New York Newsday

July 16, 1995

SMOKING POPES ‘Born to Quit’ (Capitol)

Corporate record labels’ hankering to bring underground bands in from the alternative-rock cold has become the driving force at pop’s leading edge. Occasionally, power structures with an eye on the bottom line and young bands making music just for fun can find a way to work together, their compromises and collusion benefiting all concerned.

Chicago’s four Smoking Popes — the next big Weezer — are romantic innocents who lay thick, Ramones-y guitar rock under suave, Smithereens-meets the Smiths vocals. The production values are amateurish, but otherwise this brief, cheery disc of summery crushes and sappy heartbreak has a mainstream heart. Catchy songs like “Rubella,” “My Lucky Day” and “Need You Around” go down like gumdrops, threatening only the silence. Hip? Hardly. But when it’s cool to be uncool, this is as good as it gets.

— Ira Robbins