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37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Arguably the best Cake mix available, May 14, 2003
Although on the surface these songs might appear to possess that classically funny Cake allure, with their seemingly crazy titles, this just might be their most accomplished release yet. And smartest. Earlier smashes like "The Distance" and "Never There" seemed to carry the weight of their respective CDs, but on Comfort Eagle that doesn't quite hold true. "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" was greatly received by almost everyone who heard it; and the `Orange County' soundtrack song "Shadow Stabbing" also seemed to help boost this album's sales. But unlike their previous albums, Comfort Eagle does not have a song that can be considered bad. It's very solid all the way through. And to be perfectly honest, some of the lesser-known tracks here are actually better than the singles. Here's an overview of the 11 songs:1. Opera Singer - 4/5 - the beats here are a little more pop-ish compared to most of Cake's previous work. But the lyrics and overall feel really get you pumped for the entire CD. Although I heard it a few times on the radio, I'm surprised it never hit it big(ger). 2. Meanwhile, Rick James... - 3/5 - this is actually my least favorite song, but still I agree with other reviewers in saying it's a very intriguing song. It's more reminiscent of a Motorcade Of Generosity song; which is hit-and-miss. 3. Shadow Stabbing - 4.5/5 - with a very similar approach to "Opera Singer", it might actually be slightly better. The background beat is something that portrays the many talents of singer John McCrea. Very catchy and very memorable. 4. Short Skirt/Long Jacket - 5/5 - it may be ill-advised to label this track the CD's best, but it's indisputably close. The lyrics are just so out-there (for example: `I want a girl with uninterrupted prosperity / who uses a machete / to cut her red tape') that you can't help but relate to them. I don't know how it works, but it works well. 5. Commissioning A Symphony In C - 4.5/5 - this one blends the pop beats of tracks 1 and 3 with (maybe) something from Fashion Nugget. It's not quite as catchy as some of the others, but it's very enjoyable to hear and is entertaining, to say the least. 6. Arco Arena - 5/5 - whatever your take on instrumental tracks, you have to love the melodic magnetism this 1 ½-minute song gives off. It's so melodic it almost kills you. It is NOT a filler song. Do NOT overlook it. Awesome! 7. Comfort Eagle - 5/5 - I have to say this is my favorite song on the album. And it's right up there when ranking Cake's best ever. The song starts, brilliantly, `we are building a religion / we are building it bigger...', and just "builds" off that. The background sound is just so amazing that you'll end up coming back to this one (first) after playing the CD through. 8. Long Line Of Cars - 5/5 - perhaps Cake's most pertinent track to date. Anyone who's ever been caught in your everyday traffic jam will absolutely love this one. If it weren't for the overly entertaining lyrics in "Comfort Eagle", this might've been the best song. 9. Love You Madly - 4.5/5 - this one starts a lot like Oasis' "Fxckin' In The Bushes' (go figure); only to finish with the bang that is (a lot like) Prolonging The Magic`s "Sheep Go To Heaven". Nevertheless, the title is repeated a few too many times to call it perfect. 10. Pretty Pink Ribbon - 5/5 - oddly enough, this one is, essentially, better than "Opera Singer" and "Shadow Stabbing". The rhythm just comes off sounding somewhat superb compared to those two tracks. I don't know what the `pink ribbon' actually is--in all reality--but then again we shouldn't pry. 11. World Of Two - 3.5/5 - one of the more straight-forward songs on Comfort Eagle. It does capture the overall hum of the album quite nicely, but the simplistic lyrics and repeated verses don't allow for it to stand out, nonchalantly. Even though Cake's Comfort Eagle doesn't sound very similar, as a whole, to either Motorcade Of Generosity, Fashion Nugget, or Prolonging The Magic, it does manage to continue their ever-so-popular, astounding songwriting abilities. The cleverness of many of the songs (particularly the title track) is far greater than anything Cake has ever produced. And that's saying something. If you've heard the singles "Short Skirt/Long Jacket", "Shadow Stabbing" or possibly "Opera Singer", then you get a pretty good idea of what to expect. The catchy-beat backgrounds and unpredictable-but-amazing lyrics are continually used; yet the songs only seem to get better as you move along through the tracks. My favorite track is easily "Comfort Eagle", and even the one song I didn't find great, "Meanwhile, Rick James...", as I said, is rather intriguing. When it's all said and done: you'll love this CD if you like Cake. And who doesn't enjoy Cake in habitually regular settings?
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by CAKE 
