Back Against the Wall (song)

"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.

"Back Against the Wall"
Single by Cage the Elephant
from the album Cage the Elephant
ReleasedFebruary 2, 2009 (UK)
July 28, 2009 (US)
Recorded2008
GenreAlternative rock, punk blues
Length3:45
LabelRelentless (UK)
Jive/RED (US)
Songwriter(s)Cage the Elephant
Producer(s)Jay Joyce
Cage the Elephant singles chronology
"Ain't No Rest for the Wicked"
(2008)		 "Back Against the Wall"
(2009)		 "In One Ear"
(2010)

Release and reception

Cage the Elephant re-recorded "Back Against the Wall" from their debut album for the release of the single.[1] 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.[2] On iTunes, an exclusive cover of Iodine's Monkey Disease is available as the B-side.[3]

The song peaked at number one on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart in March 2010.[4] It also reached number 12 on the Rock Songs chart,[4] number 92 on the Canadian Hot 100,[5] and number 127 on the UK Singles Chart.[6] Robin Murray of Clash magazine described the song as a "raucous blast of grimy rock 'n' roll".[7] 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".[8]

The song was featured in an episode of the television show "One Tree Hill" and "The Vampire Diaries".

Music video

In the song's music video, the band members wage war against some gnomes. The grandmother of the Shultz brothers had several gnomes in her yard, which used to 'creep out' Matt Shultz.[9] The video was directed by Isaac Rentz and shot in Los Angeles, CA.[10]

Track listing
7" Vinyl
  1. "Back Against the Wall" (Cage the Elephant) – 3:46
  2. "False Skorpion" (Malkmus) – 2:09
Digital single, CD
  1. "Back Against the Wall" (Cage the Elephant) – 3:46
  2. "Cover Me Again" (Cage the Elephant) – 3:10
  3. "Kids" (VanWyngarden, Goldwasser) (Radio 1 Lounge version) – 3:39
  4. "False Skorpion" (Malkmus) – 2:09
iTunes version
  1. "Back Against the Wall" – 3:46
  2. "Monkey Disease (Iodine cover) – 1:26

Chart performance

Weekly charts
Chart (2009–2010) Peak
position
Canadian Hot 100[4] 72
UK Singles Chart[6] 127
US Billboard Alternative Songs[4] 1
US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks[4] 26
US Billboard Rock Songs[4] 12

Year-end charts
Chart (2010) Position
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[11] 32
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[12] 12

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[13] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
  1. "Cage the Elephant Announce New Single". MTV. 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  2. "Cage the Elephant New Single". Music-News. 2008-11-22. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  3. "iTunes - Music - Back Against the Wall - Single by Cage the Elephant". Itunes.apple.com. 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  4. ""Back Against the Wall" - Cage the Elephant". Billboard. Archived from the original on 19 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  5. "Cage the Elephant - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  6. "Chart Log UK: New Entries Update". Zobbel. 2009-02-14. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  7. Murray, Robin (2008-12-01). "Cage the Elephant Single: Kentucky Rockers Return". Clash. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  8. Hussain, Aysha (2009-02-10). "Single Reviews: Cage the Elephant – Back Against The Wall". This Is Fake DIY. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  9. "ShieldSquare Captcha". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  10. "Music Video News: SHOT: Cage The Elephant - Isaac Rentz, director". Video Static. 2009-07-30. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  11. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  12. "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  13. "American single certifications – Cage the Elephant – Back Against the Wall". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
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