#22 on the 2011 Musical Bacon Calendar
Showroom of Compassion by Cake
Remember CAKE? You probably liked them once upon a time, perhaps because of the song “Short Skirt, Long Jacket.” You definitely remember “The Distance,” and it’s chorus “He’s going the distance. He’s going for speed. He’s all alone (ALL ALONE!) in his time of need.” But did you know that they’re still going strong?
CAKE completed their contract with the B-sides and Rarities collection they released in 2007, and Showroom of Compassion is their first independent release. Amazingly, although the band has only released 6 albums (with original material) in their 18-year history, Showroom debuted at #1 in the U.S., so some of you out there are still listening.
I love CAKE. Yes, they have a shtick. But it’s a good one. A lone trumpet, the deep monotone vocals of John McCrae, the persistent vibraslap. CAKE is a distinctly American band. And Showroom is a continuation of all of that Americana. If you haven’t heard it yet, click on the link at the top of this entry and buy it immediately.
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