Pressure Chief by Cake (CD, Oct-2004, Columbia USA)

Sacramento California's Cake is back at it again, with a collection of wry, catchy pop tunes that are right on target. For those of you unfamiliar with Cake you are really missing out. They have only received a fair about of radio play ... best known for the songs Short Skirt/Long Jacket and The Distance.

Nothing is really new here, from the trademark Album art to the music, yet it still comes across as fresh. Part of that is due to the new material but I think it is also due to Cake's unique sound. It is certainly a sound that NO ONE else today. I am not sure how many bands could combine half spoken lyrics, warbly trumpet solos and Dr. Dre style keyboards. the music is laid back yet energizing and each song needs to be considered in its entirety, certainly the Amazon.com or other online snippets do not do them justice.

John McCrea's deadpan, detached vocals are as they ever were which to me is just perfect, however on a few tracks he breaks into a more traditional singing style with great success. They are times when listening to any Cake album you get the sense that their lyrics would be just as successful spoken without music at a hip counter culture coffee shop.

Real stand outs on this Album are the dreamy Wheels, Carbon Monoxide, Dime and the Final track Tougher Than It Is. One thing is certain though that this is music that is great in any setting, but really stands out when listened to. For Cake lyrics are not .. to quote Jessica Simpson .. those icky works that get in the way of my Dance steps.

WHO WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM
Fans of Cake
Smart People
College Rock Fans


WHO WILL NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM
NKOTB Fans
NSYNC Fans
People who Harmonize with Color Me Badd's "I Wanna Sex You Up"