Cake

Editor's Review:

Long known for catchy hooks, snappy little pop numbers with plenty of derelict attitude and funny videos, Sacramento natives Cake continue the tradition with Comfort Eagle, an album that lets us all know that, no matter what the current pop chart landscape is, these guys have their style and it works.

That is not to say that all of Cake’s albums sound the same — they don’t, but every band has what jazz critics used to refer to as a "tone color," a specific signature sound, and Cake has their own tone color. And while there are plenty of other bands who employ catchy pop hooks, snappy little numbers and derelict attitudes, Cake seems to know the ins and outs of songwriting dynamics, which may be why they’ve managed to endure while other bands of this ilk have fallen by the wayside. Songs like "Meanwhile, Rick James," sort of an oddly somber pop number, show the range of musical emotion Cake is capable of, and of course their big hit, "Short Skirt / Long Jacket," is full of tongue-in-cheek lyrics over a genius, almost too sugary pop beat — but it’s supposed to be that way, and that’s why it works.

That’s always been the beauty of Cake: While they may not take all the things that go with rock stardom seriously, they damn sure take writing music seriously. From smart song construction to interesting orchestration to a lighthearted approach, Cake got their thing down.

Bookmark:

Record Label Columbia Released August 2001

Tracks Opera Singer Meanwhile, Rick James Shadow Stabbing Short Skirt / Long Jacket Commissioning a Symphony in C Arco Arena Comfort Eagle Long Line of Cars Love You Madly Pretty Pink Ribbon World of Two