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Pop Smear

{{Infobox album

| name = Pop Smear

| type = Album

| artist = the Verve Pipe

| cover = pop_smear_album.jpg

| alt =

| released = 1993

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Alternative rock

| length = 52:03

| label = LMNO Pop!
RCA

| producer =

| prev_title = I've Suffered a Head Injury

| prev_year = 1992

| next_title = Villains

| next_year = 1996

}}

Pop Smear is the first studio album by the Verve Pipe, released in 1993.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-verve-pipe-mn0000483563/biography|title=The Verve Pipe | Biography & History|website=AllMusic}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-xpm-2011-08-12-mc-verve-pipe-20110812-story.html|title=Verve Pipe digs the fun, freeing feel of family music|first=Kathy|last=Lauer-Williams|website=mcall.com}} The album sold around 50,000 copies, which resulted in interest from major labels.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZHP-r9-eqdAC&dq=pop+smear+verve+pipe&pg=PA708|title=Alternative Rock|first=Dave|last=Thompson|date=February 13, 2000|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=9780879306076|via=Google Books}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZAgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=pop+smear+verve+pipe&pg=RA1-PA98|title=Band To Bank On|work=Billboard|date=December 24, 1994|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|via=Google Books}}

Critical reception

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/pop-smear-mw0000185210|title=Pop Smear - The Verve Pipe | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}

|rev2 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

|rev2score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=8 |page=428}}

|rev3 = MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide

|rev3score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |date=1999 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=1199}}

}}

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."{{cite web |title=Verve Pipe |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/verve-pipe/ |website=Trouser Press |access-date=13 February 2021}}

Track listing

  1. "Pretty for You"
  2. "Spoonful of Sugar"
  3. "Victoria"
  4. "Honest"
  5. "The River"
  6. "Sleepy Town"
  7. "Bullies on Vacation"
  8. "What You Wanted"
  9. "Wanna Be"
  10. "Out Like a Lamb"
  11. "Senator Speak"
  12. "Is It Worth It?"

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

{{reflist}}

{{The Verve Pipe}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:The Verve Pipe albums

Category:1993 albums

Category:RCA Records albums

Category:Alternative rock albums

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