''Dreamcake'' is the first album by the
Halifax,
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...
, band
Jale.
[ It was released in 1994 on Sub Pop Records.
The only Jale album with the singer-songwriter-drummer Alyson McLeod, the songs on ''Dreamcake'' are considered edgier and more emotional than those of Jale's later work.
The closing track, "Promise", written by Jennifer Pierce and Patrick Pentland of Sloan, and sung by Pierce, was released as a single.
]
Critical reception
The ''Chicago Reader
The ''Chicago Reader'', or ''Reader'' (stylized as ЯEADER), is an American alternative newspaper in Chicago, Illinois, noted for its literary style of journalism and coverage of the arts, particularly film and theater. The ''Reader'' has been ...
'' wrote that the album "displays a precocious craft that lifts alewell above one-trick-pony status." ''Exclaim!
''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly ''Exclaim!'' print magazine publishes seven ...
'' called ''Dreamcake'' one of the ten best Canadian-made Sub Pop records, writing that "hypnotic Halifax pop swirls between the speakers on 'Again,' while 'Mend' threads together elements of jangling twee and paisley-print psychedelia." The ''Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...
'' wrote that "with a bit less aggression than Hole and less cutesy-ness than Shonen Knife, aleincorporate just enough guitar noise to counterbalance all those delightful pop hooks."
''Trouser Press
''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who, Dave Schulps, and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference ...
'' wrote: "A diverse collection of contemporary electric indie-pop styles (some audibly influenced by Sloan) from a palette of appealing melodies, gentle harmony singing and buzzing guitar power, the casual-sounding record articulates the longings and frustrations of mindful young women who know when to draw the line and walk away from a bad scene."
Track listing
All tracks by Jale
# "Not Happy" – 2:54
# "Nebulous" – 2:53
# "3 Days" – 3:26
# "To Be Your Friend" – 2:30
# "Again" – 3:21
# "River" – 3:28
# "I'm Sorry" – 2:15
# "Mend" – 2:10
# "The Unseen Guest" – 2:29
# "Love Letter" – 3:21
# "Emma" – 2:41
# "Promise (Jimmybeane Majestic Version)" – 4:34
Personnel
*Jennifer Pierce – guitar
*Alyson MacLeod – drums
*Laura Stein – bass guitar
*Eve Hartling – guitar
References
{{Authority control
Sub Pop albums
Jale albums
1994 albums
albums produced by Brad Wood