Cake
After a relatively successful stint lasting into late '90s, Cake left Capricorn Records for the larger Columbia imprint. These things happen when a group feels they are being taken for granted or somebody else, in this case Columbia, figures the group hasn't hit its commercial potential; a very risky proposition. So the switch was made. Capricorn retaliated by slamming out a "greatest hits" compilation to cash in one last time.
Meanwhile, Cake began work on the "Comfort Eagle" CD which was released in '01. The Rockin' single "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" turned ears and gave Columbia execs reason to believe they made the right decision.
During their formative years the Sacramento based group went through some personnel changes with only vocalist/guitarist John McCrea, trumpeter/keyboardist/percussionist Vince DiFiore and drummer Todd Roper going the distance. Bassist Victor Damiani bowed out in '97 and was replaced by Gabe Nelson who had been with the group in the early '90s and original guitarist Greg Brown left in '98 with Xan McCurdy joining.
Cake's debut "Motorcade of Generosity," released in '99 and the superior follow-up "Fashion Nugget" built Cake a decent following. The group's last release of the decade, and the last for Capricorn, was "Prolonging The Magic."
Cake's debut "Motorcade of Generosity" is good but sophomore effort "Fashion Nuggets" containing the frantic "The Distance" is better. Both show Cake's confrontational, rowdy side to great advantage. There's even room for Country romps. Third CD "Prolonging the Magic" has John McCrea writing or co-writing all the songs. While the CD has "Never There" it comes off as tedious with stylistic changes sounding strained. Cake's Columbia debut "Comfort Eagle" finds the brooding Alt. Rockers back in true form. It's nearly as good as "Fashion Nuggets."