Let's take a trip to the mid-'90s, when music was ... good?

Well, compared to now, I wish the same bands that were popular then were still popular now, especially when you consider that John McCrea and the guys in Cake are still delivering the same kind of quality tunes that flourished back then.

The band got its big break in 1996 with the release of its second album, Fashion Nugget. This album spawned the hits "The Distance" and "I Will Survive," a slightly twisted funked-up version of Gloria Gaynor's 1979 hit.

Despite gaining most of its popularity from a cover song, Cake has consistently released solid albums throughout its 10-year career.

The band has just realeased another great one with Pressure Chief -- its fifth album.

On "Wheels" and "No Phone," the album's first single and songwriter McCrea's lash out at technology, Cake dishes out its signature hip-hop/folk/pop sound that strangely appeals to people who aren't necessarily fans of any of those genres.

The high points of this record are "Dime," about the life of -- you guessed it -- a dime, and "End of the Movie," a stripped-down folk tune, which is probably the very best song on the album despite the length being a little over a minute long.

Chief's main surprise is a cover of Bread's "The Guitar Man."

Let me repeat that again, Cake is covering Bread.

Now in most instances, cake beats bread every time.

Cake is sweeter and has lots of icing on top. Cake does a decent job, but every diet needs bread.

-- by Brandon Lint