New Pop Sunday is the third studio album by the American rock band Sponge, released in 1999 through Beyond Records.[1][8]

New Pop Sunday
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 13, 1999
Recorded1998
GenreAlternative rock
Length47:33
LabelBeyond
ProducerTim Patalan, Kevin Shirley, Sponge[1]
Sponge chronology
Wax Ecstatic
(1996)
New Pop Sunday
(1999)
For All the Drugs in the World
(2003)
Singles from New Pop Sunday
  1. "Live Here Without You"
    Released: 1999
  2. "1000 Times"
    Released: 1999
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Hit ParaderB[3]
In Music We TrustB[4]
Times-Colonist7.5/10[5]
Windsor Star[6]
Wall of Sound57/100[7]

Production

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Sponge recorded most of New Pop Sunday while they were still with Columbia Records. The label was not interested in releasing it however, so the band decided to finish the album themselves and released it through Beyond instead.[9]

Critical reception

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The Morning Call wrote that "New Pop Sunday includes a mix of subtle, catchy numbers. But there are a few brawny raveups, such as the potent 'Planet Girls' and the hook-laden 'Radio Prayer' [sic]."[10] Trouser Press noted that "lacking Rotting Piñata's hooks and Wax Ecstatic's grimy charm, New Pop Sunday is fairly forgettable."[11]

The Detroit Free Press deemed the album "refreshingly decent," writing that "rough-edged guitars are stretched wide, chiming guitars looped and echoed, vocals reverbed into liquid."[12] The Journal Gazette declared: "Sponge is an imitation of an imitator; they are chronically infatuated with those Pearl Jam-pilferers Stone Temple Pilots."[13] AllMusic wrote that the album "finds the band embracing their pop, hard rock, and arena rock roots, creating an old-fashioned hard rock platter that sounds completely out of step with the late '90s." and noted "In a way, that's refreshing".[2]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."My Lackluster Love"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike CrossTim Patalan, Sponge4:40
2."Pollyanna"Vinnie Dombroski, Joey MazzolaKevin Shirley, Tim Patalan, Sponge5:07
3."Live Here Without You"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross, Joey MazzolaKevin Shirley3:56
4."1000 Times"Vinnie Dombroski, Joey MazzolaKevin Shirley, Tim Patalan, Sponge3:12
5."All American World"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross, Joey MazzolaTim Patalan, Sponge5:12
6."Radio Prayer Line"Vinnie DombroskiTim Patalan, Sponge4:01
7."New Pop Sunday"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross, Joey MazzolaTim Patalan, Sponge4:17
8."Planet Girls"Vinnie DombroskiKevin Shirley4:14
9."When You're On Fire Baby, Roll"Vinnie DombroskiSponge3:58
10."Disconnected"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike CrossKevin Shirley, Sponge4:36
11."Lucky"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike CrossSponge4:25

Band members

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  • Vinnie Dombroski - vocals
  • Michael Cross - guitars/backing vocals
  • Tim Cross - bass/backing vocals
  • Joey Mazzola - guitars/backing vocals
  • Charlie Grover - drums

Additional personnel

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  • Erik C. Casillas - art design
  • Gary Malerba - photography
  • The Left Bank Organization - management
  • Gerald Margolis & Barry Mallen - legal affairs (Manatt, Phelps & Phillips)
  • Bernie Gudvi - business management (Gudvi, Chapnick & Oppenheim)
  • Brian Greenbaum - Booking agent (CAA)
  • Steve Hall - mastering
  • Rich Alvy, Andy Patalan & Mike Lutz - engineering assistants
  • Randy Nicklaus - A&R

Additional musicians

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  • Horns on "Disconnected": Johnny R. Evans, Kenneth Robinson, John R. Paxton
  • Rick Melick - keyboards on "Live Here Without You"

References

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  1. ^ a b "Sponge Has A Date For 'New Pop Sunday'". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "New Pop Sunday - Sponge | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  3. ^ Hit Parader Staff (August 1999). "Hit or Miss". Hit Parader. No. 419. Magma Publishing Group. p. 76 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ Steininger, Alex (July 1999). "In Music We Trust - Sponge: New Pop Sunday". In Music We Trust. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  5. ^ "Sponge New Pop Sunday (Beyond/BMG)". Times-Colonist. 25 May 1999. p. B10.
  6. ^ Keene, Darrin (11 Apr 1999). "CD Reviews". Windsor Star. p. E6.
  7. ^ Hall, Russell. "Wall of Sound Review: New Pop Sunday". Wall of Sound. Archived from the original on 2001-02-11. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  8. ^ "Sponge Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  9. ^ Conner, Thomas. "Remember Sponge? Oh, they remember us, alright". Tulsa World.
  10. ^ CONDRAN, ED. "Sponge to give fans another chance to absorb 'New Pop Sunday'". mcall.com.
  11. ^ "Sponge". Trouser Press. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  12. ^ McCollum, Brian (11 Apr 1999). "SPONGE PLOWS AGAIN". Detroit Free Press. p. K10.
  13. ^ Penhollow, Steve (April 11, 1999). "RANTS & RAVES". The Journal Gazette. p. 1E.