Do I really need to tell you about Smash Mouth? Before Shrek, they rocked two chart topping video singles, "Walking on the Sun" and the ? and the Mysterians cover "Can't get enough of you baby". Both featured an absolutely stunning Farfisa in an age where 60's electric organs were common thrift store trash and the internet hadn't ruined ?'s identity yet. Sure they were hat guys and the videos blew chunks, but the songs had an undeniable sense of fun and groove that defines the essential qualities of smashrays. Obviously, Shrek & All Star changed everything, putting the band on the bloated path to financial freedom and on an endless tour of the nation's casinos and fairgrounds. [DB]
Rowdier than the Sugar Ray singles, Smash Mouth gave the world some truly uplifting tracks. Infectious, pure 60's pop with beefed up drum tracks. Despite the positivity of the band's music though, the singer did leave behind a complicated legacy. I wish I could say that it is as simple as the positives: hit singles, playing the 1999 home run derby at Fenway Park, raising thousands of dollars for charity in an egg eating challenge (cooked by Guy Fieri), but there is a more difficult reality. [Bill]