Asian Man Records – Release Date: 2/16/10

The Smoking Popes are one of the quintessential Chicago punk rock bands of the ‘90s. While it may be commonplace nowadays for punk bands to inject a sizeable pop influence into their sound, back when the Popes formed in 1991 this was far from the case. Their legacy, however, really speaks to the talent of each individual member, as well as how they came together to collectively write numerous high-quality songs. There’s the unmistakable, pristine croon of singer Josh Caterer, the intricate lead guitar work of younger brother Eli Caterer, the dutiful bass playing of older brother Matt Caterer and of course the powerhouse drumming of Mike Felumlee. It’s Been a Long Day captures their humble beginnings and features 20 songs in total, including the following seven inches; Inoculator, Break Up and 2. Highlights include the frenzied start and stop interplay of the bubbly fan-favorite “Writing a Letter”, and what is easily one of the best examples of the Popes’ patented laments of forsaken heartbreak, “Under the Blanket”. “Hang” is a laidback rocker worth mentioning, as are the patient, well-executed disc closers “Do Something” and “Pasted”. Nearly all of the songs on It’s Been a Long Day have been out-of-print for years, so that alone should be reason enough to pick this up. This collection of re-mastered tracks is also the perfect refresher for longtime fans who are awaiting the release of the next Smoking Popes full-length, which is due in the fall of 2010.