Smoking Popes Tribute
Encyclopedia
The Smoking Popes Tribute is a tribute album
to the Chicago
-based pop punk
band the Smoking Popes
. It was released March 25, 2003 by Double Zero Records
, a label founded by former Smoking Popes drummer Mike Felumlee
. Following the Smoking Popes' breakup in 1998, Double Zero had released several albums of previously-recorded Smoking Popes material including 1991–1998
, Live
, and The Party's Over
. The Smoking Popes Tribute features contributions from former members of the Smoking Popes themselves: Felumlee performs a cover
of "Don't Be Afraid", while Josh
and Eli Caterer perform "Do Something" with their post-Smoking Popes act Duvall
. Other notable contributors to the album include Bad Astronaut
, Grade
, and The Ataris
.
Critic Tim Sendra of Allmusic remarked that a Smoking Popes tribute album seemed incredulous at first, since the band released only a few albums and did not have much mainstream success, but noted that "the Smoking Popes were influential in a small way. Along with Weezer
, they were one of the few post-Dookie
bands to add more pop than punk to their mix of punk-pop and became a source of inspiration to many of the melodically inclined emo bands." He also noted the oddity of the former Smoking Popes appearing on their own tribute album, saying "Most bands or artists being tributed tend to steer clear of the process — it seems wrong somehow to be paying tribute to yourself. No matter, the record is a well-chosen and played tribute to the music and career of the Smoking Popes and fans will no doubt be thrilled."
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
to the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band the Smoking Popes
Smoking Popes
The Smoking Popes are an American pop punk from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1991. They play punk-influenced pop music with crooning vocals...
. It was released March 25, 2003 by Double Zero Records
Double Zero Records
Double Zero Records is a record label from Algonquin, Illinois formed in 1999. Drummer Mike Felumlee organized the label as an outlet for Smoking Popes releases. The label later released material by The Honor System, Duvall, The Red Hot Valentines, Split Habit, Ryan's Hope, Amazing Transparent Man...
, a label founded by former Smoking Popes drummer Mike Felumlee
Mike Felumlee
Mike Felumlee, a native of Crystal Lake, Illinois , is chiefly known as the former drummer for the influential rock band The Alkaline Trio...
. Following the Smoking Popes' breakup in 1998, Double Zero had released several albums of previously-recorded Smoking Popes material including 1991–1998
1991–1998
1991–1998 is a compilation album by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, released August 17, 1999 by Double Zero Records, a label founded by the band's former drummer Mike Felumlee...
, Live
Live (Smoking Popes album)
Live is a live album by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, released January 31, 2000 through Double Zero Records, a record label founded by the band's former drummer Mike Felumlee. After the band's breakup in December 1998, Double Zero released several albums of previously-recorded...
, and The Party's Over
The Party's Over (Smoking Popes album)
The Party's Over is the fourth album by pop rock group the Smoking Popes. It was recorded in 1998 to fulfill the Popes' part of their recording contract with Capitol Records. The album was rejected by the label...
. The Smoking Popes Tribute features contributions from former members of the Smoking Popes themselves: Felumlee performs a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Don't Be Afraid", while Josh
Josh Caterer
Josh Caterer is a Chicago-area musician and songwriter. With his brothers, Eli Caterer and Matt Caterer , he was a founding member in 1991 of The Smoking Popes, in which Josh plays lead guitar and sings. After his conversion to Christianity the Smoking Popes split up, and Caterer later founded...
and Eli Caterer perform "Do Something" with their post-Smoking Popes act Duvall
Duvall (band)
Duvall is a pop rock band with Christian-oriented lyrics. They were formed in August 2001, including members of the Smoking Popes, who had disbanded in 1998. Founding members were Josh Caterer, Tom Daily, and Mike Felumlee...
. Other notable contributors to the album include Bad Astronaut
Bad Astronaut
Bad Astronaut is an American indie/punk rock band founded in 2000 by Joey Cape, singer from Lagwagon. In Bad Astronaut, Joey Cape explores a new style of pop, with lyrics often about deep and intricate personal matters....
, Grade
Grade (band)
Grade was a Canadian hardcore/emo group. Grade's first release was the Grade/Believe split which was released in 1994 on a small Canadian label - Workshop Records. And Such Is Progress followed in 1997 and Separate the Magnets was released in 1998, earning them critical praise and high profile...
, and The Ataris
The Ataris
The Ataris are a rock band from Anderson, Indiana. They have released five studio albums, and their most recent E.P. was released on November 25, 2010 on the Gainesville, Florida based label, Paper + Plastick. It contained the brand new tracks "All Souls' Day" and "The Graveyard of The Atlantic"...
.
Critic Tim Sendra of Allmusic remarked that a Smoking Popes tribute album seemed incredulous at first, since the band released only a few albums and did not have much mainstream success, but noted that "the Smoking Popes were influential in a small way. Along with Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
, they were one of the few post-Dookie
Dookie
Dookie is the third studio album by the American punk rock band Green Day. It was released on February 1, 1994 through Reprise Records. It was the band's first collaboration with producer Rob Cavallo and its major record label debut. Dookie became a worldwide commercial success, peaking at number...
bands to add more pop than punk to their mix of punk-pop and became a source of inspiration to many of the melodically inclined emo bands." He also noted the oddity of the former Smoking Popes appearing on their own tribute album, saying "Most bands or artists being tributed tend to steer clear of the process — it seems wrong somehow to be paying tribute to yourself. No matter, the record is a well-chosen and played tribute to the music and career of the Smoking Popes and fans will no doubt be thrilled."