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Duvall

Standing At The Door (2001)
Double Zero Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Scott
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on April 5th 2002

Fourteen minutes and thirty-three seconds.

That's the amount of time it takes Josh Caterer to take over the throne in the kingdom of emotional pop-punk.

We all remember the Smoking Popes, right? Chicago's best [and most depressing] export since the Chicago Cubs. They left us with 3 studio albums, a handful of 7"s, and a live CD's worth of amazing rock music. Josh found his calling in the church, so he said, and the band disbanded, to the collective cries of anguish of thousands of awkward teenagers scattered throughout the greater Chicagoland area.

But they're back! Well, sort of. Duvall is Josh's return to the rock scene, with former Popes [and Alkaline Trio] drummer Mike Felumlee in tow. Since this EP, Popes guitarist Eli Caterer has also joined the band, making them a force to be reckoned with. But enough about the past: how does the EP sound?

If you expected me to say "fucking great!" then you're obviously paying attention. In these four songs, Josh picks up pretty much where he left off, his beautiful countertenor voice soaring in the CD's two best tracks: "Standing At The Door" and "The Moon Looks Like A Tomato." The music is what you would expect; there's definitely a Smoking Popes feel here, but it sounds original enough to be able to distinguish between the two. Felumlee's drumming is rock solid as usual, and newcomer John Sewell [ex-Kidsnack] holds down the low end admirably.

Every time I play this, a smile comes to my face. Josh Caterer is back, poetry book in hand, and he is ready to school all of you. Beware Duvall!

MP3s
Standing At The Door
Time Is Gone

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brokenstar (January 23, 2003)

This cd amazing, every song is great. I just wish it was longer

Anonymous (April 11, 2002)

It's a solid album, good stuff. I love the way you opened the review. Very clever and true, at least I hope. So many bands have hijacked what Josh does in his absense and made it crappier, now its time for him to come back and show how it's done.

jwood (April 8, 2002)

I think these songs are slower then some of the original smoking popes stuff, but I still think it is pretty rockin.

Drizzt7_drek (April 8, 2002)

Apparently, I can't spell. That was supposed to be "yourself" not "youself".

Drizzt7_drek (April 8, 2002)

Yeah, I gave it a listen and I wasn't particularly fond of it. Oh well, worth a listen to find out for youself though.

travis (April 5, 2002)

im seeing them on wednesday the 10th. im pumped. loved the smoking popes, and what ive heard from duvall, i love them just as much.

Anonymous (April 5, 2002)

Hmmm. I think the MP3s link to the wrong clips. The ones I heard had Kermit the Frog singing. I couldn't find "It's Not Easy Being Green" though. :(