Reel Big Fish have rocked stereos long enough to be
considered ska veterans. This comes as a bit of a
shock when you think that their smart ass punk anthems
would make the uninitiated think they were listening
to Less Than Jake's sarcastic, vulgar little brother.
Reel Big Fish are here for the party, and "Monkeys
For Nothin' & The Chimps For Free" would
be welcome at any shindig, get down, happening or
kegger.
There are a lot of ska bands to choose from. Why
choose Reel Big Fish? Because Reel Big Fish is the
best of the best. I have a fair amount of ska in my
music collection, but there are few bands I come back
to regularly for repeated listening. Reel Big Fish
tops that list. The high energy raw wit of "Another
F.U. Song" is pure punk bliss, and the reason
parents fear punk rock. Laid back songs like "My
Imaginary Friend" are catchy in an entirely different
way, but I defy you to get that track out of your
head. Go ahead. Try. I'll wait. See what I mean?
While I listen to Reel Big Fish for the tight musicianship
and the band's ability to stretch the boundaries of
the genre, often I come back just for the humor. "Please
Don't Tell Her I Have A Girlfriend" is an acoustic
ballad with an Irish feel that sounds just a tad like
Rancid's Tim Armstrong covering a Flogging Molly tune.
In the midst of this folksy, tavern sing-along style
celtic brogue, one realizes how wrong these lyrics
are.
But as always, that's what Reel Big Fish do. They
rock without apology. Reel Big Fish are both ska masters
and equal opportunity offenders. "Monkeys For
Nothin' & The Chimps For Free" is everything
I would expect from ska's masters of musical excellence
and the lyrical punchline. Reel Big Fish have me hooked,
and I'm not even trying to get loose.
Key Tracks: Hate You, Party Down, Please Don't Tell
Her I Have A Girlfriend
Reviewed by Jim McDonald |
