Chicago natives, The Smoking Popes, have left their fans hungry for new material for many a year. Their last studio release was 2001's The Party's Over -- a collection of covers of country tunes and pop standards. Their last album of original material was 1997's brilliant Destination Failure. The band's breakup following their 1998 recording sessions seemed pretty permanent, until the brothers Caterer (Josh: vocals / guitar, Eli: guitar, Matt: bass) returned in late 2005. Since then, they've been on tour, featuring a seemingly revolving door of drummers. Ryan Chavez is behind the skins on the Popes' latest. The good news? Eleven years was worth the wait.

Not only are Smoking Popes, once again, a pretty regular touring entity with an amazing live show, but they've delivered on a studio album that's an incredible mix of their beloved styles. The balladry, powerful melodies, and downright cuteness of Destination Failure are in tact, along with the slightly more energetic and aggressive instrumentation present on Born to Quit and the band's earlier material. In fact, the rock has even been turned up a bit -- see "The Corner," a song with lyrics based on Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. Surprisingly, the remorse shown by the lead character allows what should be a peculiar topic for the Popes to fit in well with the rest of Stay Down's material.

"If You Don't Care" and "Maybe I'll Stay" stretch Josh Caterer's register into higher territory, while both songs also feature melodies (and harmonies) even more pristine than we're used to from the band. The former may well be the catchiest and most uplifting song the band has done in years. Well, really, they haven't done anything in years, but you get the idea.

It's also a great album, proper. It plays well, and you aren't tempted to skip songs too much, if at all. And, though the songs gel nicely together, there's also plenty of variety. There's the shocking heaviness of the aforementioned "The Corner." "Welcome to Janesville" packs a hard pop punky punch, while "Stephanie" sports a ready-for-the-arena rock riff.

The title track is the perfect centerpiece for the record. The verses start out with a bluesy, chuggy rhythm, only for the chorus to move into an only slightly faster and very pleasant territory. In fact, it's almost a punk slow dance sort of vibe the band gives off int parts of the song. FYI -- "Stay Down" is a fair representation of what you're in for with the album, if you're fishing for one sample song to download.

Curious what the band has been up to since they were last in the studio? Well, here's a clue. "Little Jane Marie" isn't a typical love song. It's about Josh's daughter, and it's every bit as endearing as you'd expect from a band who covered a song from Willy Wonka on its last proper LP. "Perhaps we could split a thousand Cheerios / Or just sit around and suck our thumbs." Yes, it's sweet...sickly sweet. In fact, to paraphrase Homer Simpson, "it's so schmaltzy it'll make 'Moon River' sound like a farting orangutan." But you just have to smile.

So here's the gist of it, for those of you who may not be familiar with the Popes. The melodies are deadly, the vocals a more loungy version and less British Morrissey. Instrumentally, there's plenty of wallop to go along with the musical swooning. Lyrically, it's unapologetically and forever emotional. It's a tradition of the band -- or at least Josh C. -- to wear the heart on the sleeve. It's good to see this tradition hasn't been abandoned, even after a long absence. Perhaps most importantly, the Popes have taken their familiar formula, pushing it only so far that former fans won't feel alienated. In this case, it's an excellent choice.

Now, we're not normally so into superlatives and hyperbole here at Cheap Shot!, but, in this case, the music warrants it. This is as near perfect pop punk goodness as it gets...at least, if the Smoking Popes are your bag. Honestly? They should be. Check this out NOW!

5 cheap shots out of 5 for the Smoking Popes' triumphant return.
Stand Out Tracks:
"If You Don't Care"
"Stay Down"
"The Corner"