Album Reviews

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of "Born To Quit," the Smoking Popes invited 50 fans to a recording studio in Bloomington, IL, played the entire album and recorded the whole thing. Why? Because they felt like it, most likely.

And while it may feel like just something fun to do, these recordings are actually more than just a rehash of old songs. With 30 years of experience under their belt, Smoking Popes manage to breathe new life into fan favorites such as ‘Midnight Moon’, ‘Rubella’ and of course, ‘Need You Around’. It sounds just as vibrant as it did back in the day, but it all feels a little looser here. Small point of criticism? The guest vocals by Sincere Engineer’s Deanna Belos on‘Gotta Know Right Now’ don’t really add much. Then again, I’ve never been the biggest Sincere Engineer fan out there.

Other than that, this is a guaranteed good time and all the proof you need that the band’s mix of buzzsaw guitars and caffeine-fueled rhythms with crooner vocals and sweet melodies stands the test of time with ease.