Cake have been around for over a decade, and they’ve been popular at many of the blogs I frequent, perhaps because their bouncy, light-funk swing has always been just to the left of mainstream and sounds independent, even if Cake was on a major label. That’s right. WAS. Cake as you know it, has changed. They’ve finally come from the dark side to the light. (No, I don’t mean they moved from Sacramento to SF.) The band has left their home on [generic major label] and have signed themselves to their own label, Upbeat Records.
Congratulations!
I’m hoping this will enable them to move away from hitpop like Never There and grow owards the more edgy, intellectual oddball rock they’ve proven themselves capable on so many B sides.
And speaking of B sides . . . They’ve released B Sides and Rarities, a collection of the band’s more interesting work including covers like The Muppets’ Mahna Mahna; Black Sabbath’s, War Pigs; and Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town, once made famous by Kenny Rogers. It’s also got originals you might not have heard, but should have because they’re much more likely to get you into this band than the band’s big label hit, The Distance.
I’m told that the future will bring a live album, Live At The Crystal Palace, and a new studio album. The group is great live (and to prove it, the B Sides collection includes a live version of War Pigs performed with Steven Drozd of The Flaming Lips).
To encourage store-buying over digital-downloading, the album has a scratch and sniff CD package with five different color/scent variations (including red/fresh cut roses, yellow/banana, brown/leather, green/fresh) . . . Okay, that’s just weird.
Check out some flava from the album, get in the mood, and go getchaself a slice a cake here!
Never, Never Gonna Give You Up-Cake.
