Has there been a bigger punchline of a pop rock act in recent years than Smash Mouth? All the San Jose-based band has ever wanted to do was produce sunny, playful, and frequently retro-tinged pop songs, only to face relentless mockery as their careers have developed. This reputation as a pop rock punching bag has only increased since reaching memetic status in the deepest, dankest depths of the internet.
This ridicule can surely be traced back to the album which brought them commercial success: 1999's Astro Lounge, which at the time was critically acclaimed, built upon the massively successful lead single "All-Star", which appeared in films like Mystery Men, Rat Race, and most notably the Shrek franchise.
Which brings us to today, where on a new episode of Jukebox Zeroes, Lilz & Patrick are joined by Surprise Party bassist/vocalist Jeff Silva to figure Astro Lounge out. For a single song to have generated miles and miles worth of internet memes, jokes, and references, the album it's attached to would either have to be very good or very bad. Join us.
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