by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

The groovy, '60s soul-funk of "Walking on the Sun" disguises the fact that Smash Mouth isn't much more than a run-of-the-mill ska-punk band and that their debut, Fush Yu Mang, isn't much more than an average modern rock album. With its organ riff and breezy melody, "Walking on the Sun" is a great one-shot single, yet Smash Mouth never comes close to replicating its easy charm anywhere on Fush Yu Mang. They sound clumsy when they rock, and their up-tempo numbers never quite catch fire. There are some moments that'll satisfy third wave ska revival fans, but anyone hooked in by the single will find the album disappointing.