Steve Long 
I very rarely write record reviews. In fact, I honestly can’t remember the last one I wrote. However, I felt like saying something about an album that was recently released by Chicago’s Smoking Popes. Lovely Stuff was released on April 4th, 2025 on Anxious and Angry.
The Popes are one of my favorite bands. They haven’t released an album since 2018’s Into the Agony, which was a great album in itself.
Simply put, Lovely Stuff is also a great album. This album is doing what the Smoking Popes do best. Josh’s characteristic crooning vocals paired with an outstandingly tight rhythm section and classically sharp and crunchy guitar work make for a distinct and simple collection of new pop punk triumphs.
Highlights on the album for me include “Golden Moment,” “Never Gonna Break,” “Madison,” “To This Very Day,” and “When the Sun Goes Down.” Also, the song “Racine” is a wonderful re-recording of the Duvall (Josh Caterer’s side project from when the Popes were not active) classic from Volume & Density.
Hearing a new Smoking Popes album is comforting. They don’t bother to re-invent themselves and they don’t need to. From beginning to end, Lovely Stuff is a brilliant and flawless piece of work.
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