Oui

The Sea and Cake | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 3, 2000)
• Original Release Date: October 3, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Thrill Jockey
• ASIN: B00004WIPE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,770 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Afternoon Speaker

2. All The Photos

3. You Beautiful Bastard

4. The Colony Room

5. The Leaf

6. Everyday

7. Two Dolphins

8. Midtown

9. Seemingly

10. I Missed The Glance

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Piece of Work, October 28, 2000

By 

"bujuzu" (Portland, ME) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oui (Audio CD)

Although I, like most folks who have listened to any particular band for a while have the steadfast contention that nothing imaginable can top the albums of the band's younger years, I enjoyed this album.

Back in '94 their first, Self-titled album showed what a new sound these guys could make with your basic guitar-bass-drum (for the most part) lineup and it was great. After that drummer John McEntire, the notable electro-synth-drummachine producer began to flex his creative muscle within the group. McEntire's efforts are quite evidently reflected in "The Fawn" and "The Biz". This brought on a bit of negative critique from those who felt the band best expressed itself with the simplicity of the first album. I, however, held on and kept listening - after all it still was fantastic music.

To me, "Oui" marks a reversion in the direction of that first golden album. The synth and drum machining are there, but seem to be a bit suppressed. The album is polished and flawless; somewhere in the last decade or so these guys turned into real professionals.

On the downside, this album lacks a few trademark Sea and Cake elements. As had been my complaint as the band matured, Singer Sam Prekop sounds at times like he may have lost his edge. I remember a raw, envigorated Prekop with his rambling hipster lyrics. He seems to have given that up for a more harmonic tone. Additionally, the music isn't as catchy as previous works. Not by any means to the point of bore and redundancy, but they have done better.

The verdict? Someone new to S&C might be advised not to buy this album - initially, at least, as the band will be falsely represented by this newer stride. Die hard S&C fans? You can't go wrong. This album is a Solid Piece of work - Buy It!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Continues on..., February 10, 2001

By 

Patrick F Clifford - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oui (Audio CD)

Ok. The Fawn was a fine record. The Biz was (without exception) the best thing these guys have put out. Oui? This is still quality jazz pop from some of the most centered, innovative musicians making music today.

This still is very original sounding stuff (Like you've heard it before somewhere, but you just can't put your finger on it). Oui sounds like the next step in the evolution of a fine, experimental, jazz rock band. 10 years ago, anything with the jazz rock tag would've been put out with the weekend beer bottles by those in the know. I am very impressed how the distinctive personalities of this band mesh so seemlessly. True, Sam Prekopf's vocals seem a bit limited (one breathless intonation after another), but with the nifty jazz chords of Archer Prewitt, the obviously in (deservedly)demand production skills of John McEntire, and the fine anchoring bass of Eric Claridge, you get a record which really transcends the concept of "jazz rock" (see Steely Dan). I really dig the analog keyboards and the other melodic percussion. The production does sound a little bit like Sterolab-lite (Well, gee, John Mc. was around for that stuff, too.), but that band still sounds like robots compared to this. The four distinct personalities in this band come together like no other right now.

The new wave jazz of this band has never sounded better.

Recommended for the night after (04:45 AM Chicago time).

The Sea and Cake continues to set the precedent for the entire "jazz-rock" concept.

(For those those who don't dig the "breathless" vocals of Sam Prekopf, look to fine records from Archer Prewitt. Each one, again, better than the last).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars so my afternoon continues, July 4, 2004

By 

"glassed" (Chicago, IL (USA)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oui (Audio CD)

One cannot help but find themselves entranced in the soundscapes the this Chicago group creates. Songs such as, "Afternoon Speaker", and the cruising vocals of Sam Prekop bring you back to what I may call, "a simpler time", some kind of nostalgia mode. Strange are these vast songs, that seem to span to the horizon, yet remind you how good it feels to use your headphones and keep things all to your self. Like a chapter of a good book, this album keep you rolling upon sand dunes, and finally ending with sand caked to your feet and a good tan, and your afternoon still continuing. An excellent album. (As a side note, the design of the album's case is fantastic).