Smash Mouth founder and frontman Steve Harwell doesn't act jaded by interviews, though he's done his share over the course of a 15-year career that has seen Smash Mouth hit the heights — with hit albums and popular singles like "All Star," "Walking on the Sun" and "I'm a Believer" that spanned the '90s — and depths — with band and personal troubles, and a disappearance from the charts in this decade.

From the moment he hears a voice on the other end, however, he's one nonstop flow of friendly chatter.

He's high-energy (it's palpable through the telephone receiver) and low-filter (he'll say anything — about anyone). Almost all of his statements — even the more serious ones — are punctuated by a low chuckle, giving away in an instant his playful nature.

But that's not to imply that he hasn't been through it. He has. Over the years, Harwell has battled alcohol and drug addiction, the loss of his baby boy to cancer, a waning career and interpersonal drama — the kind that causes band members to leave on bad terms and new people to join the battered group with the hope of making things better.

Dare we say the hoping might have paid off? Harwell thinks so, and he's ready to be on top. Again.

On the phone from his home in California, Harwell talked about ... well, everything.

Let's get right to it, huh?

While I'm talking to you, I'll have you on speaker phone because I'm working on some music right now.

I'm OK with that.

I'm just finishing up my country record.

Are you being serious right now?

Yeah! I just finished a country record.

Nice. Is it solo or with the band?

Solo. And I'm signing with Toby Keith (the outspoken, hit-making country singer whose CDs include "Shock 'N Y'all"), actually. It's really ... awesome. It ain't no Jessica Simpson. ...

Well, that's a relief. Because you do have a tendency to sound like her.

Yeah, right. ... It's just my voice, with great country music around it, and great songs. And that's what makes it really fun. It's just me being real. ...

Can you hold on one second? ... (muttering to himself) Are you sure you want to quit Safari? There are two windows open in Safari do you want to ... hold on one second ... I'll get this figured out ... do I want to quit Safari?

Just say yes.

But I don't want to ... yeah, OK. I guess you're right. You're right. OK. Yes. Let's do it!

Yes, let's. This country record — is it more like rockabilly? I guess I'm having a hard time imagining what you would sound like doing straight country.

It's not rockabilly. It's pretty straight country, and it gets pretty serious. I've been sober for about two years, and there's a lot to talk about in the record — personal changes I've been through, tragedy, drugs and alcohol. It's me finally waking up and realizing that I have to deal with things in life.

So this is the transformative record.

Yeah, it kind of is. But then there's a lot of fun stuff too. There's a lot of good rock and party music. Let's say you took Gretchen Wilson's song — what's that big hit she had?

"Here for the Party"?

Yeah ... something like that. I don't know. But let's say you took that and then you took Kid Rock and actually made him be able to sing, and then you put me behind it. It's hard to describe. (Pauses.) You know what? It's American music. That's what I call it.

It's kind of like a roller-coaster ride.

Like, with lots of highs and lows?

No. With lots of variety. I like to take people on a ride. That's how I always make records. I don't like every record to sound like the last one — like a Nickelback record. I mean, God bless them, they have more money than they know what to do with, and they have a big fan base, but every song sounds the same. But it works. And he IS a good lyricist. But that's not what I want to do.

I wanted to get out of the Smash Mouth thing for a minute because I've only ever worked with my band. I did a solo rock record that I never put out because I didn't want to screw up the band that I had worked so hard to build over the years. I'm kind of a team player like that. Smash Mouth comes first.

But I had time to do the country thing, and I wanted to immerse myself in something new. ... And it was like a breath of fresh air. I really needed it. I was smothering myself in Smash Mouth.

Speaking of Smash Mouth, you guys have gone through a few changes, right?

Yeah. We were having some pretty serious band problems, which resulted in my guitar player leaving the band. It was a mutual decision because we just don't like each other anymore. And although it's sad to throw something away that we both worked so hard for, it was the best decision, because I needed someone who was going to be reliable. Now we have a guy who's a real rock star, and our shows are phenomenal. I'm in a much happier place, because I know when I walk on stage, that the guy is going to be on his game.

So, where is Smash Mouth at now in its band life?

Other than that issue, everything has been so much better for us. We're making a new Smash Mouth record, and we have two new members besides the new guitarist. It's great to be writing again. I learned a lot about writing while I was making my solo record and it has made it so much easier. We're already three songs into the new album, and we're rocking, man!

What can we expect from the new album?

It's going to be fun. It's a little bit ska, a little bit old-school, a little Sublime-y, Weezer-y, and it's got the classic Smash Mouth sound that will never change.

So, what's the status on "Old Habits"? Was that album ever released?

No. "Old Habits" ended up becoming "Summer Girl." We recorded "Old Habits," but no one wanted to touch it. Radio wants what it wants from Smash Mouth. They know what they want to hear and they know what the audience wants to hear. But we ended up releasing the album independently, which was a mistake, and it got almost no distribution. We're considering adding a few songs to the record and removing a few songs and then repackaging it for a re-release. It's a great record and no one knows about it.

But right now you're focusing on a new album.

Yeah, and I'm really excited about my country album. It's kind of like one hand washes the other. The solo album will help Smash Mouth, it's not going to take away from it. They aren't going to conflict with each other at all. ... It's just a good time right now. It's a lot of work, but sobriety has made me a better singer, a better writer and a better performer. And it definitely makes me more motivated. I used to wake up and I could barely make it down my stairs, but now I feel like I'm 15 years younger. I lost 40 pounds, and I feel a million times better. I definitely don't want to go back.

(He pauses for a few beats.) I'm telling you all kinds of things that I've never told anyone else!

Thanks. That's not something I hear very often. ... Have we heard you since you've been sober?

Nope. When I made my last record I was completely immersed in cocaine and alcohol.

Well, congratulations for getting clean. That's big. So, do you have a release date for the country album?

I'll figure that out in the next couple of weeks. It'll definitely be out this year. Maybe the end of August or early September.

Will we get to hear any of your country stuff when Smash Mouth plays tomorrow? Or do you keep the two separate?

I keep them separate because I don't want to come off like I'm throwing my solo stuff in the band's face. I just don't want to go there. ... I want to do things right this time around. We've had so much success, and I don't think we've even hit our stride yet. I feel like we have a really positive thing going now. And being sober — I feel like I could have nothing and be happy, as long as I'm sober.

Wow. That's a bold — and telling — statement.

I'm just happy. Everything's good.

I can tell. It sounds like everything is falling into place again for you.

You know, I really think it finally is. ... I can't wait to get there and play for you guys.