The Sea And The Cake: Car Alarm

The Sea And The Cake
Car Alarm
Thrill Jockey Records [2008]









Fire Note Says: Car Alarm ranks up there with the bands best!

Album Review:
The Sea And Cake is one of Chicago's most seasoned indie bands and on their eighth record Car Alarm they sound like it. What is most surprising about Car Alarm is that it follows quickly after last years Everybody [2007] and getting another set of tunes from the talented combination of Sam Prekop and Archer Prewitt just seems like a gift.

You might wonder considering the 3 month recording time that Car Alarm feels pieced together and is chalked full of afterthoughts but the album is actually quite the opposite because it is one of the strongest albums The Sea And Cake have released in the last ten years. It is a true testament that bands need to strike when the creative juices are flowing and not follow an industry standard or typical recording routine because you may miss the target.

The songs on Car Alarm are quietly catchy with smooth and calm vocal deliveries complemented by the intricate instrumentation that a listener can immediately identify with. It is this "warm" feeling you get as the album unfolds that shines a light on the high quality of indie band The Sea And Cake really are and for as long as they have been releasing solid records, the group just seems to get finer with age!

Key Tracks: "New Schools", "A Fuller Moon", "Car Alarm"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Calexico 
Department Of Eagles
Ra Ra Riot

Official Sea And The Cake Website
The Sea And The Cake MySpace
The Sea And The Cake Info [Allmusic]
Thrill Jockey Records

-Reviewed by Robyn Gatsby