Energetic, Humorous, Classic

The Spin Doctors‘ latest studio album, Face Full of Cake, was released on Capitol Records on April 11, 2025, after a 12-year gap from their last album, If the River Was Whiskey. 

The opening track, “Boombox,” features drummer Aaron Comess and new bassist Jack Daley, whose addition in 2021 brings a fresh change to the lineup. Daley’s influence is significant in songs like “Still A Gorilla,” the album’s lead single, which pairs distorted guitar riffs with a storyline about embracing primal instincts. 

According to Spin Doctors Archive, “Still A Gorilla” showcases a noisier, heavier sound while maintaining the band’s signature sense of humor

A special moment comes with “Rock ‘N’ Roll Heaven,” with soaring guitar solos from Eric Schenkman and lyrics that distinguish between reverent and irreverent.  The chorus, “where the beer stays cold, and the amps go to eleven,”  captures the album’s core ideas of music as both sanctuary and celebration. 

This track sets the tone for the album’s anthemic sound and was the first recorded during the sessions (via Spill Magazine) 

This specific start sets up the whole album, leading many audiences on a fun, enjoyable, and sometimes sarcastic journey.

Face Full of Cake isn’t afraid to get weird. Many listeners will find many of the lines within the album humorous and fun. “The Buddha on the Lawn” blends elements from blues with spoken-word verses that add to the fun-loving album and energy. At the same time “I Liked You Better When Your Butt Was Big” revives the band’s taste for cheeky commentary, which touch modern sensibilities. The band’s humor and satire throughout the album should be directly evident to most audiences. From song to song, the humorous lines add to the album’s energy and charisma, entertaining many listeners, bringing in old and new fans. 

What’s most impressive about the album is its cohesion. Despite the long gap since their last release, the Spin Doctors sound comfortable in their current sound. The production, handled at Daley’s studio in Asbury Park, N.J., keeps things crisp and new without losing what gives the band its character and flow. 

“She Don’t Love Me Anymore (Anymore),” explores a relationship unraveling, with Barron’s voice having a hint of vulnerability that contrasts the band’s usual energy. The minimalist production allows the lyrics to take center stage, offering a break, a reflective pause in the middle of an otherwise upbeat and humorous album.

Not every track fits perfectly, “Double Parked” and “ When You Got Turmoil In Your Mind​” feel off compared to the other compositions, as the songs flow even with the consideration that it can be a break during the album. Still, Face Full of Cake succeeds in doing what few comeback albums manage to do: honoring a legacy while refusing to live in the past and pushing to more modern sounds and heights. Listeners will find themselves on an enjoyable journey throughout the album, unable to stop relistening to many of the tracks just because of how well composed and produced they are. 

According to The Spin Doctors, they held a special show at Brooklyn Bowl in New York on April 12, 2025. They are scheduled to perform at festivals and venues throughout the year, including Boston Calling and the Egyptian Theatre in Park City. Spin Doctors are clearly enjoying their return, and audiences should look out for them and their future events. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to their fun and humorous energy, this album proves they’ve got it after 12 years.