Description
The funny thing about San Jose's '90s breakout stars Smash Mouth is that most people's image of them is completely fixed. "All Star" seems to be in at least a third of the movies that come out every year, "Walkin' On The Sun" is still in alt-radio rotation, and I just heard their cover of "Why Can't We Be Friends" in the supermarket less than a month ago. But the reality is the band has been through a lot of change, and a struggle to find their musical identity. Among their frustrating personnel changes, founding songwriter and guitarist Greg Camp left, then came back, then left again earlier this year. After a rush of creativity and incredible success from their 1997 debut to 2002's gold-selling Smash Mouth, they've had increasing trouble with their new material, never seeming to be satisfied with what they've recorded - and after Summer Girl in 2006, simply releasing nothing at all. But they continue to play the hits live and still seem destined for the oft-promised album that returns them to their original sound. - Steve Palopoli Sanjose.com
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