While so many
rock
bands try to reinvent themselves with every new album,
Cake
has made a name for itself by sticking to its brand of smirking
funk-pop
. Blending
jazz
,
rockabilly
experimental rock
, and a little less
country
than usual,
Comfort Eagle
, the band's first album since leaving
Capricorn Records
for
Columbia
, carries on the
tradition of offbeat humor and catchy melodies. While some fans may be waiting for its sound to evolve, singer/songwriter
John McCrea
and company seem content to reign over their quirky little corner of the popular music landscape.
"Opera Singer"
and the first single,
"Short Skirt/Long Jacket,"
follow in the footsteps of
's previous hits, but are no less enjoyable because of it.
"Shadow Stabbing"
is one of the most straightforward
songs the band has ever recorded, with
McCrea
forgoing his usual half-spoken vocals for an almost irony-free delivery. While it is still unmistakably
, it would sound right at home on a
Cars
album. The rest of the album is by the numbers
, which is comforting and slightly disappointing at the same time. The group has certainly perfected its sound, and one can understand why it would be hesitant to turn its back on its extremely distinctive style, but with
comes dangerously close to simply remaking its previous release,
Prolonging the Magic
. While new fans might enjoy
on its own merits,
followers may feel as though they've bought the same album twice. However, both albums are strong enough that they probably won't mind. ~ Mark Vanderhoff