The Sea and Cake- Car Alarm (2008)

Car Alarm was my favorite album of 2008 and since then I don't think I've gone a month without listening to it. The Sea and Cake began as an indie rock band with jazz, calypso and post-rock influences and while keeping those influences to a certain extent, have morphed into a group that writes some of the most breezy, mellow indie-pop songs I've ever heard. Car Alarm, in my opinion, is the culmination of what The Sea and Cake have been doing for the past several albums. Their music is deceptively simple. Give it less than full attention and you'll note Sam Prekop's breathy vocals, bright and delicate sounding guitar, a rhythm section that keeps your head bobbing and occasional synth and steel drum accompaniment. Listen closer and you'll notice the interplay between the two guitarists, frequently dueling acoustically and electrically, subtle synth and electronic bits and the restraint with which rhythm section plays. With so much going on both above and below the surface I'm always amazed that Car Alarm is a brilliantly executed indie-pop album and not absolute cacophony. Highly recommended, especially if you're a fan of Maritime.

I also just found out they released a new album this month. Sweet!

The Sea and Cake on last.fm


Get it here.
Gems: It's a 10/10, so, all of them.