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Cake
After a relatively successful stint lasting into late '90s, Cake left Capricorn Records for the larger Columbia imprint. These things happen when a group feels they are being taken for granted or somebody else, in this case Columbia, figures the group hasn't hit its commercial potential; a very risky proposition. So the switch was made. Capricorn retaliated by slamming out a "greatest hits" compilation to cash in one last time.
Meanwhile, Cake began work on the "Comfort Eagle" CD which was released in '01. The single "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" turned ears and gave Columbia execs reason to believe they made the right decision.
During their formative years the Sacramento based group went through some personnel changes with only vocalist/guitarist John McCrea, trumpeter/keyboardist/percussionist Vince DiFiore and drummer Todd Roper going the distance. Bassist Victor Damiani bowed out in '97 and was replaced by Gabe Nelson who had been with the group in the early '90s and original guitarist Greg Brown left in '98 with Xan McCurdy joining.
Cake's debut "Motorcade Of Generosity," released in '99 and the superior follow-up "Fashion Nugget" built Cake a decent following. The group's last release of the decade, and the last for Capricorn, was "Prolonging The Magic." The single "Never There" went to #1 on the U.S. Modern Rock tracks.
With Cake's profile enhanced by "Comfort Eagle," the group's second effort for Columbia was '04's "Pressure Chief" which yielded a couple moderate hits, including "No Phone."
Having abandoned the idea of putting out a live album, they issued "B-Sides And Rarities." The '07 compilation featured a number of covers ranging from "War Pigs" (Black Sabbath) to "Strangers In The Night" (Frank Sinatra). It was issued on the band's own label Upbeat Records.
Cake spent two and a half years working on their '11 release "Showroom Of Compassion." The set, which featured the single "Sick Of You," was produced and engineered by the band at their solar electric powered studio in Sacramento, CA. McCrea said the album was "very different" from previous records.
1994 Motorcade Of Generosity
1996 Fashion Nugget
1998 Prolonging The Magic
2001 Comfort Eagle
2004 Pressure Chief
2011 Showroom Of Compassion
Cake's debut "Motorcade Of Generosity" is good but sophomore effort "Fashion Nuggets" containing the frantic "The Distance" is better. Both show Cake's confrontational, rowdy side to great advantage. There's even room for Country romps. Third CD "Prolonging The Magic" has John McCrea writing or co-writing all the songs. While the CD has "Never There" it comes off as tedious with stylistic changes sounding strained.
The group's Columbia debut "Comfort Eagle" finds the brooding Alt. Rockers back in form. It's nearly as good as "Fashion Nuggets."
There's a more relaxed approach on "Pressure Chief." This predominately mid-tempo album features Ska ("Wheels" and "Carbon Monoxide") and the seemingly obligatory Country track ("End Of The Movie"). In a somewhat similar vein, they do a bit-too-faithful rendition (with added electronic noise) of Bread's '70's MOR classic "The Guitar Man."
"Wheels" rolls out the horns and a keyboard riff reminiscent of "The Distance." Can't miss. But the set's best shot is "Carbon Monoxide," a fun romp with a staccato organ.
"Showroom Of Compassion" has one brilliant song ("Sick Of You"), a handful of really good ones (the danceable "Long Time," a hippie Rock "Federal Funding" and the popish "What's Now Is Now") and a bunch of good ones (the rest of the album).
"Sick Of You," a mash-up of '70s Rock and Weezer, simply overshadows everything else.
"B-Sides And Rarities" is just that - entertaining for fans.