"Ready to Let Go" is a song by American alternative rock band Cage the Elephant. It was produced by John Hill and was released as the lead single from the band's fifth studio album Social Cues on January 31, 2019. It reached number five on Billboard Alternative Songs chart in the United States.
Background The song was born from frontman Matt Shultz's as he was inspired to write the song after a trip to Pompeii with his former wife, during which he realized their relationship was falling apart. The song is characterized by its indie-rock sound with a haunting Pompeii-inspired theme and a theme of moving on from a broken relationship. Its composition features a signature indie-rock style with a catchy, rhythmic texture, a chugging bassline, and a distorted guitar melody that contribute to its hypnotic sound.
Music video The songs official music video was directed by lead singer Matt Shultz, the video features several horror themes throughout.
When asked about the video Shultz stated:
Reception Laura Anaya-Morga of Highlander News noted that the song features "the bands signature indie-rock sound" adding "The song’s scrappy electric guitar and rhythmic texture make it a catchy tune for anyone to enjoy." Similarly Abbie Jennings of When the Horn Blows wrote "it is a seriously catchy, toe tapping come back single. The song itself could easily be a forgotten B-side from their previous album ‘Tell Me I’m Pretty’, or earlier material. Their distinct sound is instantly recognizable." The Independent dubbed "Ready to let Go" "the most explicit song" on the album describing it as "a moody swamp-rock jam where Shultz comes to terms with his impending divorce."
However Consequence gave the song a more negative review stating its "Predictable and innocuous, it doesn’t do anything to advance Cage the Elephant’s stylistic evolution."
Charts + Chart performance for "Ready to Let Go" Chart (2019) Peakposition Canada All-format Airplay (Billboard) 45 Iceland (RÚV) 6
Certifications
Release history + Release history and formats for "Ready to Let Go" Region Date Format Label United States January 31, 2019 Modern rock radio RCA
References