Fresh and Pink: the Sea and Cake's Car Alarm

It is always nice to discover an act that appears to be an endless well of compelling music. In the past couple years or so,  The Sea and Cake has become one of my favorites. They've been around for 20 years or more, and unlike most bands who started in the 90's, S&C's sound has remained more or less intact. True they have come to embrace electronic music, which was not a part of their early releases, but the integration of these elements into the Sea and Cake's groove is so natural and seamless that it is hardly unwanted.

The Sea and Cake can do no wrong. This statement is only true because they have done no wrong so far. It is also true that I have yet to hear all that has been released by the band. Bear with me here. I digest music fairly slowly, giving each album that I like time to get in my head. If you do the same, the Sea and Cake are a band for you. I started with their first album, which is a funny place to start with the Sea and Cake. Their first album is an almost impossibly clean recording, but more importantly the album itself plays like something put together by a band who has had time to gel. This experience is a bit like the first time you hear Boston's self-titled first release. However, unlike Boston's followup albums, the Sea and Cake continue to make music that doesn't need to live up to anything.

It is hard to explain, but the Sea and Cake thrive on being subtle. I can't really lump them in with any other band, but if I had to I might throw them in for people who express an affinity for Steely Dan. The music is different, but the experience of immersing oneself into the band's wealth of great music is similar in its rewards. Terms like "prime cuts" or "filler" are not applicable here. The band seems to resist criticism, for better or worse, which is strange. Almost as if paid music critics get bored with a band that has seemed to soldier on through the decades being completely and totally consistent in their quality.

Musically, the Sea and Cake are complex yet simple. This doesn't end up sounding like a contradiction, as their music is mostly accessible and welcoming. It is not always mellow or conventionally melodic, but the band lends you a very comforting feeling of confidence in their sounds while you listen. The blend of simple beauty and complex beauty in their music, along with the prevailing breeziness is a blessing. The vocals (Sam Prekop) are a sort of poetry that doesn't require the listener to agree with this or that. There are amusing twists and turns in the phrases, but it is kept light; this maze is a short one. Prekop's voice is easy on the ears.

I picked up Car Alarm a few days ago. While I don't usually purchase new vinyl, be it a new release or a reissue, the Sea and Cake are suited well to vinyl. The disc came with a free MP3 download of the album, like all records should. I don't know if I'm going to get into the habit of reviewing albums, so I will say only that my copy of Car Alarm is one of my new favorite things. I did get one of the 500 second issue pink vinyl pressings, which only adds to the feeling that I hold something special. I will probably start buying all of my S&C stuff on vinyl. I am not opposed to CD's at all, and usually focus on used classic vinyl, but the Sea and Cake are one of the few thriving bands that I subscribe to. New vinyl seems fitting.

As music fans we want huge, "important" albums. But at the end of the day what you really want is something to listen to; something that burns half as bright but twice as long. The musical equivalent of your favorite sweat shirt. Put it on, don't put it on; life is good either way. This is the Sea and Cake.