Smash Mouth

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