Pop Smear
| Pop Smear | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1993 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 52:03 | |||
| Label | LMNO Pop![1] RCA[2] | |||
| The Verve Pipe chronology | ||||
| ||||
Pop Smear is the first studio album by the Verve Pipe, released in 1993.[3][4] The album sold around 50,000 copies, which resulted in interest from major labels.[5] The band signed with RCA Records, and the album was rereleased in 1996.
Production
The Verve Pipe funded the album's recording sessions out of its winnings from the Yamaha Soundcheck's unsigned band competition.[6]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | [7] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [1] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [2] |
Trouser Press wrote that "the songs are sturdier and harder-hitting, the new muscle coming from plain old artistic growth plus the addition of guitarist A.J. Dunning."[8]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Brian Vander Ark, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Pretty for You" | 4:29 |
| 2. | "Spoonful of Sugar" | 3:55 |
| 3. | "Victoria" | 4:29 |
| 4. | "Honest" (Brian Vander Ark, Donny Brown) | 3:18 |
| 5. | "The River" (Donny Brown) | 6:19 |
| 6. | "Sleepy Town" (Donny Brown) | 0:54 |
| 7. | "Bullies on Vacation" | 4:25 |
| 8. | "What You Wanted" | 5:22 |
| 9. | "Wanna Be" (Brian Vander Ark, Donny Brown) | 3:59 |
| 10. | "Out Like a Lamb" | 4:27 |
| 11. | "Senator Speak" (Brad Vander Ark, Brian Vander Ark) | 4:23 |
| 12. | "Is It Worth It?" (Donny Brown) | 6:03 |
| Total length: | 52:03 | |
Personnel
- The Verve Pipe
- Brian Vander Ark — vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
- A.J. Dunning — vocals, electric, acoustic, slide and lead guitars, keyboards, mandolin
- Brad Vander Ark — vocals, bass, percussion
- Don Brown — vocals, drums, percussion
- Additional personnel
- Kathryn Dykema — cello
- Doug Corella — percussion
- Mark Byerly — trumpet
- Albin Rose — viola
- Leslie E. Rose — violin
- Bob Engelsman — trombone
- Randy Sly — keyboards
- Tom "Mallets" Jansen — bells
References
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 428.
- ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1199.
- ^ "The Verve Pipe | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Lauer-Williams, Kathy. "Verve Pipe digs the fun, freeing feel of family music". mcall.com.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (February 13, 2000). Alternative Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879306076 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Band To Bank On". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 24, 1994 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Pop Smear - The Verve Pipe | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "Verve Pipe". Trouser Press. Retrieved February 13, 2021.