Smash Mouth
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Smash Mouth is an alternative rock band that started in 1994 with Steve Harwell (lead vocals), Greg Camp (guitar), Paul De Lisle (bass) and Kevin Coleman (drummer), as well as a touring keyboardists and turntable operators. The core line-up has since changed a few times, but retains the original members Harwell, Camp and De Lisle.
Most famous for their album Astro Lounge and the hit single "All Star", a quintessential late-nineties party tune that became famous through its inclusion in films like Rat Race, Mystery Men and Shrek. Some of their less popular albums have also received high critical praise, such as their album Fush Yu Mang (a misspelling of "fuck you, man") which reached double platinum.
Their music is rock-pop sounding, with synthesizers and a few experimental elements in it as well. Songs generally contain lyrics about the standard sex, drugs and rock and roll aspect that has prevailed in rock music over the ages, but they also satirize politics on occasion, if just a lyric or two in the song (see "Stoned").
After Astro Lounge was released, they went from being pretty underground to being popular, and drove away their original fan base.
Albums released:
- Fush Yu Mang (1997)
- Astro Lounge (1999)
- Smash Mouth (2001)
- Get the Picture? (2003)
- Gift of Rock (2005)
- Summer Girl (was originally going to be "Old Habits"; 2006)
- Genre Shift: Their first album included an element of then-popular Third Wave Ska influences, while subsequent efforts leaned in a more Pop Punk or Surf Rock direction.
- Standard Snippet: "All Star" got used in a lot of comedy films to create a kind of feel-good atmosphere.