By Amanda Liang • UrbanWire
• email reporter • email story • printer friendly

A decade since taking to the stage, modern pop rock outfit Cake has returned with their 5th studio effort. While most other contemporary rock bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Blur constantly look to reinvent their sound and image, Cake has surprised critics by leaving most things exactly the way they were. The Northern Californian band has cleverly stuck to a vintage styled CD cover, continuing the line of rustic album artwork after previous albums, Motorcade of Generosity, Fashion Nugget, Prolonging the Magic and Comfort Eagle. Together with the uniform typography, Cake is sending an obvious message that they prefer being consistent and distinctive.

Amazingly, singer/songwriter John McCrea has not run out of his trademark sardonic lyrics laced with dry, biting humour. Anyone who has listened to their past hits like ‘Rock n’ Roll Lifestyle’ and ‘Sheep Go to Heaven’ will surely acknowledge McCrea’s gift for churning out unforgettable, witty lines. “When the gravedigger puts on his forceps, the stonemason does all the work… the barber can give you a haircut, the carpenter can take you out to lunch…” he laments on ‘Sheep Go to Heaven’. He continues to deliver them in this album with ‘No Phone’, a social commentary that pokes fun at our over-reliance on technology.

The groovy bass riffs and unique trumpet sounds still exist on Pressure Chief. And while on the point of elements that are typically Cake, track 6, ‘The Guitar Man’ is an awesome cover of the 70s’ classic hit by Bread. It serves as a reminder of their last successful rendition of Gloria Gaynor’s“I Will Survive”. ‘The Guitar Man’ demonstrates the band’s ability to re-interpret someone else’s song and make it their own, without stripping the original of its eminence, only adding to its marvel. Also, this track allows John McCrea a chance to stretch his vocals.

The opening track, ’Wheels’, is one of the more outstanding songs on the album. McCrea sings about a break-up, and it has some rather poignant lyrics. Other highlights include ‘Carbon Monoxide’, another commentary on living in a world of prevalent air pollution, and the short, quiet tune of ‘End of the Movie’, reminiscent of the band’s folksy brand of pop.

The album is short, with a running time of approximately 35 minutes, but definitely provides enough steam for a quick, feel-good rock n’ roll fix.

The Verdict

This album surely works for a Cake fan, but even a neutral listener should find it enjoyable and refreshing.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars