Why We Need a New Smash Mouth Album Right Now

This is the first of the new periodic lengthened article format! Need is a strong word. I am going to argue that it is necessary for me to use. The band Smash Mouth is often mis-attributed to kids’ movies and linked with all the wrong bands. What kind of music do you think I listen to? You may have never guessed that I am loving the new Fiona Apple and Dirty Projectors’ albums at the moment. I am also anticipating the new Animal Collective release. I listen to many types of rock and other sub-genres that push the limits. I have come to the conclusion that this era needs Smash Mouth’s new album, “Magic” that drops September 4th. If you haven’t been following the band since their hit album “Astro Lounge” in 1999, you are really missing out. Just as bands like Animal Collective are refreshingly different and off the wall, Smash Mouth is refreshingly straight forward and honest. With topics including dating a girl who still loves her ex (“Flo”), or being an awkward teen in the suburbs (Seventh Grade Dance), their topics are bound to hit home with the listener. “Everyday Superhero” and “Story Of My Life” apply to everyone. Singer Steve Harwell and company get right to the point, but keep the compositions complex and fascinating in the process. Their distinct timeless sound that started with “Walking On The Sun” has always stuck with the group. They are very talented musicians and impressive songwriters. Taking everyday topics and shaping them into catchy and comforting jams is the charm of the group. Digging into their catalogue, nearly every Smash Mouth song is made for the underdog. Steve Harwell is an underdog himself. He knows how hard small things like finding dates and being made fun of for your style could be. With their new album approaching, I am excited to have topics like this approached again. Smash Mouth are unmatched when it comes to relating to a major band that has gotten regular radio play. Every popular song right now involves the singer getting what he or she wants. How am I supposed to relate to that suave persona? Even if a pop singer claims that they are having a hard time, I can’t believe them when their next single is about how they found the perfect person. It isn’t that Smash Mouth songs are gloomy either. They are upbeat and fun a lot of the time. They usually leave you with hope. “Gather around I’m here to say, you’ll never make everybody’s day”, Harwell sings in “Hold On”. These kinds of encouragements are words of wisdom that I could use when I have lost my way. The deliveries of these lines are very honest and heartfelt. For these reasons, they are the only upbeat band that I could stand when I am in a bad mood. I usually look towards “Grizzly Bear” or “The National” when I am down also. With better hooks and messages than anything on popular radio, I believe that Smash Mouth are going to make a very welcomed return to a lost generation that doesn’t know what we had in the 90’s. Think of your favorite songs on the radio during that time. The songs now barely compare when it comes to making an impact. Smash Mouth have the all around talent to stay one of the greatest acts of this generation. We need an actual BAND to rise above the bubble-gum music that is polluting the radio that the general public listens to. Smash Mouth are our best chance. We need this new album. It is going to contain a cover of the 80’s hit “Don’t You Forget About Me”. Very appropriate. If you thought that Smash Mouth lost it along the way, it could be you that needs to be reminded of how great they are.

Upcoming and recent Indie music!

After a break with this blog, I'm back and I have to catch up on what I missed talking about. I thought that I would start with a recap of what music has been notable lately.

1) Sleigh Bells: Reign of Terror
This album shows that you could make noise pop with wonderful hooks. Even more so than their debut "Treats", the band shows that they have a knack for making outstanding hooks and could combine sounds that make music fresh again.

2) Memoryhouse: The Slideshow Effect
January saw the release of this amazingly chill album. They have only released a five song EP before this, and this release has been highly anticipated. It's pretty great how laid back they are. One of the most relaxing and satisfying albums I have heard in a while.

3) The Shins: Port of Morrow
James Mercer is still at the top of the indie-rock game. He proves this again with this outstanding comeback that is filled to the brim with amazing moments that reminded me of why they are one of my favorite bands. It has been 5 years since their last release, but it all pays off now.

4) Beach House: Bloom
This album will be released on 5/15/12, and if you are a fan of the band, you know that they have always delivered laid back jams on their albums. This fourth album is sounding fantastic from what I have heard so far. I can't wait!

5) The Spinto Band: Shy Pursuit
This album comes out on 5/1/12 and actually has a lot riding on it in my opinion. This could be the one that gets this band into the public eye. I don't know how they aren't already. Perhaps the gap of four years between albums slowed things down, but from what I have heard from this album, they are on top of things again. They have always had a unique sound and I am excited to see what they have been working on for all this time!

6) Keane: Strangeland
Coming out in May, this is the first proper Keane album since 2008. They have a lot to live up to, but I am pretty certain that they will deliver again. I am always impressed by their studio albums. We will have to see if the moving piano driven pieces are still intact.


Justice is served!

Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie

If you are a fan of extremely obscure comedy, then you probably already know about Tim and Eric from Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming. Their particular brand of humor isn't for everyone, but my roommates and I find it to be genius. It really is smart despite appearing goofy on the surface. The fact that they were able to translate their off-color humor into a full length feature is remarkable in itself. They submitted a short film into the Sundance Film Festival in 2010 called "The Terrys" that they received praise for. This film is a must see if you enjoy far-fetched off the wall humor. There are many surprise guest stars that will have you laughing out loud. It was just released On Demand for rental. It hits select theaters in a couple of months. Catch it now. Justice is served. Top Gun from the top......again.

Best Worst Movie (2009 Documentary)

I never thought that I would ever be talking about the film "Troll 2" on this blog at all. Little did I know that "Best Worst Movie" would be one of the funniest and most entertaining documentaries that I have ever seen. Michael Stephenson, who acted in "Troll 2" as a child, felt compelled to show audiences why this film was so awful and he gets the outrageous stories from the other cast members about what really happened. First of all, if you love bad movies for entertainment some times, "Troll 2" is a must see in the most ironic sense of the term. The best thing about this documentary in my opinion is the fact that the people who acted in this film agree that it is a train-wreck of a film and laugh at it also. While most of the people involved find the film laughable, the director and his wife who wrote it don't see it that way, and neither does the actress who played the mother. If you ever wondered how a film as bad as "Troll 2" could ever come about, this film answers all of the questions. The actor who played the father, George Hardy who is now a dentist, has a lot of fun telling people that he was in an awful film, and comes to the discovery that it has a cult following. There are a lot of great moments in this film. On top of everything, cast members re-enact scenes from the movie and find it hard not to burst out laughing. Stephenson has hit the spot with uncovering the story behind "Troll 2" 17 years later. Bravo. Justice is served. You can't piss on hospitality!

Smash Mouth: "Fush Yu Mang"

Prior to this band being featured in a ton of kids movies, they came out with this album. Some of the songs are Ska here (Padrino, Flo). I have to say that they are very talented musicians with great hooks and chord changes. "Astro Lounge" is arguably their best album as a whole, but this one has a lot of great moments. No one really talks about their debut. Of course people know "Walking On The Sun", but you need to hear the whole album to see how much fun and how clever this band really is. All of their albums have great things about them in my opinion, I highly recommend starting here. Justice is served. Florence is you hear this would you come and pick your girlfriend up.

Tower Heist

I have to say that this film got really poor marketing, and is one of the most underrated films of the year. Because of the cast, it was dismissed. Everyone who skipped this one should know that everyone involved was top-notch and in their finest form. Especially Eddie Murphy. This was a great return to form for him. We all know that he hasn't delivered a good comedy in a long time. This one was pretty funny and surprisingly had heart. Brett Ratner also returned to form with arguably his best film since "Rush Hour 2". This was very fun and Ratner knows how to deliver a good action-comedy. With this coming to home video some time soon, it's definitely worth checking out. I think you will be presently surprised, as critics were. That's right, this film has a fresh rating on "Rotten Tomatoes". It has a higher rating than the films that it opened with in the same weekend ("J. Edgar", "In Time"). This was one of the biggest surprises of the year for me to be honest. Justice is served.

Sleigh Bells (band)

What do you get when you put together a female pop singer with a metal guitarist? The greatest noise pop/ indie rock group around. You actually cannot compare this band to any other. In 2010, they released their first full album "Treats". I was blown away by this album and I'm really excited for their second album that comes out in February. I can't exactly describe their sound. I will say that it may catch you off guard at first, but give it a chance because it's worth it. This is an exciting innovation in modern music that shows that there is hope. Justice is served. Set set that crown on the ground.