Needs You Around
Welcome to the first issue of Radio Unfriendly. Is this a newsletter? A blog? I dunno. Call it what you want. On this blog I will be picking a band or artist and rank my favorite albums of theirs.
This time around, I am doing Chicago-based pop punk band Smoking Popes.
First off, I want to start off with a little history of the band itself.
The Smoking Popes formed in 1990 in Chicago suburb Lake in the Hills. The band was originally called Speedstick. The name was changed in 1991 and is based on the 1984 movie The Pope of Greenwich Village. In 1991, they released the Incoulator EP on Radius Records and released another EP, The Smoking Popes Break Up, in 1992. They were discovered by Ben Weasel who had his friend Mass Giorgini to record their first LP (Get Fired). A year later, they signed with Capitol Records and got a huge push of popularity when their song “Need You Around” was included on the soundtrack for the movie Clueless. After the release of 1998s The Party’s Over the band split up. Partially because of bad experiences with the record and partially because Josh had recently become a born against Christian and felt that his faith was incompatible with the band. He formed the band Duvall in August 2001 with Popes drummer Mike Felumlee. They only released one album called Volume & Density in 2003.
The Popes reunited for a show at Chicago’s Metro in 2005. Felumlee did not join this reunion so drums were performed by Rob Kellenberger. A DVD of this reunion performance is available. After the reunion show the band decided to go at it full time again and started touring and then released Stay Down in 2008. After the release of Stay Down, The Lawrence Arms’ drummer Neil Hennessy started playing drums with them. Neil left the band in 2015 and original drummer Mike Felumlee rejoined. Ever since then, the band has consisted of its classic lineup. Except for touring but I’ll get to that later. Their most recent release was 2018s Into the Agony but as of this writing they are in the process of recording another new album.
Next, I am going to talk a little bit about my own personal history with the band.
As for me, I first heard about this band when I was visiting Chicago and walked into the Wax Trax record shop. I was rooting through their local music section and came across the Get Fired album which had just recently been released. I’m not sure what it was initially that drew me to the album. Maybe the name of the band? I dunno. Anyway I bought it and after listening to it the first time I was immediately hooked and became a fan and have been following their history ever since. I have seen the band a handful of times. The first time was in Oklahoma City at the Conservatory when they were touring for Stay Down. The second time was an all acoustic set also in Oklahoma City. Actually, I think all 3 times I’ve seen them was in Oklahoma City come to think of it. Anyway, the venue was the Speakeasy. Again. The third time was fairly recently. In fact, I’m pretty sure that it was this year. It was at 89th Street Collective. It was a great show and I think it has been my favorite performance of theirs that I’ve attended. One strange thing about it…well, maybe not strange, just different, was that Matt and Eli weren’t with them. They had a couple of other guys filling in on guitar and bass for them. Matt and Eli haven’t left the band. They just weren’t on this tour with them. I’m not sure if this is a permanent thing but at least for now, they are spending more time with their families instead of touring. I think one of them just had a baby recently so that could definitely be part of it. I’m sure that they will come back to the OKC area again and I’ll be there. Like I said earlier, they have been working on a new album. Not sure when it is supposed to be released but they have released a few singles in the last couple of years. In June 2023 they released a cover of Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” with Sincere Engineer.
In July 2023 they released a song called “Madison”.
And now, without further jibber jabber….well, that’s not true, there will certainly be more jibber jabber……hmmm….okay, and now, with further jibber jabber….my top 5 favorite Smoking Popes albums!
#5. Born to Quit
This album was released in 1994 via Johann’s Face Records. It was also re-released by Capital Records in 1995. It was recorded in 1994 at Solid Sound in Hoffman Estates, Illinois and produced by Phil Bonnet. It reached #37 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart and has been the only album of theirs to turn up on the Billboard charts. Several songs from this album were also on movie soundtracks. As I said earlier, “Need You Around” was on Clueless, “Lucky Day” was on Tommy Boy, “Mrs. You and Me” was on Angus, and “Gotta Know Right Now” was on Boys. Here is the song “Rubella” from this album.
#4. Into the Agony
This one was released in October 2018 by Asian Man Records. It was produced by the Smoking Popes themselves. It was the first album to feature the original lineup since 2003s The Party’s Over. It is their most recent release as of this writing and has some really great songs on it including “Simmer Down,” “Amanda My Love,” “Melting America,” and this one here, which was essentially a protest song against former President Trump’s stance on environmental issues.
#3. Stay Down
Stay Down was released in August 2008 by Curb Appeal Records and was recorded in 2007 and 2008 at Million Yen Studios in Chicago. The Popes produced this one themselves also. It is the only album of theirs to feature the drummer Ryan Chavez and the first album released since the band’s 2005 reunion. Some of my favorite songs from this one were the title track, “If You Don’t Care,” “Stefanie,” and this one.
#2. This Is Only a Test
Released in March 2011 by Asian Man Records, This Is Only a Test was produced by Matt Allison and the Smoking Popes. It was recorded at Atlas Studios in Chicago in 2010. Neil Hennessy played drums on this album. This one is an interesting album because it was a concept album. Something that you don’t often see in punk music. It tells the story of a young high school boy navigating the pains of adolescence. Highlights on this one include the title track, “College,” “Punk Band,” and this one.
And my favorite Smoking Popes album is….
#1. Destination Failure
Destination Failure, their third full length album, was released in August 1997 by Capital Records. It was their first album that was recorded for that label. It was recorded in 1997 at the Chicago Recording Company and Conway Studios in Hollywood, California. It was produced by Jerry Finn. It included re-recorded versions of 2 songs that came from their debut album (Get Fired). Those were “Let’s Hear It For Love” and “Can’t Find It.” It also included an incredible cover version of “Pure Imagination” which was originally sung by Gene Wilder in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Several songs from this album were covered by other artists. Bad Astronaut did a version of “Megan” and The Ataris did a version of “Pretty Pathetic.” “Pretty Pathetic” was also covered by Dashboard Confessional on the 2007 compilation album The Wire Tapes. In my opinion, the Dashboard Confessional version is better than the version done by The Ataris. Some of my favorite tunes from Destination Failure include “No More Smiles,” “Megan,” “Before I’m Gone,” and “Pretty Pathetic.” Here’s the song “No More Smiles.”
So there you have it. Those are my favorite Smoking Popes albums. For more information about the band, here are some links.
See you next time!
Also, I originally did this as a podcast. If you want, you can check that out on Apple podcasts here.