Fush Yu Mang – Christopher Thelen

Thanks to radio’s non-stop playing of the single “Walkin’ On The
Sun,” Steve Harwell and Smash Mouth almost instantly became the
talk of the town. The retro-sound of that song seemed to indicate a
new direction that alternative rock might be taking.

Too bad that the rest of Smash Mouth’s debut album,
Fush Yu Mang, doesn’t live up to the same level of
excellence. This first effort highlights a band that seems to want
to be the next Green Day and Mighty Mighty Bosstones at the same
time – and they fail to hit the mark often enough.

If you pick this abum up expecting to hear more in the vein of
“Walkin’ On The Sun” – or even “All-Star” from their latest disc
Astro Lounge, you’re in for a major shock. More often than
not, Harwell and crew engage in frantic ska that borders on being
punk – hardly the sound we were led to expect from Smash Mouth.

Sometimes, this mixture works well. “Heave-Ho” is a fun song
about the trials and tribulations of dealing with an asshole
neighbor and a landlord who’s a jerk (gee, sounds like the
situation in my first apartment in River Grove) that is all but
certain to put a smile on your face. Likewise, tracks like “Pet
Names” and “Padrino” are surprisingly good tracks that are just as
funny (though I wonder if this was intentional).

Other times, this doesn’t work as well. “The Fonz,” a slower
number, fails dismally in its attempt to describe trying to live
next to the ideal of one who is “cooler” than you. And i can’t say
that the cover of War’s “Why Can’t We Be Friends” is awe-inspiring;
if there’s any song that didn’t need to be converted to
reggae-on-crystal-meth, this was it. Stick to the original; it’s
more enjoyable to listen to.

Fush Yu Mang has moments where the material’s success or
failure will depend on your mood of the day. This time around, I
happened to enjoy “Nervous In The Alley” and “Disconnect The Dots,”
but hated “Let’s Rock” and “Beer Goggles”. Your experience with
these tracks will differ with each successive listen.

You’ll notice I’ve withheld judgment on “Walkin’ On The Sun,”
but it’s no secret that I love this song, overplayed as it is. If
there was any song that begged to be included on an
Austin Powers film, this has to be a no-brainer. The style
of this song makes it sound very James Bond-ish, and it’s so catchy
that you might just find yourself up dancing to this one.

Fush Yu Mang is a tape that might destroy people’s
expectations of Smash Mouth, and is very hit or miss. Approach this
one with caution.