Music Metrics Vault

CAKE

Data updated on 2024-12-11 11:25:03 UTC
Best-known for their ubiquitous hit "The Distance," Cake epitomized the postmodern, irony-drenched aesthetic of '90s geek rock. Their sound freely mixed and matched pastiches of widely varying genres -- white-boy funk, hip-hop, country, new wave pop, jazz, college rock, and guitar rock -- with a particular delight in the clashes that resulted. Their songs were filled with lyrical non-sequiturs, pop-culture references, and smirky satire, all delivered with bone-dry detachment by speak/singing frontman John McCrea. Cake's music most frequently earned comparisons to Soul Coughing and King Missile, but lacked the downtown New York artiness of those two predecessors; instead, Cake cultivated an image of average guys with no illusions and pretensions about their role as entertainers. At the same time, critics lambasted what they saw as a smugly superior attitude behind the band's habitual sarcasm. Perhaps there was something in Cake's doggedly spare, low-key presentation that amplified their ironic detachment even when they didn't intend it, but most reviewers pegged them as one-hit wonders after the success of "The Distance." Nonetheless, Cake managed a few more alternative radio hits in the years that followed, while largely retaining the same approach.

Cake was formed in Sacramento, California in 1991 by vocalist/songwriter John McCrea, who'd recently returned home after spending a few years in Los Angeles, unsuccessfully trying to break into the music business. The original lineup of Cake also featured guitarist Greg Brown, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, bassist Sean McFessel, and drummer Frank French; McFessel soon left to attend college, and was replaced by Gabe Nelson. In 1993, the band released their debut single, "Rock ‘n' Roll Lifestyle," on a local basis, and followed it with a self-produced, self-released, self-distributed album, Motorcade of Generosity. Motorcade found its way to the revived Capricorn label, which released the album nationally after Cake signed a contract with them. With the prospect of extensive national touring, both Gabe Nelson and Frank French left the band, and were replaced by bassist Victor Damiani and drummer Todd Roper. Re-released by Capricorn, "Rock ‘n' Roll Lifestyle" caught on at college radio in 1995, and was followed by two more singles, "Ruby Sees All," and "Jolene" (not the Dolly Parton song).

Cake's second album, Fashion Nugget, was released in 1996 and spawned a breakout smash in the Greg Brown-penned "The Distance," which dominated alternative radio that fall, and even turned into an unlikely sporting-event anthem. Mostly on the strength of "The Distance," Fashion Nugget charted in the Top 40 and sold over a million copies. It also spun off a somewhat controversial follow-up single in a cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive"; although the band professed its sincere admiration for the song, some critics and listeners took it as a smarmy putdown, in part because of McCrea's deadpan vocals. In 1997, Greg Brown and Victor Damiani both left Cake and formed a new group, the new wave-influenced Deathray, which eventually released its debut album on Capricorn in 2000. Meanwhile, McCrea briefly considered putting Cake to rest, but brought original bassist Gabe Nelson back to replace Damiani instead. For Cake's next album, McCrea used a tag-team procession of guitarists -- five in all -- on different tracks; the result, Prolonging the Magic, was released in 1998. True to its sardonic title, it defied critical opinion to produce another big, alternative radio hit in "Never There," plus decently successful follow-ups in "Sheep Go to Heaven" and "Let Go."

Prolonging the Magic sold nearly as well as Fashion Nugget, and was also certified platinum. For the supporting tour, one of the album's guitarists, Xan McCurdy, officially joined Cake full-time. In the spring of 2000, the band signed a new deal with Columbia, and debuted in 2001 with their fourth overall album, Comfort Eagle, which became their highest-charting yet (at number 13). The lead single, "Short Skirt/Long Jacket," was a hit on alternative radio, and even earned some MTV airplay -- no longer an easy task for any artist -- with a video that featured reactions to the song by randomly selected people on the street. Following the completion of the album, drummer Todd Roper left the group to spend more time with his children, and was replaced on the supporting tour by Pete McNeal. Pressure Chief appeared in 2004. Redefining the meaning of independent -- the band was by then recording in a studio powered entirely by solar energy, and free of the corporate involvement of even so much as a utility bill -- released Showroom of Compassion some six years later in 2011. ~ Steve Huey & Steve Leggett, Rovi

Total plays

1.1 billion
Updated on 2024-12-11

Monthly listeners

3,211,941

Followers

1,218,584

Top Cities

  1. United States
    53,688 listeners
  2. Australia
    51,794 listeners
  3. United States
    44,301 listeners
  4. Australia
    46,258 listeners
  5. United States
    46,355 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
The Distance
The Distance
243,557,899 2:60 1996-09-16
Short Skirt / Long Jacket
Short Skirt / Long Jacket
142,328,549 3:24 2001-07-24
I Will Survive
I Will Survive
100,425,255 5:10 1996-09-16
Never There
Never There
91,466,395 2:44 1998-02-05
Love You Madly
Love You Madly
42,401,662 3:58 2001-07-24
War Pigs
War Pigs
32,248,385 3:54 2007-11-13
Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
31,471,212 4:01 1996-09-16
Comfort Eagle
Comfort Eagle
29,483,027 3:40 2001-07-24
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps
21,606,561 2:23 1996-09-16
Sheep Go To Heaven
Sheep Go To Heaven
18,414,275 3:48 1998-02-05
Let Me Go
Let Me Go
18,148,716 3:30 1998-02-05
Thrills
Thrills
14,619,253 2:59 2007-11-13
Shadow Stabbing
Shadow Stabbing
14,258,283 3:07 2001-07-24
Nugget
Nugget
13,790,409 3:58 1996-09-16
Stickshifts and Safetybelts
Stickshifts and Safetybelts
11,703,276 2:09 1996-09-16
Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle
Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle
11,118,288 4:14 1994-01-01
Mexico
Mexico
11,088,441 3:26 1998-02-05
Friend Is a Four Letter Word
Friend Is a Four Letter Word
10,675,463 3:22 1996-09-16
Mahna, Mahna
Mahna, Mahna
9,816,142 2:54 2007-11-13
Wheels
Wheels
9,535,935 3:18 2004-10-05
Satan Is My Motor
Satan Is My Motor
9,414,839 3:12 1998-02-05
The Guitar Man
The Guitar Man
9,353,938 3:53 2004-10-05
Long Line of Cars
Long Line of Cars
8,613,766 3:24 2001-07-24
Commissioning a Symphony In C
Commissioning a Symphony In C
8,603,248 2:59 2001-07-24
Long Time
Long Time
7,673,534 4:36 2011-01-01
Jolene
Jolene
7,226,113 5:19 1994-01-01
Italian Leather Sofa
Italian Leather Sofa
6,838,940 5:51 1996-09-16
Strangers In The Night
Strangers In The Night
6,821,685 2:52 2007-11-13
Hem Of Your Garment
Hem Of Your Garment
6,506,218 3:36 1998-02-05
Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town
Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town
6,350,053 2:56 2007-11-13
No Phone
No Phone
6,263,273 3:53 2004-08-24
Daria
Daria
6,085,401 3:44 1996-09-16
Opera Singer
Opera Singer
5,799,648 4:06 2001-07-24
It's Coming Down
It's Coming Down
5,506,997 3:44 1996-09-16
Meanwhile, Rick James...
Meanwhile, Rick James...
5,291,267 3:57 2001-07-24
Open Book
Open Book
5,282,250 3:45 1996-09-16
Never, Never Gonna Give You Up
Never, Never Gonna Give You Up
4,986,734 3:50 2007-11-13
Race Car Ya-Yas
Race Car Ya-Yas
4,562,024 1:21 1996-09-16
Arco Arena - Instrumental
Arco Arena - Instrumental
4,465,016 1:31 2001-07-24
Sick Of You
Sick Of You
4,453,289 3:13 2010-10-05
She'll Come Back to Me
She'll Come Back to Me
4,214,358 2:24 1996-09-16
Palm of Your Hand
Palm of Your Hand
4,166,762 2:57 2004-10-05
Sad Songs and Waltzes
Sad Songs and Waltzes
4,123,304 3:16 1996-09-16
Guitar
Guitar
3,901,736 3:41 1998-02-05
Comanche
Comanche
3,870,108 2:09 1994-01-01
Take It All Away
Take It All Away
3,821,404 3:58 2004-10-05
You Turn The Screws
You Turn The Screws
3,599,591 4:01 1998-02-05
Pretty Pink Ribbon
Pretty Pink Ribbon
3,501,934 3:08 2001-07-24
Mustache Man (Wasted)
Mustache Man (Wasted)
3,478,197 4:04 2011-01-01
Short Skirt, Long Jacket
Short Skirt, Long Jacket
3,378,260 3:17 2007-11-13
Ruby Sees All
Ruby Sees All
3,284,165 3:00 1994-01-01
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide
3,279,708 3:10 2004-10-05
Walk On By
Walk On By
3,238,581 3:46 1998-02-05
Sinking Ship
Sinking Ship
3,156,758 4:24 2018-10-26
End of the Movie
End of the Movie
3,043,897 1:50 2004-10-05
World of Two
World of Two
2,943,709 3:40 2001-07-24
Mr. Mastodon Farm
Mr. Mastodon Farm
2,894,248 5:28 1994-01-01
When You Sleep
When You Sleep
2,742,402 3:58 1998-02-05
Dime
Dime
2,578,678 3:37 2004-10-05
Alpha Beta Parking Lot
Alpha Beta Parking Lot
2,254,341 3:30 1998-02-05
Cool Blue Reason
Cool Blue Reason
2,163,747 3:28 1998-02-05
Where Would I Be?
Where Would I Be?
2,139,843 3:53 1998-02-05
I Bombed Korea
I Bombed Korea
2,126,001 2:19 1994-01-01
She'll Hang the Baskets
She'll Hang the Baskets
1,900,562 2:42 2004-10-05
Excuse Me, I Think I've Got A Heartache
Excuse Me, I Think I've Got A Heartache
1,867,355 2:22 2007-11-13
Up So Close
Up So Close
1,851,584 3:14 1994-01-01
Tougher Than It Is
Tougher Than It Is
1,835,322 3:00 2004-10-05
Waiting
Waiting
1,813,545 3:56 2004-10-05
Federal Funding
Federal Funding
1,768,671 3:50 2011-01-01
Bound Away
Bound Away
1,710,474 3:25 2011-01-01
Easy To Crash
Easy To Crash
1,709,070 4:08 2011-01-01
Conroy
Conroy
1,682,435 3:01 2007-11-13
It's Coming Down
It's Coming Down
1,548,552 4:12 2007-11-13
Multiply The Heartaches
Multiply The Heartaches
1,387,688 2:48 2007-11-13
What's Now Is Now
What's Now Is Now
1,317,116 3:37 2011-01-01
Pentagram
Pentagram
1,310,744 2:20 1994-01-01
Haze of Love
Haze of Love
1,243,922 3:08 1994-01-01
Haze Of Love
Haze Of Love
1,243,922 3:08 1997-07-21
You Part the Waters
You Part the Waters
1,234,896 2:50 1994-01-01
You Part The Waters
You Part The Waters
1,234,896 2:50 1997-07-21
Ain't No Good
Ain't No Good
1,218,590 2:41 1994-01-01
Is This Love?
Is This Love?
1,140,203 3:20 1994-01-01
Got To Move
Got To Move
1,057,509 3:40 2011-01-01
Jesus Wrote a Blank Check
Jesus Wrote a Blank Check
1,022,067 3:10 1994-01-01
Jesus Wrote A Blank Check
Jesus Wrote A Blank Check
1,022,067 3:10 1997-07-21
Teenage Pregnancy
Teenage Pregnancy
956,776 2:41 2011-01-01
The Winter
The Winter
897,781 4:06 2011-01-01
Italian Guy
Italian Guy
601,029 3:11 2011-01-01
War Pigs - Live
War Pigs - Live
464,706 5:21 2007-11-13
Is This Love
Is This Love
344,295 4:30 2007-11-13
Wheels - Live at Sirius Satelilite Radio Studios, NYC, NY - October 2004
Wheels - Live at Sirius Satelilite Radio Studios, NYC, NY - October 2004
328,835 3:19 2005-03-03
Strangers In The Night
Strangers In The Night
323,643 2:52 2005-01-01
Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town
Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town
292,214 2:58 2005-03-03
Excuse Me (I Think I've Got A Heartache) - Live at Sirius Satelilite Radio Studios, NYC, NY - October 2004
Excuse Me (I Think I've Got A Heartache) - Live at Sirius Satelilite Radio Studios, NYC, NY - October 2004
272,576 2:22 2005-03-03
No Phone - Live at Sirius Satelilite Radio Studios, NYC, NY - October 2004
No Phone - Live at Sirius Satelilite Radio Studios, NYC, NY - October 2004
245,703 3:35 2005-03-03
Daria - Live at Sirius Satelilite Radio Studios, NYC, NY - October 2004
Daria - Live at Sirius Satelilite Radio Studios, NYC, NY - October 2004
240,690 3:44 2005-03-03
Hold You (Responsible)
Hold You (Responsible)
151,326 2:15 2024-10-18
Wheels
Wheels
76,891 3:36 2005-08-30
Diabetes
Diabetes
9,802 2:11 2021-06-25
Its so easy to hide it
Its so easy to hide it
6,803 2:38 2021-06-25
Damage
Damage
5,384 2:53 2021-06-25

New releases

Sinking Ship
Sinking Ship
2018-10-26
[Upbeat Records]
Showroom Of Compassion
Showroom Of Compassion
2011-04-22
[Upbeat Records]
Showroom Of Compassion
Showroom Of Compassion
2011-01-01
[Upbeat Records]
Sick Of You
Sick Of You
2010-10-05
[Upbeat Records]
B-Sides and Rarities
B-Sides and Rarities
2007-11-13
[Upbeat Records]
b-sides and rarities
b-sides and rarities
2007-11-13
[Upbeat Records]
Wheels EP (Live)
Wheels EP (Live)
2005-05-03
[Columbia]
Wheels EP
Wheels EP
2005-03-03
[Columbia]
No Phone
No Phone
2004-10-11
[Columbia]
Pressure Chief
Pressure Chief
2004-10-07
[Columbia]
Pressure Chief
Pressure Chief
2004-10-05
[Columbia]
No Phone
No Phone
2004-08-24
[Columbia]
Comfort Eagle
Comfort Eagle
2001-07-24
[Columbia]
Prolonging the Magic
Prolonging the Magic
1998-02-05
[Volcano]
Prolonging the Magic
Prolonging the Magic
1998-02-05
[Volcano]
Motorcade Of Generosity
Motorcade Of Generosity
1997-07-21
[The Island Def Jam Music Group]
Fashion Nugget
Fashion Nugget
1996-09-17
[Volcano]
Fashion Nugget
Fashion Nugget
1996-09-16
[Volcano/Legacy]
Motorcade of Generosity
Motorcade of Generosity
1994-01-01
[Upbeat Records]