According to the band's official website at the time, the album was going to sound much more like ska punk, similar to Fush Yu Mang and The East Bay Sessions.

The album was delayed many times, in the hope of gaining publicity with Steve Harwell's appearance on the reality show The Surreal Life.

Smash Mouth returned to the studio intent on making their new record better;[1] however, Old Habits was eventually shelved and most tracks were remixed and released on Summer Girl.

The full announcement on their website read: Smash Mouth have completed their fifth record, entitled "Old Habits" and are looking at a Summer 2005 release date.

Recorded at Studio 880 in Oakland, CA with producer Jeff Salzman (The Killers, The Black Keys) and mixed at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, TN by Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Tom Waits), the new 12 song collection is fast and rockin', with an aggressive sound that harkens back to the band's multi-platinum debut "Fush You Mang" [sic].