Cake

Sacramento alternative rockers Cake merge dry spoken-word delivery, minimalist funk basslines, and the sharp countermelody of a trumpet. Frontman John McCrea steers each track with cynical, observant poetry that skewers modern culture. Rather than chasing loud grunge trends of the nineties, they created their own a quirky, instantly recognisable groove.

Built around Vince DiFiore’s signature brass accents and a fondness for the percussive vibraslap, their sound strips rock music down to its leanest components. Tracks like "The Distance" and "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" balance wry irony with infectious, danceable rhythms. They independently handle their own production, maintaining complete control over their unpretentious catalogue.