Album: “Smash Mouth”

Description

Smashmouth's immensely appealing sound is the missing link between Green Day's pseudo-punk and Weezer's smart, edgy pop. It's savvy--the breezy "Pacific Coast Party" starts off with a quote from the Love Unlimited Orchestra's "Love's Theme"--and unrelentingly jaunty. Main songwriter Greg Camp holds sway here with a fistful of incisive vignettes that range from chicks 'n' driving to somewhat darker, life-on-the-road subjects. <p>"She Turns Me On" is high quality garage rock with a pop sheen. If "Out of Sight" betrays a creeping ennui with rock life, it's just a breather before the party starts again with "Force Field," which finds the band "Manning my station/taking control of the situation," the frenetic, space-age "Hold You High," and the mod 'The In Set." There's also the added bonus of a fairly faithful rendition of Neil Diamond's "I'm a Believer" that's updated in all the right places.