Cake
Prolonging the Magic
Capricorn
I’ve always been a sucker for a really good quirky pop song, and nobody does ‘em better or quirkier than Cake. Prolonging the Magic picks up where 1996’s hit Fashion Nugget left off with 13 more songs of strange and irresistible beauty. This album is nothing short of addictive, with hooks that stick in your head for weeks – and believe me, you’re going to look really dumb walking around chanting “sheep go to heaven, goats go to hell,” but after hearing “Sheep Go to Heaven,” you won’t be able to help yourself. Other highlights include the beautiful twang of “Mexico,” the easy shuffle of “You Turn the Screws,” the mythological “When You Sleep,” and the haunting “Alpha Beta Parking Lot.” Little touches go a long way, like the deliciously ironic sleigh bells on “Satan is My Motor” or the “Another One Bites the Dust” bassline and false fade out on “Hem of Your Garment.” Cake have managed to live up to this album’s title; Prolonging the Magic has certainly cast a spell on me. Capricorn Records, 2205 State Street, Nashville, TN 37203
