Smoking Popes Born to Quit LP (Pink & White "Sunburn" Vinyl)

You remember this 1994 album…it's the one with the hit song "Need You Around," which was "around" pretty much everywhere back then, including in the movie Clueless (for that matter, "Lucky Day" from this album was in Tommy Boy, "Mrs. You & Me" was in Angus, and "Gotta Know Right Now" in Boys). That led to the Popes opening for acts like Morrissey, whose voice lead singer and songwriter Josh Caterer—one of three Caterer brothers in the band—rather echoes (Moz himself proclaimed this album "extraordinary, the most lovable thing I'd heard in years").

If you like power pop hooks with heart, look no further…this release comes in pink and white "sunburn" vinyl to honor the front cover photo (put a shirt on, man!) inside a gatefold jacket.

The Smoking Popes kick out a melodic yet grungy guitar grind, but the thing that sets them apart from the standard four-piece alternative hard rock outfit is not only their pop sense, it's how the lead vocalist uncannily recalls the quavering, self-absorbed tone of Morrissey. Combined with their gift for hooks, it makes for a sound that is familiar, yet surprisingly distinctive. Bonus points for clocking in under a half hour.