{{Infobox album | name = Dreamcake | type = Studio | artist = Jale | cover = Dreamcake.jpg | alt = | released = 12 July 1994 | recorded = January 10–16, 1994<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20051120020016/http://yupislyr.com/sloannet/msg00/msg00202.html</ref> | venue = | studio = East River, NS (Brennan McGuire's Studio) | genre = alternative rock | length = 36:07 | label = Sub Pop<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.subpop.com/releases/jale/dreamcake|title=Dreamcake|website=Sub Pop Records}}</ref> | producer = Brad Wood<ref name="Can">{{cite book |last1=Barclay |first1=Michael |title=Have Not Been the Same: The Canrock Renaissance, 1985-1995 |date=2001 |publisher=ECW Press |pages=510–513}}</ref> | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = So Wound | next_year = 1996 }} '''''Dreamcake''''' is the first album by the Halifax, Nova Scotia, band Jale.<ref name=Can/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/featured/1995-sub-pop-feature-on-the-flippity-flop/|title=Sub Pop 1995 Feature: Swingin' on the Flippity Flop with Sub Pop|date=April 2, 2018|website=Spin}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecoast.ca/TheScene/archives/2017/08/23/listen-to-this-jale-again-komoda-mix|title=Listen to this: Jale, "Again" (Komoda mix)|first=Stephanie|last=Johns|website=The Coast Halifax}}</ref> It was released in 1994 on Sub Pop Records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1994/11/28/halifax-grunge|title=HALIFAX GRUNGE | Maclean's | NOVEMBER 28, 1994|website=Maclean's | The Complete Archive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1994-11-04-9411030386-story.html|title=BANDS TAKE A SINGULAR ATTITUDE|first=Teresa, Dallas Morning|last=Gubbins|website=OrlandoSentinel.com}}</ref>
The only Jale album with the singer-songwriter-drummer Alyson McLeod, the songs on ''Dreamcake'' are considered{{by whom|date=March 2018}} 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== {{Album ratings |rev1 = AllMusic |rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |first=Gina |last=Boldman |title=Review: ''Dreamcake'' |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r203725|pure_url=yes}} |publisher=|website=AllMusic |accessdate=19 August 2009}}</ref> |rev2 = ''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'' |rev2score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=4 |page=559}}</ref> }} The ''Chicago Reader'' wrote that the album "displays a precocious craft that lifts [Jale] well above one-trick-pony status."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/jale/Content?oid=885668|title=Jale|first=Rick|last=Reger|website=Chicago Reader}}</ref> ''Exclaim!'' 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."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/sub_pops_top_10_canadian-made_albums|title=Sub Pop's Top 10 Canadian-made Albums|website=exclaim.ca}}</ref> The ''Chicago Tribune'' wrote that "with a bit less aggression than Hole and less cutesy-ness than Shonen Knife, [Jale] incorporate just enough guitar noise to counterbalance all those delightful pop hooks."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-07-22-9407220065-story.html|title=Other concerts of note: Jale, Tuesday at Lounge Ax|first=Dan|last=Kening|website=chicagotribune.com}}</ref>
''Trouser Press'' 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."<ref>{{cite web |title=Jale |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/jale/ |website=Trouser Press |accessdate=26 July 2020}}</ref>
==Track listing== <small>All tracks by Jale</small> # "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 == {{Reflist}}
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Category:Sub Pop albums Category:Jale albums Category:1994 albums Category:albums produced by Brad Wood