Destination Failure
Encyclopedia
Destination Failure is the third album by the Chicago
-based pop punk
band the Smoking Popes
, released August 26, 1997 by Capitol Records
. It was their second, and final, album for Capitol and their last before their nearly seven-year hiatus; their covers
album The Party's Over
was rejected by Capitol and the Smoking Popes disbanded in December 1998, reuniting in November 2005 to record At Metro
. Destination Failure was not as successful as the band's previous album Born to Quit
; it failed to chart despite the release a single
and music video
for "I Know You Love Me
". The album was recorded at the Chicago Recording Company and at Conway Studios
in Hollywood
with producer
Jerry Finn
and recording engineer Phil Bonnet. Bonnet had worked with the band since early in their career, engineering and producing their EP
s Break Up and 2 as well as Born to Quit.
The songs "Let's Hear It for Love" and "Can't Find It" are new recordings of songs from the Get Fired. The Destination Failure version of "Can't Find It" is slower than the original version. "I Know You Love Me" references singer and guitarist Josh Caterer
's newfound interest in Christianity
, while "You Spoke to Me" refers to Blake Schwarzenbach
of Jawbreaker
and Jets to Brazil
, who the Smoking Popes had toured with. "Paul" is about enduring an ex-lover's affection for her new man. Destination Failure also includes a cover version of "Pure Imagination", a song from the musical film
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
.
in the early-'70s and early-'80s tradition — from the young Todd Rundgren
to the Fabulous Poodles
[...] With a singer in Josh Caterer
who can make the most melancholic, fretting passage seem like a whistling, carefree, Willie Wonka-kissed day (and who still sounds like a cross between XTC
's Andy Partridge
and Gilbert O'Sullivan
) and a band who is gleeful, but not in a churlish-youthful way, Smoking Popes are one of the most deceptively pleasant-sounding bands going." Tyler Barrett of Punknews.org
gave the album a perfect score of five stars, calling it "a masterpiece. Caterer's songwriting dives head-first into the core of humanity, and the music is as good as the best pop-punk you've ever heard."
Several artists covered
songs from Destination Failure for the 2003 Smoking Popes Tribute
album: Bad Astronaut
covered "Megan", Saturday Supercade performed "Paul", Junction 18 contributed a rendition of "End of Your Time", and The Ataris
covered "Pretty Pathetic" (The Ataris version had previously been released on their EP All You Can Ever Learn Is What You Already Know
). Dashboard Confessional
also covered "Pretty Pathetic" on 2007's The Wire Tapes Vol. 1
. Bayside
covered "Megan" on their 2005 live acoustic EP, featuring Josh Caterer singing with them.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band the Smoking Popes
Smoking Popes
The Smoking Popes are an American pop punk from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1991. They play punk-influenced pop music with crooning vocals...
, released August 26, 1997 by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. It was their second, and final, album for Capitol and their last before their nearly seven-year hiatus; their covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
album The Party's Over
The Party's Over (Smoking Popes album)
The Party's Over is the fourth album by pop rock group the Smoking Popes. It was recorded in 1998 to fulfill the Popes' part of their recording contract with Capitol Records. The album was rejected by the label...
was rejected by Capitol and the Smoking Popes disbanded in December 1998, reuniting in November 2005 to record At Metro
At Metro
At Metro is the sixth album from Smoking Popes.The album contains a second disc which is a DVD of their performance. The DVD includes 4 songs not on the CD which according to the insert was "because of time limitations."- Track listing :...
. Destination Failure was not as successful as the band's previous album Born to Quit
Born to Quit
Born to Quit is the second album by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, originally released in 1994 by Johann's Face Records and re-released in 1995 through Capitol Records...
; it failed to chart despite the release a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
and music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "I Know You Love Me
I Know You Love Me
"I Know You Love Me" is a song by the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes, released as the first single from their 1997 album Destination Failure. It was the band's final release for Capitol Records; the follow-up single "Before I'm Gone" was released through Johann's Face Records...
". The album was recorded at the Chicago Recording Company and at Conway Studios
Conway Recording Studios
Conway Recording Studios is a recording and post production facility in Hollywood, California.Conway has hosted a variety of producers, mixers and artists, such as Alicia Keys, Barbra Streisand, The Black Eyed Peas, Blink-182, Britney Spears, Carlos Santana, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews Band,...
in Hollywood
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
with producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn was an American record producer. He was perhaps best known for his work with Blink-182, as well as Morrissey, AFI, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Rancid, Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring.-Death:...
and recording engineer Phil Bonnet. Bonnet had worked with the band since early in their career, engineering and producing their EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s Break Up and 2 as well as Born to Quit.
The songs "Let's Hear It for Love" and "Can't Find It" are new recordings of songs from the Get Fired. The Destination Failure version of "Can't Find It" is slower than the original version. "I Know You Love Me" references singer and guitarist Josh Caterer
Josh Caterer
Josh Caterer is a Chicago-area musician and songwriter. With his brothers, Eli Caterer and Matt Caterer , he was a founding member in 1991 of The Smoking Popes, in which Josh plays lead guitar and sings. After his conversion to Christianity the Smoking Popes split up, and Caterer later founded...
's newfound interest in Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, while "You Spoke to Me" refers to Blake Schwarzenbach
Blake Schwarzenbach
Alexander Blake Schwarzenbach is an American musician. He was the singer and left-handed guitarist of Jawbreaker , Jets to Brazil , The Thorns of Life , and forgetters -Education:...
of Jawbreaker
Jawbreaker (band)
Jawbreaker was an American punk rock band active from 1986 to 1996 and considered one of the most influential acts of the early-1990s emo movement...
and Jets to Brazil
Jets to Brazil
Jets to Brazil was an American rock band formed in 1997. It was founded by Blake Schwarzenbach, former frontman of Jawbreaker. When Schwarzenbach relocated to Brooklyn, New York, after Jawbreaker had disbanded, he reunited with friend Jeremy Chatelain and the two began working on four-track...
, who the Smoking Popes had toured with. "Paul" is about enduring an ex-lover's affection for her new man. Destination Failure also includes a cover version of "Pure Imagination", a song from the musical film
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a 1971 musical film adaptation of the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, directed by Mel Stuart, and starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. The film tells the story of Charlie Bucket as he receives a golden ticket and visits Willy...
.
Reception
Jack Rabid of Allmusic gave Destination Failure three stars out of five, saying that the band "humbly offer[s] a singular style that is actually power popPower pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
in the early-'70s and early-'80s tradition — from the young Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
to the Fabulous Poodles
Fabulous Poodles
The Fabulous Poodles were a British pre-New Wave band formed in 1975. Known for quirky stage antics, such as exploding ukuleles, as well as songs with funny lyrics. The Fabulous Poodles toured with Meat Loaf, Sha Na Na, Tom Petty, Bill Bruford and Chuck Berry . They appeared on the Old Grey...
[...] With a singer in Josh Caterer
Josh Caterer
Josh Caterer is a Chicago-area musician and songwriter. With his brothers, Eli Caterer and Matt Caterer , he was a founding member in 1991 of The Smoking Popes, in which Josh plays lead guitar and sings. After his conversion to Christianity the Smoking Popes split up, and Caterer later founded...
who can make the most melancholic, fretting passage seem like a whistling, carefree, Willie Wonka-kissed day (and who still sounds like a cross between XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
's Andy Partridge
Andy Partridge
Andrew John "Andy" Partridge is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has been known as Sir John Johns and Melchior and rose to fame as a founding member, guitarist and chief songwriter of the pop/new wave band, XTC. He lives in Swindon, Wiltshire, where he was raised.Partridge also...
and Gilbert O'Sullivan
Gilbert O'Sullivan
Gilbert O'Sullivan is an Irish-English singer-songwriter, best known for his early 1970s hits "Alone Again ", "Clair" and "Get Down". The music magazine, Record Mirror, voted him the No...
) and a band who is gleeful, but not in a churlish-youthful way, Smoking Popes are one of the most deceptively pleasant-sounding bands going." Tyler Barrett of Punknews.org
Punknews.org
Punknews.org is a website founded by Aubin Paul which launched in 1999. The website publishes music news and album reviews relating to punk rock, hardcore punk, ska, indie rock and heavy metal...
gave the album a perfect score of five stars, calling it "a masterpiece. Caterer's songwriting dives head-first into the core of humanity, and the music is as good as the best pop-punk you've ever heard."
Several artists covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
songs from Destination Failure for the 2003 Smoking Popes Tribute
Smoking Popes Tribute
The Smoking Popes Tribute is a tribute album to the Chicago-based pop punk band the Smoking Popes. It was released March 25, 2003 by Double Zero Records, a label founded by former Smoking Popes drummer Mike Felumlee...
album: Bad Astronaut
Bad Astronaut
Bad Astronaut is an American indie/punk rock band founded in 2000 by Joey Cape, singer from Lagwagon. In Bad Astronaut, Joey Cape explores a new style of pop, with lyrics often about deep and intricate personal matters....
covered "Megan", Saturday Supercade performed "Paul", Junction 18 contributed a rendition of "End of Your Time", and The Ataris
The Ataris
The Ataris are a rock band from Anderson, Indiana. They have released five studio albums, and their most recent E.P. was released on November 25, 2010 on the Gainesville, Florida based label, Paper + Plastick. It contained the brand new tracks "All Souls' Day" and "The Graveyard of The Atlantic"...
covered "Pretty Pathetic" (The Ataris version had previously been released on their EP All You Can Ever Learn Is What You Already Know
All You Can Ever Learn Is What You Already Know
All You Can Ever Learn Is What You Already Know is an Australian-only EP released by The Ataris on Kung Fu Records. It was their last release for Kung Fu, before their debut on Columbia Records, So Long, Astoria...
). Dashboard Confessional
Dashboard Confessional
Dashboard Confessional is an American rock band from Boca Raton, Florida, led by singer-songwriter Chris Carrabba. The name of the band is derived from the song "The Sharp Hint of New Tears" from the debut album The Swiss Army Romance....
also covered "Pretty Pathetic" on 2007's The Wire Tapes Vol. 1
The Wire Tapes Vol. 1
The Wire Tapes, Volume One is a tour-only album released by Dashboard Confessional in 2007.The album is a collection of cover songs, sold only during Chris Carrabba's solo acoustic tour during fall 2007, and also in a limited release through the band's website in September of that same year...
. Bayside
Bayside (band)
Bayside is an American punk rock band from Queens which formed in the winter of 2000. The band has released five full length albums since signing to Victory Records...
covered "Megan" on their 2005 live acoustic EP, featuring Josh Caterer singing with them.
Track listing
Band
- Josh CatererJosh CatererJosh Caterer is a Chicago-area musician and songwriter. With his brothers, Eli Caterer and Matt Caterer , he was a founding member in 1991 of The Smoking Popes, in which Josh plays lead guitar and sings. After his conversion to Christianity the Smoking Popes split up, and Caterer later founded...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Eli Caterer – guitar
- Matt Caterer – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Mike FelumleeMike FelumleeMike Felumlee, a native of Crystal Lake, Illinois , is chiefly known as the former drummer for the influential rock band The Alkaline Trio...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Production
- Jerry FinnJerry FinnJerry Finn was an American record producer. He was perhaps best known for his work with Blink-182, as well as Morrissey, AFI, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Rancid, Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring.-Death:...
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, mix engineerMix engineerA mix engineer, also referred to as "mixing engineer", is a person who, once all instruments, voices, and sounds, etc., have been recorded, creates what is called the final version of a song, hence the term "mix engineer"... - Phil Bonnet – recording engineer
- Ron Lowe and Bill Kinsley – assistant engineers
Artwork
- Tommy Steele – art direction
- Dana Arnett, Ken Fox, and Jason Eplawy – design
- Nitin Vadukul – Photography
- Doug Aitken – illustration