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Pressure Chief
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Pressure Chief Image
Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

  • Summary: The Northern California band's fifth album in ten years includes a cover of Bread's "Guitar Man."

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. Stylus Magazine
    70
    While traditional rock fans may have a difficult time swallowing Cake’s meticulously produced, pop-obsessed, genre-bending concoction, fans of Moby, Beck and The Flaming Lips might make for easy converts.
  2. Tiny Mix Tapes
    70
    Pressure Chief won't change your mind on the band, although I will call it their weakest effort simply because there's no memorable single like "The Distance," "Short Skirt/Long Jacket," or even "Never There."
  3. AllMusic
    70
    Smart, subtly subversive, and always catchy - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
  4. cokemachineglow
    56
    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.
  5. Rolling Stone
    40
    Only a handful of tracks -- including "No Phone" and the surprisingly sweet "She'll Hang the Baskets" -- push pleasure buttons like they ought to.
  6. Blender
    40
    The hipster thrills are fading. [Oct 2004, p.116]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Mojo
    20
    The perkiness and quirkiness are paper-thin. [Dec 2004, p.112]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 8 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. 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!
  2. 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.
  4. bhsmall
    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,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.… Expand
  5. JoeB
    Oct 24, 2004
    9
    Obviously no one here has a good ear for a decent soundtrack.
  6. NolanLundgaard
    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    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
  7. 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 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.… Expand
  8. [Anonymous]
    Aug 6, 2006
    0
    What happened!?!? I can't believe this travesty was made by Cake!

See all 16 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

74
#74 Most Shared Album of 2004