December 31, 2004
Cake: Does anyone know what this song is about?
I didn't listen to Cake until a couple of years ago, but when I finally got around to it, I realized I'd been missing out. Their label name should be Sarcastic Incorporated. Bizarre songs are their trademark... but wildly enough, if you listen for long enough, you can make sense out of almost any of their lyrics, including "I want a girl with a short skirt and a long jacket." I loved both "Fashion Nugget" and "Prolonging the Magic" but found their twisted sense of humor and strange beats a little lacking on "Comfort Eagle." They put out a new album recently and the first time I listened to it, I thought they had finally degenerated into a band focused on doing something different instead of making good music. Then I listened to it again and realized I really liked it. Cake is like that. The first listen usually results in a single thought, "Why the hell did I buy this album?" and then the second listen is "What the fuck is this song about?". By the third listen, you have at least two of the songs permanently embedded in your brain and find yourself embarassingly humming them at work. Cake is a must listen but don't take my word for it. Give the track "Guitar Man," off their new album "Pressure Chief" a try.