It's Been a Long Day
Smoking Popes · 2010
50 min · 20 tracks · pop-punk
Energetic pop-punk melodies blend with heartfelt lyrics, creating a sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
Top tracks — play these first
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Sandra — This opening track encapsulates the album's playful yet poignant spirit, setting the tone with its catchy chorus and relatable themes of longing.
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Run Away — With its driving rhythm and anthemic quality, this song highlights the band's ability to fuse energetic instrumentation with introspective lyrics about escape and desire.
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Long Day — The title track reflects on everyday struggles with a melodic simplicity that showcases the band's knack for blending vulnerability with upbeat soundscapes.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends energetic melodies with reflective lyrics, showcasing solid songwriting and production.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
- Several tracks feature layered guitar harmonies that create a rich, textured sound, particularly in the choruses.
- Lyrically, the album explores themes of nostalgia and personal reflection, with many songs featuring direct storytelling elements.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- brisk bursts of youthful energy
- nostalgic reflections on lost love
- dynamic peaks and valleys
- short tracks for quick enjoyment
- catchy melodies for sing-alongs
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy, immersive pieces
- seek slow, contemplative sounds
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2010, It's Been a Long Day marked the Smoking Popes' return after a lengthy hiatus following their breakup in 1998. This album was their first new material since reuniting and demonstrated a matured sound while staying true to their pop-punk roots.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Get Up Kids· Jawbreaker· Alkaline Trio
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Sandra 2:38
- 2 Brand New Hairstyle 1:49
- 3 No Time for Your Lies 1:40
- 4 Missing Out 1:18
- 5 Theme From "Cheerleader" 1:50
- 6 Wanted Love 1:45
- 7 Run Away 3:07
- 8 Waiting Around 3:20
- 9 Down the Street 1:41
- 10 Never Coming Back 2:18
- 11 Breaking 2:16
- 12 Long Day 2:44
- 13 Writing a Letter 1:49
- 14 Stars 2:31
- 15 Under the Blanket 2:12
- 16 First Time 3:36
- 17 Hang 1:52
- 18 Leather and Lace 3:09
- 19 Do Something 4:31
- 20 Pasted 4:02
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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