• Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Oct 5, 2004
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 31
  2. Negative: 2 out of 31

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  1. AlbertoM
    Nov 25, 2005
    8
    At last!, I thought they were dead creatively. Soberb album and change of course that brings them back on top of the indie scene, with their peculiar sound. More basses, more melody, more rhythm...more unique sound, pure Cake not seen since I will Survive to me. Sublime, record of the year in its genre.
  2. JoeB
    Oct 24, 2004
    9
    Obviously no one here has a good ear for a decent soundtrack.
  3. TonyF.
    Feb 2, 2005
    9
    Awesome album..tones of catchy beats.. must be the best CAKE album..i highly recomend!
  4. XalphR
    Nov 1, 2004
    10
    This album is amazing. I was actually worried that this was going to be a rehash album, with songs that sounded identical to "Going to Distance" or "Short Skirt / Long Jacket", but thankfully, that it not the case. (Don't get me wrong -- I enjoy the earlier songs, but they have already been done. It's over.) I can't believe the low scores that the professional music This album is amazing. I was actually worried that this was going to be a rehash album, with songs that sounded identical to "Going to Distance" or "Short Skirt / Long Jacket", but thankfully, that it not the case. (Don't get me wrong -- I enjoy the earlier songs, but they have already been done. It's over.) I can't believe the low scores that the professional music reviewers have given this album. It makes me wonder if they were listening to the same one as me. "No Phone" obviously gets a lot of play, and it is a good song. My favorite has to be "Take It All Away". The lyrics are amazing, with this extended metaphor comparing a broken relationship with a car wreck at his feet. This is easily the best new album that I have heard all year. I heartily recommend it. Expand
  5. ChrisS
    Oct 12, 2004
    7
    While not their best effort, this long awaited fifth album will please the truest of CAKE fans. I just cant wait for the next!
  6. PaulA
    Jan 5, 2005
    7
    Like its four predecessors, this CD is something that needs to be absorbed in its entirety, and it takes a couple of listens all the way through to appreciate. Once the taste is acquired, though, it's a worthy successor to its forebears. As always, I take pleasure in the wit of the lyrics (the commentary on Americans in "Wheels" cracks me up every time). For the first time, there is Like its four predecessors, this CD is something that needs to be absorbed in its entirety, and it takes a couple of listens all the way through to appreciate. Once the taste is acquired, though, it's a worthy successor to its forebears. As always, I take pleasure in the wit of the lyrics (the commentary on Americans in "Wheels" cracks me up every time). For the first time, there is an absolutely beautiful song in "Palm of Your Hand." I'm addicted to that and the crank-it-up finale, "Tougher Than It Is." I agree that the lyrics are a bit cumbersome at times, but that's Cake. I just appreciate creative music that doesn't insult my intelligence. Still, nothing beats Motorcade of Generosity. Expand
  7. KenN
    Feb 10, 2005
    10
    Best new music I've heard in many years, unfortunately, it's the first Cake album I've heard as well, but I can fix that.
  8. BrandonR
    May 2, 2005
    10
    Cake's done it again, and it's no surprise. These guys don't mess around; McCrea is one of the best pure songwriters today, gathering inspiration from numerous musical genres past and present while translating them into something unmistakeably "Cake," and the instrumentation/layering simply cannot be beat. Critics who write Cake off as a novelty have forsaken the pure joy Cake's done it again, and it's no surprise. These guys don't mess around; McCrea is one of the best pure songwriters today, gathering inspiration from numerous musical genres past and present while translating them into something unmistakeably "Cake," and the instrumentation/layering simply cannot be beat. Critics who write Cake off as a novelty have forsaken the pure joy of music. Interestingly, and although still stellar, "No Phone" is probably the second weakest track. Expand
  9. LukeH
    Nov 25, 2004
    10
    This is an awesome release by Cake - The top song being "No Phone"!! No Phone was a huge hit at the Center in Vancouver!
  10. essronx
    Nov 29, 2004
    10
    best cake record ever. i think its a totally new direction for them. subtlty which will suprise you for weeks on end. lunacy in the details. listen carefully.
  11. mark
    Dec 13, 2004
    7
    this album took me a minute or two to get used to, but soon i loved it. the length is an issue. i dont like how in interviews, mcrea said something about the band not being appealing, and was putting his own band down. they are great, i dont care what anyone thinks. i blast it in my car and sing every word with all my energy.
  12. leee
    Oct 28, 2004
    9
    The only thing wrong with this cd is its length--it's too short! But other than that it'great. Once again they have managed to create music that is at the same time new and different, and old and familiar. I love how every cd has a different sound, but still is very much Cake. That's what makes a great band. The only other bands I can think of that have managed to pull it The only thing wrong with this cd is its length--it's too short! But other than that it'great. Once again they have managed to create music that is at the same time new and different, and old and familiar. I love how every cd has a different sound, but still is very much Cake. That's what makes a great band. The only other bands I can think of that have managed to pull it off are Smashing Pumpkins and Radiohead. Expand
  13. Apr 7, 2020
    7
    Pressure Chief by CAKE: 6.69

    Wheels: 1 :) No Phone: 0.5 Take It All Away: 0.75 Dime: 1 Carbon Monoxide: 0.75 The Guitar Man: 0.75 Waiting: 1 She’ll Hang the Baskets: 0.75 End of the Movie: 0.75 Palm of Your Hand: 0.75 Tougher Than It Is: 1 9/11 ~ .818 -> 6.69 While not a bad album, Pressure Chief is unfortunately inferior to other CAKE albums. This is because the
    Pressure Chief by CAKE: 6.69

    Wheels: 1 :)
    No Phone: 0.5
    Take It All Away: 0.75
    Dime: 1
    Carbon Monoxide: 0.75
    The Guitar Man: 0.75
    Waiting: 1
    She’ll Hang the Baskets: 0.75
    End of the Movie: 0.75
    Palm of Your Hand: 0.75
    Tougher Than It Is: 1

    9/11 ~ .818 -> 6.69

    While not a bad album, Pressure Chief is unfortunately inferior to other CAKE albums. This is because the lyrics have lost some of their uniqueness and fun, which is what makes half of CAKE’s enjoyability. The other half is the music, and this took a different turn. Usually I don’t mind a new sound for an artist, but CAKE overuses the same electric guitar effect in a lot of their songs, though their basslines are still top notch. Though I was missing a few things that I enjoyed in previous CAKE albums, I was still relatively happy with Pressure Chief, even if it wasn’t completely up to snuff as compared to other CAKE albums. Highlights: Wheels, Dime, Waiting, and Tougher Than It Is.
    Expand
  14. Sep 8, 2020
    10
    Can't go wrong with this little gem. They were able to take their geek rock sound and enhance it with an intriguing mix of psychedelic pop, new wave, post-punk, and folktronica. Definitely recommend.
Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. Smart, subtly subversive, and always catchy - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
  2. Although Pressure Chief isn't a bad album, several of its songs come off like b-side compliation fodder rather than a batch of fresh material.
  3. Only a handful of tracks -- including "No Phone" and the surprisingly sweet "She'll Hang the Baskets" -- push pleasure buttons like they ought to.