After the breakout 1996 hit “The Distance,” Cake was recognizable enough for Weird Al to parody its musical style (in a song called “Close But No Cigar”), and that style hasn’t changed much since. Cake touted a new direction for Showroom Of Compassion—its first album in seven years—but it isn’t a huge departure from what Cake boss John McCrea and company have done before. “Oh no” and “all right” litter the background, there’s plenty of staccato singing and references to cars—every hallmark is here. But as with your favorite dessert, there’s nothing wrong with another helping.
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