Smash Mouth

Smash Mouth | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 27, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B00005QHS9
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,424 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Back to the 70's, January 4, 2002

By 

David A. Zapolsky (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Smash Mouth (Audio CD)

I discovered Smash Mouth through my pre-teen son, who played Astro Lounge in the house about 500 times and counting. Eventually the album and the group grew on me. They really are quite talented pop writers, with a flair for catchy hooks and a tendency toward retro scoring.

Usually one expects a bit of a drop-off following a mega-hit album like Astro Lounge, so perhaps the most surprising thing about their new album is the immediate accessibility of their new songs. I liked most of them immediately the first time I heard them, and a couple of the songs, like Pacific Coast Party, are positively infectious.

After I heard the album several more times (my son, again) I realized that one of the reasons it's so easy for older folks like me (i.e., > 30) to connect with these songs is that they're patterned very closely after the best (and most recognizable) sounds of late 60's and early 70's, both in songwriting and in orchestration. (Listen for updated 70's dance beats and "groovy" synth organ riffs in many of the songs.) It's not just the Monkees' "I'm a Believer" cover; practically nothing on the entire album would sound out of place on 70's AM radio. But it's really the best AM radio sounds from that time.

Bottom line, this album is very listenable, with some nice flashes of humor and some excellent tunes. If you have to listen to music favored by the Radio Disney crowd, you could do much MUCH worse.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Masterpiece From Smash Mouth, November 28, 2001

By 

Mike (Wilmette IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smash Mouth (Audio CD)

So here I am holding the new Smash Mouth CD. I've been waiting two years for this... This CD is really great. If you loved Astro Lounge you'll love this one. I think they could have thought of a better title though...well anyway onto the (really good) song reviews: HOLIDAY IN MY HEAD 5/5: One of my favorites from the CD. This has a nice beat and a catchy chorus. Apparently this is going to be a single from the CD. YOUR MAN 5/5: Another one of my favorites. It's been constantly stuck in my head since I've heard. I love the chorus. PACIFIC COAST PARTY 4/5: Supposedly the first single from the album even though "I'm A Believer" was out. It's sort of a wierd violin-disco-rock blend. It's nice to see how they experiment with their songs. This was actually written by Paul Delisle (Bass) rather than Greg Camp (Guitar) who writes most of their songs. This is the only song with an unedited swear in it. SHE TURNS ME ON 4/5: This song is right out the "Walking on the Sun" Book. And I mean that as a good thing. I like the guitar riff. SISTER PSYCHIC 5/5: This is my favorite song from the CD. The chorus is really cool and it has a nice beat. This is supposed to be about Lady Cleo, you know, the psychic lady on TV? OUT OF SIGHT 3/5: This is a good song, I just don't like slow ones as much. FORCE FIELD 4/5: This is the second song with a swear in it, and its edited! I like the lyrics in this one. SHOES 'N' HATS 5/5: Another one of my favorites. It's about them dressing how they want to, I think. It has a cool chorus. HOLD YOU HIGH 4/5: This is an Ok song, but the beat gets kind of repetitive. THE IN SET 4/5: I like this song, the bass riff is cool. DISENCHANTED 3/5: Another decent song, but I'm sorry, it's slow and that bothers me usually. At the end theres a wierd segment of sound where one of them broke their headphones or something. You can hear them laughing and talking. KEEP IT DOWN 4/5: This is a wierd song, but I like it. It starts quiet, and sounds like it's going to get loud, but them Steve Harwell (Vocals) shushes them and says "Keep it down now, just keep it now" At the end it goes into this cool drum beat thing(Just think I should mention that it's play by Michael Unbano, the new drummer) with wierd sounds. It's kinda psychidelic, but I like it. I'M A BELIEVER 5/5: This is the cover of the popular Monkees song. This was a radio over last summer. It's a really good song.

Well, well, well...That wraps up my review of "Smash Mouth" the next insanely great album from Smash Mouth. Thank you, goodnight.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Smash Mouth CD, November 1, 2005

By 

Lonnie E. Holder "The Review's the Thing" (Columbus, Indiana, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Smash Mouth (Audio CD)

Catchy tunes, fun lyrics and well produced music make the third Smash Mouth CD a winner, if a little short on the kind of songs that dominated the radio from the first two Smash Mouth CDs. You will discover that this CD is even milder than "Astro Lounge," with the lyrics capitalizing on the best aspects of that CD. Some fans of "Fush Yu Mang" may protest that Smash Mouth has moved too far into pop, but for those of us that like the retro sound this music is a breath of fresh air that blows away the cookie cutter pop that seems to be dominating the radio.

This CD begins with the fun song "Holiday in My Head." The beat is catchy and the lyrics are enjoyable and light. The opening song has fun written all over it. The second song is actually a song of contradictions that should be more somber, but the song seems upbeat. "Your Man" indicates that he is happy with the relationship though perhaps he should not be, and he wonders what she sees in him. None of the lyrics make any difference to us because we enjoy the bass beat, the pace and the bouncy lyrics. Steve Harwell's voice brings this song to life and keeps you from pausing the CD.

There is no let up or mercy from "Pacific Coast Party," a song that literally has party written all over its catchy beat. This song has a wonderful intro that sounds much like theme music from the throwaway shows that tried to be hip in the late 1970s. This song could easily be a theme song from "That 70s Show."

"She Turns Me On" sounds a lot like "Walkin' on the Sun" in style. I liked "Walkin' on the Sun" so I have little to complain about, but some people may think that Smash Mouth is in danger of repeating themselves.

Moving onward, "Sister Psychic" is yet another fun song that seems inspired by previous Smash Mouth songs with another catchy beat and lyrics. I enjoy the sound effects and keyboards in this song.

"Out of Sight" is more poetic and contemplative than the first five songs. Smash Mouth has sung other songs with a similar pace on previous albums and I have enjoyed every one. This song is a ballad Smash Mouth style.

The following song begins slowly, but it picks up quickly with a bang up beat and a jumping pace that begs you to learn the lyrics. "Force Field" has a melody that is brain catching surrounded by poetically surrealistic lyrics. In spite of the intellectual sounding description, this song is fun and one that I enjoy again and again.

"Shoes `n' Hats" is mostly standard pop, but the song picks up at the halfway point with a lovely guitar riff. This song is much more enjoyable because of the second half of the song, which keeps the song from being mundane. "Hold You High" has moments where I am reminded of Men at Work. The styles are very different, but there is something about the singing in a couple of places that takes me back to that group, which was as unique for their time as Smash Mouth is today.

"The in Set" has a lovely retro beginning leading into a song that has numerous retro elements. The lyrics also refer to the mod era. This song is fun and one of my favorites on this CD. "Disenchanted," similar to "Pacific Coast Party," has elements that make me think of theme music. This song has horns to complement the Smash Mouth sound. I wish Smash Mouth would do more songs with the kind of layers that this song has. This song has a strange ending that requires a lot of volume to hear.

"Keep It Down" has a heavy bass track that challenges the bass response of my speakers. If you have a subwoofer and have it cranked up you may want to be careful; you may find things moving along the floor, or the neighbors complaining. I enjoy this unusual experimental song. Perhaps Smash Mouth should consider trying progressive rock, because this song has many of the elements.

The final song is the cover of the Neil Diamond song "I'm a Believer," a hit for the Monkees in the 1960s. I am a big fan of the Monkees (who would have guessed!) and I think this cover is as enjoyable as their recording. Smash Mouth deserves kudos for putting their unique style on this classic rock song.

I was hooked on Smash Mouth after seeing their video for "Walkin' on the Sun." There are few groups brave enough to attempt a sound that returns to the 1960s and 1970s, and not only does Smash Mouth try for a sound influenced by those eras, they are very good at it. This album is bouncier and catchier than Smash Mouth's first two albums, but music should be fun. Smash Mouth reminds us that one of the reasons we listen to music is because it takes us away from the here and now to a fun place that is as much inside our brains as it is in the CD. Have fun!