Cake

Cake rose to prominence chiefly via their pervasive smash "The Distance," capturing the ironic, postmodern sensibility that defined geek rock throughout the 1990s. Their style blended disparate genre elements—white-boy funk, hip-hop, country, new wave pop, jazz, college rock, and guitar rock—with evident pleasure in the resulting juxtapositions. Lyrics brimmed with non-sequiturs, pop-culture nods, and wry satire, all conveyed through the dry, speak-sung delivery of frontman John McCrea. Observers often likened the group to Soul Coughing and King Missile, yet Cake avoided the downtown New York artiness of those acts, instead projecting an everyman persona free of illusions or pretensions about their entertainment function. Critics, however, frequently condemned the smug superiority they detected beneath the band’s persistent sarcasm. The group’s persistently minimal, understated approach may have intensified perceptions of ironic distance even when unintended, leading many reviewers to dismiss them as one-hit wonders once "The Distance" peaked. Still, Cake sustained several additional alternative-radio successes in subsequent years without altering their core method.

The band originated in Sacramento, California, during 1991 when vocalist and songwriter John McCrea returned after unsuccessful years attempting to enter the Los Angeles music scene. Founding members included guitarist Greg Brown, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, bassist Sean McFessel, and drummer Frank French; McFessel departed soon afterward for college and was succeeded by Gabe Nelson. In 1993 Cake issued the locally released debut single "Rock ‘n' Roll Lifestyle," then issued the self-produced, self-released, and self-distributed full-length Motorcade of Generosity. The album reached the reactivated Capricorn label, which signed the band and issued the record nationally. Anticipating widespread touring, both Gabe Nelson and Frank French exited, making way for bassist Victor Damiani and drummer Todd Roper. Capricorn’s reissue of "Rock ‘n' Roll Lifestyle" gained traction on college radio in 1995, followed by the further singles "Ruby Sees All" and "Jolene" (distinct from the Dolly Parton composition).

Fashion Nugget, Cake’s sophomore album, arrived in 1996 and yielded the breakout Greg Brown composition "The Distance," which dominated alternative airwaves that autumn and improbably became a sporting-event staple. Powered largely by that track, the album reached the Top 40 and surpassed one million units sold. It also produced a later single, the Gloria Gaynor cover "I Will Survive," which stirred debate; though the band voiced genuine admiration for the original, some listeners and critics interpreted McCrea’s deadpan reading as a condescending jab. In 1997 Greg Brown and Victor Damiani departed to form the new-wave-styled Deathray, whose debut appeared on Capricorn in 2000. McCrea briefly weighed ending the group but instead recalled original bassist Gabe Nelson. For the ensuing album, McCrea rotated five different guitarists across tracks; the resulting Prolonging the Magic surfaced in 1998. Defying expectations, the sardonic title notwithstanding, it generated the major alternative hit "Never There" along with the moderately successful "Sheep Go to Heaven" and "Let Go."

Prolonging the Magic attained nearly equivalent commercial performance to its predecessor and earned platinum certification. During the subsequent tour, guitarist Xan McCurdy became a permanent member. In spring 2000 the band signed with Columbia and released its fourth album, Comfort Eagle, in 2001, reaching its highest chart position at number 13. Lead single "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" succeeded on alternative radio and secured MTV exposure through a video showing street-level reactions from randomly chosen passersby. After completing the record, Todd Roper stepped away to devote time to family and was succeeded on tour by Pete McNeal. Pressure Chief followed in 2004. Six years later the band issued Showroom of Compassion in 2011, operating with complete independence—recording in a solar-powered studio free of any corporate utility arrangements.