Cake

Sometimes Cake's cleverness and shtick overshadowed their song craft and musical acumen, but on their fourth album -- after the defection of two members -- John McCrea pulled back on the novelty aspect and honed his razor-sharp wit to a pointy tip. The result was the band's most subversive and listenable album to date, especially since he dropped the deadpan monotone and actually began singing. The title track is one of the funniest indictments of the music business, and check out "Pretty Pink Ribbon" for sheer tunefulness.

Funky white geeks who play intelligent, cynical, socially conscious rock with an
almost-country sheen and harsh Steely Dan-ish angles - no wonder the name Cake doesn't
conjure up a vivid sonic portrait, unless you count the trumpet. But Cake traffic in
easygoing deception, hiding articulate observation under a load of goofball touches -
covers that should be kitschy but aren't ("Sad Songs and Waltzes," "I Will Survive")... More >