Reel Big Fish Albums (7)
'Fame, Fortune and Fornication'
Release Date 1/20/2009
Tracks 10
Label Rock Ridge
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What The Critics Say
Reel Big Fish originally formed as a cover band, playing hyperactive renditions of metal anthems and Top 40 material before discovering ska music in the mid-'90s. Although the group released several covers throughout the subsequent decade (most notably a brassy remake of A-ha's "Take on Me," which appeared on the BASEketball soundtrack), Fame, Fortune and Fornication marks Reel Big Fish's first covers-only album, featuring ten songs in less than 30 minutes. The band speeds through material by the likes of Tom Petty, Slade, and the Eagles, giving each song the standard ska remake treatment of horns, upstroke guitar, and tongue-in-cheek vocals. Poison is the only band to receive two covers, one of which -- a co-ed version of "Talk Dirty to Me" featuring British accents -- is perhaps the highlight of the disc. Other standouts include a version of Toots & the Maytals' "Monkey Man," an unpredictable choice that shows appreciation for RBF's predecessors. The bulk of this record is fairly humdrum, however, delivering on the typical promise of most ska cover albums (e.g. fast, humorous covers of songs that are neither fast nor humorous) but offering few surprises. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
'Monkeys for Nothin' and the Chimps for Free'
Release Date 7/10/2007
Tracks 18
Label Rock Ridge
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What The Critics Say
It's no secret that Reel Big Fish were less than pleased with their time spent at Jive/Mojo Records, and they made it pretty obvious as to their elation at being finally dropped sometime after 2005's We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy. So maybe that's why their first album back in the indie world, Monkeys for Nothin' and the Chimps for Free, is the band's most lighthearted effort in years. That's not to say their trademark sarcasm, snarkiness, and sharp wit are any less present, since without those bits, it wouldn't really be a Reel Big Fish album. Don't worry, they're there -- see "Hate You," "Why Do All Girls Think They're Fat?," and "The New Version of You" as just a few examples -- but it's kinda nice that the Fish are largely back to simple and superficial mischief, instead of spending the majority of their time bitter at corporate suits and fans who call them sellouts. Reel Big Fish have simply made a fun, catchy as hell album, from the reggae-infused "Slow Down" to the island vibe of "Will the Revolution Come?" to the late-'90s ska-punk of "I'm Her Man." "My Imaginary Friend" has a nice chorus for a sunny-day skip down the street, while overly jovial cuts like the ridiculous "Party Down" and "Everybody's Drunk" clearly reveal the guys just enjoying playing together and having a good time. Listeners will have a hard time not following suit. This is playfulness reminiscent of the Everything Sucks era -- there's even the wonderful "Another F.U. Song" to rival the expletive blast of prior pit anthem "Nothin'" -- and seeing as some of Monkeys' songs are apparently reworked demos dating all the way back to 1999, that might have something to do with it. But reasons don't matter so much as the result, and Monkeys for Nothin' and the Chimps for Free presents a rejuvenated, almost carefree Reel Big Fish completely unaware that their best years should be behind them; after all, ska-punk supposedly died years ago. But Reel Big Fish just keep plowing forward, pumping out the hits like it was the easiest thing in the world, and leaving their fans all the luckier for it. ~ Corey Apar, All Music Guide
'We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy'
Release Date 4/5/2005
Tracks 14
Label Mojo / Jive
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What The Critics Say
We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy is Reel Big Fish's first album in three years. But if the title isn't a giveaway, this feels more like an embittered farewell than a triumphant return. The artwork features a bonfire built from mangled instruments, the band fight against a sinking ship, and frontman Aaron Barrett sings angrily about his band, thankless fans, record industry stupidity, and a few ex-girlfriends. And yet, as they did with the 1996 hit "Sell Out," Reel Big Fish attach their cynicism to buoyant melodies, ringing guitars, and charming inflections of their third-wave past. For a band so angry about their state of being, Reel Big Fish sure seem game to keep plugging away, and this conflicted sentiment makes We're Not Happy confusing. "One Hit Wonderful" begins with a montage of "flashback lunch" radio DJs and snippets of "Sell Out" before slamming fickle fans into an Irish drinking song sway. "Last Show" pulls even fewer punches -- "I've learned my lesson/I'll never follow my dreams again," Barrett sings -- but it's one of We're Not Happy's hookiest tracks. Even the covers are telling, as Big Fish fry up ska-punk'd versions of Social Distortion's "Story of My Life" (where they sound exactly like Smash Mouth) and Morrissey's "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful." (Another cover, Tracy Chapman's "Talkin' Bout a Revolution," misses the point completely.) What do Reel Big Fish really want? Opener "Fire" is a refreshing blast in the vein of classic Operation Ivy, but it also considers the futility of making music. Then there's the self-explanatory "Don't Start a Band." It has none of the veteran's tone of warning, à la Less Than Jake's 2003 LP Anthem; it just hammers home record biz shenanigans over another sunny ska-punk hook. "Turn the Radio Off" is the final word, denouncing the industry, radio, its "zombie" listeners, and seemingly by association, Reel Big Fish themselves. And naturally it's super catchy. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
One of the strange things that's happened to many of the ska-punk and neo-punk bands of the '90s is that as they've grown up and gotten to their third album, they start moving toward power pop territory, all seen through a new wave filter. Reel Big Fish is no exception to the rule. Their third album, Cheer Up!, still has elements of what brought them a hit in the post-alternative mid-'90s -- metallic guitars competing with brassy horns, a mischievous sense of humor -- but the tempos have slowed down a little, and they've spent more time crafting their songs, punching up the melody to the forefront, turning this into more of a pop album than a smirky rock album. This may distress some die-hard fans, but it actually results in a varied, infectious record that isn't just their most diverse album, it's their best. True, it doesn't capture the zeitgeist like their debut, but there's more character here, and it's more consistent, too. Not a bad way to mature. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Everything Sucks'
Release Date 1/25/2000
Tracks 21
Label Uptown/Universal
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What The Critics Say
Everything Sucks, Reel Big Fish's debut album, pretty much sets the tone for the group's subsequent work -- hyperkinetic ska-punk that's sometimes tunefully catchy and sometimes just works the groove. Of course, the lyrics are an important part of the group's appeal, and their trademark sense of frat-boy humor is already well in place, as evidenced by songs like "I Want Your Girlfriend to Be My Girlfriend Too," "Why Do All Girls Think They're Fat," "Big Fuckin' Star," "Beer," and "Snoop Dogg, Baby." The heavy irony may seem a little smug and superficial to the uninitiated, but anyone who enjoyed their major-label albums will be pleased to find more of the same here. [Everything Sucks was reissued in 2000 with two bonus tracks and an enhanced section containing the band's first music video clip.] ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
'Why Do They Rock So Hard?'
Release Date 10/20/1998
Tracks 17
Label Uptown/Universal
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What The Critics Say
Why do Reel Big Fish rock so hard? Because they can, of course. Back when these fish were mere smelts, they had swum along a very different circuit than that of the ska scene, paying the bills with their cover band, professionally and proficiently reeling out sets of hard rock and glam faves. Until, that is, original RBF Ben Guzman turned them on to ska. The rest is history. But now with Why Do They Rock So Hard?, RBF swim up their old stream to spawn a new set of kick-ass rock, fueled by kicking syncopated beats. Few reggae fans have bothered to wonder just why it was rock made such a small impression on Jamaica. Every producer on the island deluged the market with floods of pop covers, but rock numbers were universally ignored. What would have happened if, say, the Supersonics were unleashed on classic rock? And what if the Two Tone bands had turned not to punk for inspiration but to the rock and glam of their youth, as well as the reggae bands that so electrified their school years? Combine these two musing thoughts and you're left with rock, a tribute to a cross-hybridization that never happened. Of course, even when RBF had fully formed under the ska banner, they incorporated rock into their sound, and to prove that point, the set includes several numbers recut from their debut album Everything Sucks. Now, however that rock styling is allowed full rein, bringing the band an even bigger sound than before. Hey, they even include a power ballad, "Big Star" to really give those rock fans an added thrill. RBF have always had a wry sense of humor, viewing their success sardonically, and as slick as they've always sounded, they've never really cared if their roller coaster ride comes to an stop. Because in the end, they're having a grand time, playing what they like, mixing it up how they see fit, and "if you don't get it, why don't you go shove your head back up your ass." Obviously the band are still not pulling any punches. But "Everything Is Cool" and really the band do love you, as they assure us on "We Care," a big rock showstopper, fizzing with searing guitar solos and blasts of brass. And that's the beauty of this set, with tongue still firmly in cheek, RBF swim into exciting new waters, bringing ska to the rock masses, and rock to the skankers. Purists on either side of the divide will be singularly unimpressed, but the rest of the world can only revel in this phenomenal blending of opposing styles. ~ Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide
'Turn the Radio Off'
Release Date 8/13/1996
Tracks 16
Label Uptown/Universal
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What The Critics Say
"I'll never be a rock and roll star," Reel Big Fish's Aaron Barrett sweetly sings out in frustration at his band's inability to reach pin-up proportions on "I'll Never Be." Ah, but that song was written long before the group decided to "Sell Out," and promptly garner the attention Barrett so craved. Their timing was impeccable, for ska was then terminally "Trendy," and the Big Fish were ready to be reeled into the big time. So Turn the Radio Off, because their songs sound better coming out of the stereo minus the annoying DJ and ads that interrupt the party. This is the band's first album for Mojo, but some fans will already be familiar with many of the songs within, as nearly half the set features tracks from their self- released debut Everything Sucks. However, they've all been fabulously re-cut (as newcomers would discover for themselves once Mojo reissued Sucks in 2000). The group's lineup underwent numerous changes in between the two recordings, but Fish's sarky and snarky attitude remained the same, as such new songs as "Sell Out" and the hilarious "She Has a Girlfriend Now" well prove. That latter number boasts Save Ferris' Monique Powell on vocals, and she's just one of a bevy of guest stars found within. "Girlfriend" is ska at its most irresistible, and equally good are the re-recorded "Trendy," "Beer" and "Join the Club," alongside a slew of new numbers including the instrumental "241," the brass meets ska-core "All I Want Is More," and the storming "Nothin'." The Fish are now swimming in a much bigger pond, but they've grown to shark-like proportions along the way, and this sleek set of infectious songs, flashy arrangements, finely honed playing, and huge sound courtesy of the excellent production, is proof positive that the Fish are minnows no longer. ~ Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide
