Get Fired

Personnel: John Caterer (vocals, guitar); Eli Caterer (guitar).
Audio Remasterer: Carl Saff.
Recording information: Sonic Iguana Studios, Lafayette, IN.
Photographer: Ryan McGuire .
The Smoking Popes' Get Fired sees the band in its rawest form, without the clean production of later studio releases. Two of the songs here, "I Can't Find It" and "Let's Hear It For Love," would be recorded for later release with cleaner production. The version of "I Can't Find It" included on Get Fired is a faster version of the song. It's hard to say which version of the song is better; this raw, punk sounding recording or the more-produced version which was to come. The real gem of Get Fired is "That's Where I Come In." It revolves around a brilliant hook and a sadly sweet motif of a girlfriend who just wants "to be somebody's baby." Vocalist Josh Caterer sounds morose and overjoyed at the same time, happy to be with a girl he loves, but unhappy that where he comes in is as a crutch. "Off My Mind" and "Days Just Wave Goodbye" are more aggressive than the usual Smoking Popes' songs. "Off My Mind" almost calls the Deftones to mind, though the subject matter deals with the usual Popes' issues of love and relationships. It is an interesting twist on the band's style. "Days to Wave Goodbye" suggests that the band was listening to the Police and/or Joy Division for inspiration before recording Get Fired. It might be their murkiest, darkest song, if "Off My Mind" didn't already win that title. Get Fired is a fine document of a great, somewhat under appreciated band that would later scale higher peaks. While it leans more toward the band's punk interests than their more pop-related later albums, it's a vital release that should fit perfectly in any record collection alongside Destination Failure and Born to Quit. ~ Tim DiGravina