The Definition of Garage Rock Energy
Mess Around is the breakout hit from Cage the Elephant's 2008 debut album. It’s 2 minutes and 53 seconds of pure adrenaline. Matt Shultz doesn't just sing this track; he attacks it. The vocal style is a blend of melodic shouting, rhythmic chanting, and classic rock aggression.
To sing this well, you need stamina above all else. The challenge isn't hitting high notes—it's maintaining the intensity without exhausting your voice or losing your breath during the rapid-fire verses. Let's break down how to capture that "sloppy" garage rock sound with precise technique.
AI Coach Tip: Breath Pacing
Because the verses are so fast, you cannot take deep breaths. You need to take quick "sip" breaths at the punctuation marks. If you try to fill your lungs completely, you will fall behind the beat.
Phase 1: The Verses (Rapid Fire)
The song kicks off immediately with high energy. The lyrics "Oh no, oh no, oh no, you're doing it again" set the rhythmic pattern. The delivery here is almost percussive.
The Trap: Many singers mumble the words to keep up with the speed. The AI Coach analyzes your diction. Keep your lips loose and focus on the consonants to ensure the lyrics cut through the distorted guitars.
Phase 2: The Chorus (The Hook)
The chorus is simple but effective: "Ah, ah, ah, ah!" followed by the refrain "That is not what I meant." The "Ah" sounds mimic the guitar stabs.
- Staccato Attacks: Don't slide into these notes. Hit them cleanly and abruptly.
- Vowel Shape: Open your mouth vertically (drop your jaw) rather than spreading it wide. This gives the sound more resonance and prevents it from sounding thin or "whiny."
Phase 3: The Grit (Distortion)
Matt Shultz uses a lot of vocal fry and grit. To achieve this safely, you need to use "twang" (narrowing the epiglottis) combined with strong abdominal support.
Do not push from your throat to get the gravelly sound; that will cause damage. Think of the sound coming from your chest, and add the distortion as a texture on top of a clean note.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest sung note is roughly an A4, usually hit during the more shouted sections or the "Ah! Ah!" parts. It sits right in the "break" for many male voices.
If your throat hurts, you are using too much constriction. Try singing the song "clean" first without the grit. Once you have the pitch and rhythm, slowly add the attitude back in using breath support, not throat squeezing.
Yes. If the G Major key is too high for your comfortable shouting range, use the Singing Coach AI app to lower the track by -1 or -2 semitones to make it heavier and easier to sing.
