Smash Mouth: Astro Lounge : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

With the deadline for submitting ska-tinged summer jams fast approaching, Smash Mouth roll their big, goofy Cali jock pop into high gear. On their third album, they have all but abandoned the tuneful punk sound that defined most of '97's Fush Yu Mang, opting instead to dip this collection in a smooth, retro glaze. From the Copacabana shuffle of "Satellite" to the synthetic Eighties flare of "Radio," the boys borrow and bluff their way into a pleasant mix that's as inspired by the Cars as it is by the Beatles. Clouds of solemnity are unwelcome here; it's easy to lose patience with rueful ballads like "Waste" when they're sandwiched between the festive buzz of "I Just Wanna See" and the just-add-water radio jolt of "All Star." But overall, Astro Lounge is easy listening in the truest sense. (RS 815)

KATHRYN FARR