Customer Reviews

Cake

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In the late 80s and the early 90s, a lot of bands were taking their queue from The Smiths. The Ocean Blue were one of them, and were the frontrunners stateside. Trash Can Sinatras, musically did just as well. But, they were more Aztec Camera than they were The Smiths, and crafted perfect pop tunes on "Cake" as best as their genre could. This record does not fail to please, and although popular, remains very underrated in the annals of 'britpop' history. The production work shared by Roger Bechirian and The Trash Can Sinatras, as well as the tracks produced by John Leckie [who helped shape The Stone Roses' landmark LP] finely craft the sound to perfection. Yes, it has been done before, but rarely do any artist record it this well. And, the songs are perfect. You'll wanna sing, you'll wanna dance, and you'll wanna listen over and over again. It's a shame that comparisons to The Smiths before them, and a growing movement called Grunge would never allow them to have a fighting chance. This record would've made millions otherwise.

After listening to this cd countless times, I can easily say without reservation, it is the greatest cd I have ever heard. From the first lush note of Obscurity Knocks to the cacophany of the layered closing of January's Little Joke, you as a listener are privy to a perfect marriage of lyric and melody - a submerision into a world of bliss and possibilities.

Tales of music and movement that soar and swirl. Catchy melodies rise and fall effortessly creating the perfect medium for the play on words set as clever lyrics - a stream of consciousness style painting pictures that evoke everything from childhood playful memories "Remember those good ole' days that seemed to fill our gaze." to thoughts on accepting the world around us "I'm old, not wise just worried" to deeply felt emotions never expressed. "Meanwhile back here in wonderland.." "Hands of the clock give me a round of applause, for getting out of bed, and the scars of the night before have turned into scabs, and still I'm seeing double..."

- The beautiful tunes will comfort on dark days, Melancholy lyrics of prose and poetry will stimulate and challenge your own concept of the world around you. If you let it, it will take you places. As sonically masterful as it is unpredictable.

- Trust me, after playing it over and over and over, I still find something new compelling me to dive in, each time creating new ripples that leave me walking away with a sense of awe. - She's a funny kind of girl, "I know, she doesn't play the field, but she likes to know the strength of the team. She says, she doesn't like my style - but I loved her in my own fashion- "Kept her under raps, splinted lots of verbal traps, but she won't be gone for long.."

- Even mere words do not do justice in describing this cd. I would have to venture to guess that unspoken, tender, unfulfilled dreams would come close. A secret masterpiece -- "And now I've swallowed my pride - I promise you I couldn't eat another word, I've counted to 3 then I've sailed out to sea..and I just got to 8, when you started to say, 'I'll bid you fairwell..Im going...going..gone..."

If you haven't heard "Cake" by the Trash Can Sinatras, you don't know what you're missing. Melodic, Rocking, Beautiful, Mysterious, "In Your Face" lyrics. Brit pop before there was "Brit pop". These boys are one of the most overlooked bands. So many bands have ripped them off. You should buy Cake as a starter and move on to their later works. Hear them progress and hear songs that others are just now imitating. The most witty lyrics ever.

I bought this album after hearing "Only Tongue Can Tell" on 120 Minutes and was surprised at how good the entire album was. There is not a bad song on the album and the mixing of all of the different instruments was perfect. My personal favorites are "Best Man's Fall", "Obscurity Knocks" and "You Made Me Feel". I was fortunate enough to see the band on tour for their second album and they are great live performers. After ten years, I still love this album. It is worth having in your music collection.

This album of perfection has been my favorite, and in my opinion one of the best albums ever made, since I first heard it about 5 years ago. When I found a copy of this import with the extra songs last year, I was ecstatic, and still am. These extra songs are great, and certainly add to the already amazing album. This is the smartest money you can spend.

I've been listening to this album for fifteen years, and I can't believe I'm actually going to say this, but...it just gets better and better. I never get tired of CAKE. The lyrics and melodies are unmatched. Each song is a gem of unrivaled cleverness and tenderness. What a stunning confluence of sweetness and wit. It gives me something on every listen.

So many albums feel haphazardly slapped together--this one doesn't. It is finely crafted. And so many albums feel like they are about 4 songs too many--this one isn't. CAKE actually feels like it could keep right on going on its own.

I will spare you the details so you can discover them yourself. So I'm gonna keep it short and simple: I don't know what I'd do without this one album in my collection.

Another one of those CDs that sounds as good today as it did 14 years ago.

TCS are probably a bit arty for many, but they have a very devoted following. They are very talented musicians, I remember way back when during a live show, they would occasionally swap instruments between songs. Very cool.

That being said, "Cake" still makes it to my main playlist. Francis Reader's vocals twist in and out of the numerous plays on words. John Douglas is a superb guitarist.

The standout tracks are the singles "Only Tongue Can Tell" and my favorite "Obscurity Knocks". "Circling the Circumference", another single, is good too but not as punchy as the other two. A great slow track is "Even the Odd".

A sublime CD overall, prolly rated 4.5 stars.

I own dozens upon dozens of cd's from the British pop/folk genre, ranging from the classic Smiths to recent sensation Belle and Sebastian. However, out of all the great albums I have from so many legendary bands, CAKE by the TRASH CAN SINATRAS is by far my favorite. No respectable music collection is complete without it.

I bought this CD as a college freshman in 1990, and it remains the best musical purchase I've ever made. A truly perfect album.

This is an album filled with thoughtful and catchy tunes. Play "The Best Man's Fall" and your attention'll do. I want you to know that I like your poems, but I hate your poetry. So buy this album and it'll make you feel you were born again, yet it's ashame you never grew up.