‘Thank You’ for this southern rock showcase

On 2009’s self-titled debut, Cage the Elephant unleashed “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” and a cohort of other visceral Southern alt-rock songs to UK and eventually, US success. “Thank You Happy Birthday” shouldn’t have to wait as long for homeland audiences to notice.

But between souped-up Kings of Leon licks, there wasn’t much diversity on Elephant’s eponymous debut — a problem easily forgotten after “Thank You,” which borrows from Pixies, grunge and the raw guitar rock showcasing of the ’60s.

Instead of meandering through these different sounds, lead singer Matt Shultz harnesses his own influences and the versatility of his vocals, syncing his sound with theirs.

The tracks range from a darker funk on leadoff “Always Something” to a fuzzed-up, stretched-out crooner in “Right Before My Eyes,” a ’90s reincarnate that’s also the album’s best-sounding cut.

“Shake Me Down,” the album’s first single, dials tempo and intensity up and down with effortless control, and they are able to carry that over to “Thank You” on the whole.

At its highest, the wild rock ’n’ roll cuts are extreme, but the group has certainly found another, more tender side to their sound on the back half of “Thank You” that I hope will carry on.