The Sea and Cake is a pop/rock group with a pronounced jazz influence, which formed in the mid-90s in Chicago, Illinois out of the ashes of renowned local bands The Coctails and Shrimp Boat. The group's name came from a willful reinterpretation (in the wake of an accidental miscomprehension) of "The C in Cake", a song by Gastr del Sol. Along with Shrimp Boat and The Coctails, groups related to The Sea and Cake include Tortoise and Gastr del Sol. Starting with 1997's The Fawn, the group has relied on electronic sound sources, such as drum machines and synthesizers, to color its music, but has retained its distinctive post-jazz combo style. The band has shied away from releasing singles, preferring the album format. Contrary to his multi-instrumentalist role in Tortoise, John McEntire essentially plays only drums in The Sea and Cake.

Members Sam Prekop and Archer Prewitt each have released solo albums. The cover art of The Sea And Cake's releases are largely paintings by Eric Claridge and photographs by Prekop. (Postcards of some of the One Bedroom-era photos were sold on the band's 2003 tour.) Prewitt has been involved in publishing his own comic books and doing graphic design.

The band was on hiatus from 2004 to 2007, returning with Everybody. The band's most recent album, Car Alarm, was released in October 2008.

• Sam Prekop (vocals, guitar)
• Archer Prewitt (guitar, piano, vocals)
• John McEntire (percussion, drums, some synthesizer)
• Eric Claridge (bass, synthesizer)

All releases on Thrill Jockey Records unless noted.

Albums

• The Sea and Cake (1994)
• Nassau (1995)
• The Biz (1995)
• The Fawn (1997)
• Oui (2000)
• One Bedroom (2003)
• Everybody (2007)
• Car Alarm (2008)

EPs and singles

• "Glad You're Right" (b/w "Tiger Panther," "Crimson Wing", 7" single, 1995, Lissy's Records [LISS1], limited edition of 500)
• Two Gentlemen (12" EP, mainly remixes, 1997)
• "Window Lights" (b/w "Setup For Bed" (a solo piece by John McEntire), 7" single, 1999, Hefty Records [HEF013], also on Reach the Rock soundtrack, 1999)
• Glass (CD EP, 2003)

Compilations

• A Brief Historical Retrospective (CD, 1997, Japanese-only compilation of first 2 albums, plus 7" song "Glad You're Right")

• Official website
• The Sea and Cake at Allmusic
• The Sea and Cake - Video Interview: "What is really important to you?"
• Trouser Press entry
• Lazy-i Interview from February 2003
• Interview with Centerstage Chicago (June 2007)