Get Better Gear!

Premier Sponsors

TechRestore

Other World Computing

Top 5 Free Apps

Release Date: August 05, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: May 22, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: August 29, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: March 27, 2009
Release Date: August 07, 2009

iTunes New Music Releases

Release Date: September 29, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: September 20, 2009
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: August 25, 2009

Top 5 Paid Apps

Release Date: April 22, 2009
StickWars $0.99
Release Date: March 31, 2009
Genre: Games
Bloons $0.99
Release Date: April 05, 2009
Genre: Games

Discover New Music

  • 8:30

    • 10 out of 10
    • Weather Report
    • This is Weather Reports quintessential line-up captured live. Jaco Pastorious and Peter Erskine join Wayne Shorter and, of course, Joe Zawinul to create this masterpiece.
  • King James Version

    • 4 out of 10
    • Harvey Danger
    • The sophomore effort from Harvey Danger, I was really looking forward to this followup to "Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?" Unfortunately, "King James Version" failed to deliver any of the bri

  • Machine Gun Etiquette

    • 8 out of 10
    • The Damned
    • Punk rock is mostly associated with three chords and a bad attitude, but the Damned were one of the few bands of the era bent on bringing musicianship and a good sense of humor to the scene. And while
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Once More, with Feeling

    • 10 out of 10
    • Various Artists
    • Most musical episodes of TV shows frankly stink. They are usually little more than ill-conceived vehicles intended to let the stars show off what musical talent they have. Once More, With Feeling,

  • So Jealous

    • 8 out of 10
    • Tegan and Sara
    • So Jealous is the third album from these sisters, and easily the one to single out for an introduction to their music. Some people may not get on board with their vocal styles, which are slightly

Reader Specials

Visit Deals On The Web for the best deals on all consumer electronics, iPods, and more!

iTunes Music Review - Pressure Chief

  • Pressure Chief

    • 6 out of 5
    • Cake
    • Reviewed by Bryan Chaffin
    • Buy this album from Amazon.com
    • Buy this album from iTunes Music Store
    • Pressure Chief, Cake's latest album, didn't immediately grab me. In fact, it took perhaps half a dozen listens before I started truly enjoying it. Anymore, however, and I just love it.

      Pressure Chief is a product of a band that is not only maturing, but one that has grown more sophisticated. At least, that's my take on the band's increased usage of keyboards and de-emphasized guitars.

      This is not to say that Cake went all Chicago on us, but Pressure Chief is decidedly subtler in its approach than an album like Fashion Nugget. What's not missing, however, are the band's signature guitar riffs (Xan McCurdy -- "Wheels," "No Phone"), weird vocal rhythms and excellent lyrics (John McCrea -- "No Phone"), awesome harmonies and fascinating trumpet (Vince DiFiore ("Tougher Than It Is"), foundation bass-lines (Gabe Nelson ("No Phone,"), and solid drums that compliment the music without getting in the way.

      Those elements are still there, but they are somewhat softer than past offerings.

      Pressure Chief also comes with Jon McCrea's usual, socially progressive preaching -- "No Phone" derides the evils of cell phones and "Carbon Monoxide" complains about the evils of cars -- but the bulk of the album is comprised of his somehwhat different brand of a breakup song, with impressionistic lyrics that paint a remarkably vivid picture ("She'll Hang the Baskets," "Take It All Away," "End of the Movie").

      The band's customary cover is Bread's "Guitar Man." While lacking the "Man, this is how it should have been done in the first place" impact of "I Will Survive," it's still an enjoyable interpretation of a 70's mainstay.

      If we did half ratings, I would have given this album a 3.5. As it is, Pressure Chief is a solid offering from a great band, and it's well worth the time it took for me to come to love it.

     

     

Post Your Comments

  Remember Me  Forgot your password?

Not a member? Register now. You can post comments without logging in, but they'll show up as a "guest" post.

Commenting is not available in this section entry.