Review Summary: Keeping with my word I am now reviewing Smash Mouth's second album "Astro Lounge".
Wow! I never expected to get so many comments just by talking about Smash Mouth. Well I'm assuming that you guys want more reviews so your going to get one. So after 1997's "Fush Yu Mang" the band apparently wanted to be more commercially successful so they decided to change their genre from being a ska-punk band to pop rock band . This worked out well enough for the "Astro Lounge" album but after that the quality albums went downhill at a very fast pace. Think of each album as like a slow descent into madness. I call it the Smash Mouth/Sugar Ray effect (Although it happened at a faster pace with Smash Mouth). Anyway here is my review of Smash Mouth's second album "All Star", I mean "Astro Lounge".
1. Who's There-7/10
Starting off "Astro Lounge" is a really nice intro song that isn't quite as good as "Flo". What I love most about this song is all of the 50s sci-fi effects of alien spaceships. This song is about aliens invading America and how everyone reacts to it. Also the aliens from this song might not be the ones from outer space. This is still relevant today because of the way some people treat immigrants or as some people call them "aliens".
2. Diggin' Your Scene-9/10
How come I haven't heard anybody talking this song, its amazing! This song almost leaves the pop rock genre behind in my opinion. Everything in this song is good including the keyboard solo in the middle of the song. That keyboard solo makes this song a whole lot better. I'm not exactly sure what this song is about though. Maybe its about Steve getting too overly attached to a girl.
3. I Just Wanna See-5/10
"I Just Wanna See" is a pretty average song. I would probably listen to this song if I ever take a walk through nature. The only thing I actually like about the song is the acoustic guitar, way to go yet again Greg. This song is about leaving behind everyday life and noticing the beauty of the world.
4. Waste-11/10
Can we all just agree that "Waste" is the best Smash Mouth song ever made. I know I broke the rules of my 1 out of 10 scale but, this song deserves an eleven. This song sounds like it was made by an entirely different band. The acoustic guitar on this song is brilliant. "Waste" is about Steve not caring about something good in his life and he lets it go to waste. Check out the music video too its so good.
5. All Star-3/10
*Sigh* how did this song become their most popular song. Apparently some people think this is the only song they ever made. Also people think this song made its debut on Shrek. It actually made its debut on the "Mystery Men" movie. I'm not even going to explain what this song is about. One last thing I will say though, this isn't the worst song they ever made. Also watch the "Mystery Men" movie. It is actually not that bad.
6. Satellite-7/10
No wonder this song is called "Satellite". The song makes you feel like your space or as high as a kite whichever one comes to mind first. The song almost as a lounge music feel to it and I really like that. This is about a guy who has just come out of a relationship and wasn't ready for love. All sudden a girl comes by and changes that.
7. Radio-7/10
Smash Mouth comes from California so they had to eventually make a "California Song". Thumbs up from me if you know that song by Local H. This song is all about ordinary people who go to Hollywood to make money and get famous. They either end up becoming poor or rich and famous.
8. Stoned-8/10
So now that they made a song all about California they had to also write a stoner song. I remember not really liking the song at first but, it eventually grew on me. I love the keyboards in this song. DJ Homicide does a really good job on the turntables. This song is simply about how smoking marijuana isn't a bad thing because the president smokes it too.
9. Then the Morning Comes-7/10
This single is way better than "All Star". The song should have been the lead single at the very least. The guitar is the most prominent instrument in the song. This song is about an ordinary guy who ends up in a string of failures and only realizes that all of these events are bad when it is too late. Just like the songs says "Tomorrow's gonna hurt".
10. Road Man-6/10
I'll admit this is a pretty nice reggae song. Although there isn't enough in the song to keep me interested in it. Luckily the song is only about two and a half minutes long. Also whats up with Steve all of a sudden picking up a Jamaican accent in the middle of the song. "Road Man" is about a man traveling anywhere he wants to go. Sadly he ends up getting hit by a train in the end.
11. Fallen Horses-7/10
The only sad song on this album besides "Waste". This song is truly a ballad about death and how hard it can be when a loved dies. Even the name of the song "Fallen Horses" deals with death. This is a song that plays with your imagination and can even possibly give you a new perspective on life itself.
12. Defeat You-9/10
This is just a really fun song by itself. I know I say this a lot but, the guitars and keyboards make this a really awesome song. "Defeat You" is about winning against someone who is not playing by the rules. This makes it much better to defeat them.
13. Come On, Come On-8/10
Fun fact this song was in a Kim Possible episode. Here is a quote from the episode by Steve that represents Smash Mouth's career "I'm not sure how we got here, but lets party". I always headbang during this song I can't help it. This song is about Steve being worried about what everyone thinks about him.
14. Home-5/10
Not really much to say. This song is simply about where fame can take you if it is eventually gained. It can lead you in either a good or bad direction.
15. Can't Get Enough of You Baby-9/10
This song is a cover of the song originally by Question Mark and the Mysterians who are known for... well "Can't Get Enough of You Baby". This song in my opinion seems more like it should have been at the beginning of the album rather than the end. This is surprisingly a really good cover. Possibly even better than the original. This song is simply about a man who can"t get enough of his baby.
Producer-Eric Valentine
Band Members
Steve Harwell-Lead Vocals
Greg Camp-Guitar, Backing Vocals
Paul de Lisle-Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Kevin Coleman-Drums, Percussion
Michael Klooster-Keyboards, Programming, Backing Vocals
Additional Personell
Mark Camp-Turntables, Effects
John Gove-Trombone
Dana Pfeffer-Xylophone
Eric Valentine-Additional Keyboards, Vibraphone
DJ Homicide-Turntables on "Stoned"
Now before I leave I wanted to say that I'm not going to review the self-titled album next. I will actually be reviewing The East Bay Sessions EP because I've been told that its even better "Fush Yu Mang". Thank you "Dctarga" you have peaked my interest. After that I will then review the mediocre self-titled album. Also one last thing, after this paragraph I will list some bands and whoever gets the most recommendations I will review all of their studio albums next. I'll see you guys next time with The East Bay Sessions EP.
Bands
Sugar Ray
Spin Doctors
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Reel Big Fish
Creed (Just Kidding)
