wage war against some gnomeGnome
A gnome is a diminutive spirit in Renaissance magic and alchemy, first introduced by Paracelsus and later adopted by more recent authors including those of modern fantasy literature...
s. The grandmother of the Shultz brothers had several gnomes in her yard, which used to 'creep out' Matt Shultz. The video was directed by Isaac Rentz
Isaac rentz
Isaac Rentz is a music video and commercial director.- Biography :Rentz was born in Japan, and was raised in Tempe, Arizona. He was signed to Draw Pictures for UK and US music video representation until 2010...
and shot in Los Angeles, CA.
Track listing
7" Vinyl- "Back Against the Wall" (Cage the Elephant) - 3:46
- "False Skorpion" (MalkmusStephen MalkmusStephen Joseph Malkmus is an indie rock musician and icon, and a member of the band Pavement. He currently performs with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.-Early years:...
) - 2:09
Digital single, CD
- "Back Against the Wall" (Cage the Elephant) - 3:46
- "Cover Me Again" (Cage the Elephant) - 3:10
- "KidsKids (MGMT song)"Kids" is the third single from MGMT's album Oracular Spectacular. It was released as a single on October 13, 2008.The song was the center of a legal dispute with the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, over the "insulting" compensation he offered for his illegal use of the song during a party...
" (VanWyngarden, Goldwasser) (Radio 1 Lounge version) - 3:39 - "False Skorpion" (Malkmus) - 2:09
iTunes version
- "Back Against the Wall" - 3:46
- "Monkey Disease (Iodine Cover) - 1:26
Chart performance
| Chart (2009–2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
72 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
127 |
| US Billboard Alternative Songs | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 26 |
| US Billboard Rock Songs Rock Songs Rock Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the airplay of songs on alternative, mainstream rock and triple A radio stations. The first chart was published in the issue dated June 20, 2009. "Know Your Enemy" by Green Day was the first number-one song. The Rock Songs... |
12 |