Philadelphia Weekly

MUSIC

On The Record

Album reviews in 30 seconds or less.

By Bill Chenevert

Add Comment | Comments: 1 | Posted Jan. 12, 2011

Cake

Showroom of Compassion

(Upbeat)

Sounds Like: The Californians’ first in about seven years is a solid installment of their special blend of countrified folk funk with plenty o’ horns and some piano.

Free Association: There’s no “The Distance” here, nor a “Short Skirt/Long Jacket”.

For Fans Of: Nada Surf, DeVotchka, white funk, aging geeks.

Ethan Gold

Songs From a Toxic Apartment

(Gold)

Sounds Like: One fifth of the Honey Brothers, which included Adrian Grenier and his gay twin brother Ari Gold, goes solo with a moody, tepid indie rock record.

Free Association: Hard to imagine there’s a ravenous audience for this ish.

For Fans Of: Successful gay brothers outshining their straight twin.

Napostrophet (N’T)

The Color Code

(Self-released)

Sounds Like: Scott French, the drummer and synther for the Swimmers, goes solo with an energetic set of noisy, electrified retro-flavored glam rock and it’s a keeper.

Free Association: He’s the saloon piano player for 2050, where we worship the 1980s.

For Fans Of: Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, New Order, Philly DIYers.

Tony Cook