Cake

[not that clay]

I just heard that band Cake for the first time. It's like even worse Smashmouth. What's wrong with people?

[dave from knoxville]

I just heard that band Cake for the first time. It's like even worse Smashmouth. What's wrong with people?

You really don't even need the first two of these three sentences.

[wood and iron]

Not sure if this is a ringing endorsement, but I genuinely enjoy Cake. Have all their albums, even.

I can see how they aren't for everyone's taste but I like 'em. I don't know what to tell you. Taste isn't objective, maybe?

[akaJudge]

I think they're great, I'm a huge fan.  I don't see the comparison w/ Smash Mouth.

edit for full disclosure: I also love Tom Waits   

[cavorting with nudists]

I pretty much hated 'em based on fairly slight exposure during the 90's. The mushmouthed vocals seemed to me to typify a certain school of indie-rock singing characterized by the vocalist's making absolutely sure you knew he couldn't be bothered to even try. (In the minority here, but I disliked Pavement for the same reason.) I had no idea until now that they were still around and apparently bigger than ever.

[akaJudge]

mushmouthed vocals?  that doesn't sound right

[wood and iron]

I pretty much hated 'em based on fairly slight exposure during the 90's. The mushmouthed vocals seemed to me to typify a certain school of indie-rock singing characterized by the vocalist's making absolutely sure you knew he couldn't be bothered to even try. (In the minority here, but I disliked Pavement for the same reason.) I had no idea until now that they were still around and apparently bigger than ever.

Erm, I think you're thinking of some other band. The style of John McCrea (Cake's lead singer and lead guy) is really enunciated and clear.

[cavorting with nudists]

Hmm, having refreshed my memory via the iTunes store, you're right. "Mushmouthed" was the wrong word. He does enunciate. But he just kinda aims at the notes and doesn't miss in an expressive or involving way, to my ears at least.  That's more what I meant by "can't be bothered to even try."

[not that clay]

I mean, this music makes sense if you're stoned out of your mind. Is that it?

[mostlymeat]

I mean, this music makes sense if you're stoned out of your mind. Is that it?

The '90s was a dark time for music. Cake's "sardonic" delivery was about as good as it got in a post-grunge world. They had (have?) a great rhythm section and guitar player, which was enough for a lot of us to go along with it. But in hindsight, the singer's blasé "uh"'s and "yeah's" are really horrible.

Smashmouth was different, the vocals were delivered earnestly and the samples and turntablism fit perfectly into the modern world while still being fun pop songs. As a band they had zero personality and the songs are as vacuous as it gets, but when did we stop liking pop music?

[mostlymeat]

I mean, this music makes sense if you're stoned out of your mind. Is that it?

The '90s was a dark time for music. Cake's "sardonic" delivery was about as good as it got in a post-grunge world. They had (have?) a great rhythm section and guitar player, which was enough for a lot of us to go along with it. But in hindsight, the singer's blasé "uh"'s and "yeah's" are really horrible.

Smashmouth was different, the vocals were delivered earnestly and the samples and turntablism fit perfectly into the modern world while still being fun pop songs. As a band they had zero personality and the songs are as vacuous as it gets, but when did we stop liking pop music?

Between rave music, trip hop, or nu metal, I'll take The Spice Girls any day. So embarassed to have lived through that awful decade.

[Gilly]

I'll take some ownership of the alt-90's. So what if it wasn't all that great, it's still kind of a portrait of my youth which usually makes things better for most people. Unless you had a terrible time in the 90's, I don't see how you couldn't like some of the music since you lived through it. I like Cake. Well, the first few Cake albums at least, the rest of them suck. Somebody who grew up in the 00's would not agree with me, and that's ok.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

I just heard that band Cake for the first time. It's like even worse Smashmouth. What's wrong with people?

You really don't even need the first two of these three sentences.

pretty much. 

although, i fell for the first single, but once the formula was made clear i lost interest.  not a bad band, per se, just not something i could own an entire album, let alone albums, of. 

[not that clay]

I'm sorry I was so mean about Cake. I saw some friends talking about amazing they are on facebook and when I went and listened to it I was really surprised. 

These guys are college professors, so kids, don't trust your professors about anything.