Pop Smear

Pop Smear
Studio album by The Verve Pipe
Released	1993
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	52:03
Label	LMNO Pop![1] RCA Records[2]
The Verve Pipe chronology
I've Suffered a Head Injury (1992) Pop Smear (1993) Villains (1996)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[1]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[2]

Pop Smear is a studio album by the Verve Pipe, released in 1993.^[4][5] The album sold around 50,000 copies, which resulted in interest from major labels.^[6] 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.^[7]

Critical reception

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."^[8]

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

1. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 428.
2. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1199.
3. "Pop Smear - The Verve Pipe | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
4. "The Verve Pipe | Biography & History". AllMusic.
5. Lauer-Williams, Kathy. "Verve Pipe digs the fun, freeing feel of family music". mcall.com.
6. Thompson, Dave (February 13, 2000). Alternative Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879306076 – via Google Books.
7. "Band To Bank On". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 24, 1994 – via Google Books.
8. "Verve Pipe". Trouser Press. Retrieved 13 February 2021.