Customer Reviews

Destination Failure

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Smoking Popes are a band I literally hunted down for about three years. I had heard their song "Need You Around" from the album "Born to Quit" and fell in love, but always caught the first half, or second half, and never heard the DJ announce the bands name before the song lost its pace. Due to a great deal of time I spent listening to music in used CD stores, I eventually heard the song again and almost died--the rest of the album matched it perfectly. Destination Failure is their third release and almost but not quite tops "Born to Quit" in my mind. A little more commercial and marketed better, the album was a bigger success and got more exposure as they toured. Still, I give it five stars. Who could resist Caterer's classic lounge singer style with guitars backing him that make you want to rock? The band picks from Weezer somewhat, with ultra-slow lyrics and hyperactive guitar lines with plenty of bass. If you haven't listened to Smoking Popes before, prepare yourself, because you may not know whether you're supposed to feel aggresive, or depressed, or giddy, but you'll be sure to appreciate their unique style and a mood all their own.

While other pop-punk bands (i.e. Blink 182, Sum 41, and countless others whose names I forget, but likely end with numbers) seem to get stuck in a rut trying hard to sound like a pop punk band, the Popes simply take the aesthetic of pop-punk and play what they want to play. The chord progressions contain more than 4 chords a song, the instrumentation isn't always bashing you in the face, and the singer doesn't sound like some whiney Joey Ramone or Johnny Rotten sound-alike. Most of all, their songs are interesting and fun, but not just for the sake of being interesting and fun. They're just good songs. (Not to mention "Pure Imagination" is possibly the best cover I've ever heard)

Let's hear it for the Smoking Popes.

There are few albums I can just pop into my cd player and listen to straight through, let alone be patient enough to listen to them for that long. "Destination Failure" is one of them. Having only two Smoking Popes cds, this is my favorite among the two. It blends good light-hearted rock, catchy lyrics, and awesome vocals together to come up with a treat that would taste like a dark chocolate Ghirardelli bar times ten (coming from a chocolate lover, that is VERY good). The best song on the album, "No More Smiles," is a remorseful tune about the heartbreak of love. It passes the test of being a true-to-life song. "I Know That You Love Me," which is equally good and catchy, is actually, as I once heard Josh mention in an interview, a song about faith and having a relationship with God. The greatest thing about this song is you could interperet it that way--or you could just pass it off as another love song, which still makes it equally fun. "Let's Hear It For Love" and "Pure Imagination" (a great rendition of the "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" song) are above par, as is "Megan" and "Capital Cristine". It's a shame that this wonderous band had to break up. They will definitely be missed in Chicago by their adoring fans, and in other parts of the US (maybe even the world. Smoke on, Popes!

*I actually knew Josh's wife and had the pleasure of meeting Josh one time at a party. He was, overall, a very cool guy and I find it very saddening that their music is the only memory they left behind for us.

Anybody who likes punk or pop and music with good meaningful lyrics should get the Smoking Popes. I've seen them live several times and they simply rock. If you listen to "They Lied" it is all about the singer's dissatisfaction with the record company and probably gives some insights as to why they weren't promoted/didn't become popular in the mainstream. They seemed prime to become popular after some mild success with "Need you Around" on the Clueless soundtrack, and the fine movie Angus featured two of their songs. Maybe the kiss of death was when Morrissey gloated over Destination Failure and invited them to open for him on his Fall '97 tour. At the one I was at in New York City and probably others they didn't receive a good reception from the Morrissey fans. It's too bad. and it probably led to their breakup. Still, this cd and all of their's rule.

A great CD from a band that I beleive doesn't get enough credit. Great lyrics, and some pretty good licks that remind you of their not so poppy past. This album would get five stars if 1991-1998 and the Live album didn't exist. This is a good primer course in the Popes, you might say, even though it came at the end of their career.

Their best CD was "Born to Quit" which, unfortunately, is no longer available. Maybe you'll be lucky like me and find it at a used CD store. Anyway, this CD has some great songs on it ("Paul" may be their best song ever), but overall, it is a notch or two below "Born to Quit".

These guys were really cool but, alas, they have broken up.

The Smoking Popes blend heatfelt lyrics and melodies of love, love, oh yeah and more love into 3 minute pop songs that will make you want to cry. Destination Failure is an incredible cd and is one of the best cds of the 90's yet it still is not one of the Popes finest. This cd is highly recommend to any music fan and if you like this cd be sure to check out "Get Fired" and "Born To Quit." Please do your self a favor and listen to the Smoking Popes.

Destination Failure is anything but. It's a great cd to have in your collection. Wonderful to listen to in the car. I enjoyed this album very much. One reason being it doesn't sound like a lot of other bands out there. Something new and fun!

...it's been three years and this is still my favorite cd. It has something for every mood, the top break up song ever written (in "Pretty Pathetic"), and it just rocks. If you don't love it at first listen, let it grow on you. I miss the Popes!

Clearly the Popes' strongest solo effort. Almost twice the running time length of "Born To Quit", as well as twice the effort, "Destination Failure" captures the Popes' effervescent sound at its best. Josh Caterer's songwriting talent outshines his previous work here, although desires for classics like "Days Just Wave Goodbye" could arise, only to be satisfied by melodious "Megan" and the finality of "Follow The Sound". An incredible LP.