Smash Mouth 'Get The Picture?' album

"We are California in a can!" says Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell, whose fun in the sun supremacy comes from hits like "All-Star," "I'm a Believer," "Walkin' on the Sun," and "Can't Get Enough of You Baby." Back for more sunny scorchers, Smash Mouth ignites another pop party with Get the Picture?, an album full of memories and music that make it the perfect soundtrack for summertime fun.

Get the Picture? kicks off with "You Are My Number One," a pure pop anthem juiced up with guest flavor from 2-Tone legend Ranking Roger of the English Beat. The lead track also boasts writing credits from yet another legend, Neil Diamond, whom any Trivia Challenge champ knows as the pen behind "I'm a Believer" (sorry Davy Jones). Smash Mouth, who admit to Beach Boys and Dick Dale influences, rev up the guitars on "Always Gets Her Way" and poppy keyboard parts provided by Self's Matt Mahaffey bring bounce to "Whole Lotta Love."

Produced by the band and Karl Derfler, Get the Picture? also delves into deeper reflections with songs like "Hang On," a September 11 memorial that encourages everyone to start enjoying life again. Likewise, "Seventh Grade Dance" narratives a humorous analogy between a troubling trip to one's first J-Hi dance and an Andy Dick Hollywood Hills house party attended by guitarist Greg Camp.

"It was one of those parties in which people basically passed around 8X10 head shots," laughs Harwell. "Hearing about Greg's experiences at the party was hilarious for us because we know that scene is so not him."

For fans wondering what type of party would exemplify the group, Smash Mouth will throw 20 backyard bashes this summer in association with radio stations nationwide. For each winning contestant, Smash Mouth will perform in his or her backyard for a beer and BBQ bash that will surely send neighbors into a tailspin. Furthermore, one of the lucky contestants will also win the brand new 4X4 Jeep Rubicon that's featured in the "You Are My Number One" video.

Turning back the yearbooks, Smash Mouth first made a local mark when their demo track "Nervous in the Alley" hit big at San Jose's KOME radio. The group soon self-recorded their debut album, Fush Yu Mang, and Harwell drove the finished disc down to a friend at KROQ radio in Los Angeles. Within hours, KROQ added "Walkin' on the Sun," and the song rocketed to number four on that night's countdown. Ironically, Harwell never thought to tell anyone where he was staying, so music labels put their interns on overtime until someone finally found him at a Sunset Strip motel. Within days, Fush Yu Mang was set for national release on Interscope Records, and "Walkin' on the Sun" was headed for the number one spot on the Modern Rock Radio charts.

Smash Mouth sold over two million copies of their self-made debut, but it was 1999's Astro Lounge that truly set the pop pinnacle. The lead single "All-Star" topped three national radio charts and hit number four on Billboard's perennial Hot 100. Likewise, the album sold nearly three and a half million copies and climbed to number six on the album sales charts. The group's self-titled third album, though released in the unfortunate wake of September 11, still produced such fun-loving tracks as "Pacific Coast Party" (the remix of which cracked the Top 20 on the Dance/Club chart) and "I'm a Believer," which was prominently featured in the film "Shrek." Smash Mouth will likely contribute to the forthcoming "Shrek" sequel, adding to big screen credits that already include "Can't Hardly Wait," "Mystery Man," "Austin Powers in Goldmember," "Ed TV," "Clockstoppers," "Inspector Gadget," and several others, including an onscreen performance in "Rat Race."

Get the Picture? marks a return to their sun and fun roots, but Smash Mouth still know how to bring life to any season. In fact, Get the Picture?'s sunny pop energy and memorable melodies make this just the type of record to extend the summer season all year long.

MEMBERS
Steve Harwell - vocals
Greg Camp - guitar
Paul De Lisle - bass
Michael Urbano - drums

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Tracklisting

Smash Mouth - Get The Picture?