Pressure Chief

With some bands, we have become accustomed to hearing them experiment and change their sound with each album. This has not been the case with Cake. Since their inception, Cake has steadily provided their signature blend of funk and R&B and rock, and just a little bit of country. When they do attempt to change the paradigm of their music, the result is usually divisive, leading half of the listeners to hate it and the other half to love it. Their CD, "Pressure Chief," is one of those albums. On this album, they experiment with a sound that is more hip-hop and electronic than any of their previous albums.

One can hear the opening synth lines, reminiscent of '90s rap, that begin the second song, "No Phone." On this song, especially, the lead singer's lyrics deal with living in the modern age, and on this album, he shows the same dry wit and deadpan humor that he has shown on other CDs. His songwriting, however, does not flow as well as it has previously. On the opener, "Wheels," the songwriting doesn't always rhyme, and seems clumsy at times. All the same, they succeed in their experimentation. Mission accomplished.