This is the second album by reel big fish. I believe it came out in 1998. These guys kick ***, if you get a chance to see them live its definitely worth it.
I'm gonna review each song and then review the entire album.
Somebody hates me
this is a very good song to start the album. starts with some nice guitar licks by Aaron, followed by a ska guitar part. probably the catchiest horn line on the album comes in next. the verse is ska chords witho any snare drum beat. the drums come in on the chorus intro with a guitar lick. The chorus is pretty catchy, with overdrive power chords. The lyrics are about random hate and don’t make much sense at all. that (in my opinion) is a good thing. 8.5-10
Brand new song
another solid ska song with funny lyrics (I’ve got a brand new girlfriend/ she is so lovely, lovely/ I got a new ex girlfriend/ she is so fat and ugly). intro is a pretty simple guitar line followed by some ska guitar with a horn line. bouncy ska verse followed by a bouncier overdrive sing along chorus with more horn parts. overall a pretty good but not super great song 8-10
She's famous now
One of their best songs ever in my opinion. lyrics are about a guy's ex girlfriend becoming another fake pop star (well she's like me/ just not as ugly). intro is a nice chicken pickin' guitar line followed by a ska part with horns. the verse switches from ska guitar to overdrive several times nicely and is very catchy. the chorus intro is more ska guitar, followed by an overdrive chorus with nice horn parts. the bridge is a pretty simple but still good guitar solo with power chords. overall a great song...catchy but not so much that it rubs off on you in a bad way 10-10
You dont know
This song is just flat out hilarious. it starts with Aaron suddenly exclaiming "holy ****, were on!" followed by a power chord line and a ska part. the verse is ska guitar work with a overdrive string bending riff for the chorus. the lyrics are what really make this song worth listening too: "first of all/ i'd like to say **** off/ **** off (casually)/**** off, **** OFF!/ if you don’t get it/ why don’t you go shove your head back/ up your *** and don’t/ waste my time/ I don’t need your opinion/ no no/ uh uh uh/ cause you don’t know what its like/ you don’t know what its like/ you don’t know what its like to be like me/ you don’t know so keep your mouth shut" amen 8-10
The set up (you need this)
This was a single and is very good at first but can get old eventually. starts with a fast guitar riff followed by another one with horns. the verse is power chords. the chorus is almost pop with the high singing parts and the tamed down guitar sound. i used to really like this song but I’ve kinda gotten a little bit tired of the chorus 8.5-10
Thank you for not moshing
maybe thier best pure ska song on the album. comes in with an overdrive version of the chorus followed by slower ska guitar work for the verse. the chorus is fast ska with a great horn line. the lyrics are great once again, this time about beating people up at concerts: "when im in the pit/ im gonna punch and kick/ when I’m in the pit don’t ya knowith im gonna **** up ****, ya!" 9-10
I’m cool
this song really grew on me. its got a bit of a reggae feel to it, which is a nice change up. comes in with a reggae-ish guitar line. the chorus is great with Aaron and Scott’s great melodies on the "yeah yeah yeahs." song builds up to a climax with the horns coming in during the bridge and at the end. overall a refreshing change up. 9-10
I want your girlfriend to be my girlfriend too
this song is ok but there’s nothing really great about it. ska intro with horns. ska verse. power chord chorus. Similar to the first three songs on the album but just not as good. there’s one nice part in the bridge where power chords, horn lines and a fast beat come in nicely but other then that this is nothing to write home about 7-10
Everything is cool
this one is weird but good. comes in with fast ska guitar. chaotic horn parts are added to that. the verse is almost metalish with dark sound voices (they had too much fun with the voice changers). right when the music comes to a chaotic peak it all of a sudden cuts down to a ska part with bouncy horn parts and Aaron singing "everything is cool/ how are things with you?/ everything is cool/i wish you were DEAD!" that is when a nice overdrive guitar part comes in. weird song but pretty good overall 8-10
Song #3
I just don’t like this song. its ska guitar work with half rapping/ half singing. being the rap hating person I am, once I heard the first minute of this one I skipped it. 4.5-10
Scott’s a dork
They redeem themselves quickly after song #3 with the crowd favorite Scott’s a dork. Ska work with horns for the intro followed by a ska verse and chorus intro. the chorus is power chords with Aaron singing "Scott’s a do-o-o-or-r-rk!". the bridge is chicken pickin' with Scott in the background singing "dork dork dork dork dork dork dork dork dork." other then the chorus the lyrics have absolutely nothing to do with Scott being a dork. overall a very goofy but pretty good song 9-10
Big star
This is a little bit of a change-up from their normal stuff. it starts with a acoustic guitar strumming for about two minutes with just Aaron singing. Includes these classic lyrics "I’m such an *******/ how could you resist?/ I never meant to let it go to my head I/ never thought it would come to this/ its me/ the ******* of your dreams" then the overdrive guitar comes in and it turns into a pure rock song with Aaron shouting at the top of his lungs "I’m a big/ ****ing star o ya!" pretty good song 8.5-10
The kids don’t like it
This song is kinda like I want your girlfriend to be my girlfriend too in that it never really came across as anything special. Don’t really like the intro part. The verse is ska and just ok. The chorus is alright with catchy power chords. But overall nothing to write home about 7-10
Down in flames
Classic RBF! I love this song. catchy power chords with horn lines. a nice guitar. Riff to open it up. catchy ska chorus. this song has it all. sounds a bit like less than Jake, which is a good thing. Nice reggae-ish riff on the bridge. nice melody on the ending. Overall great song 10-10
We care
This song is ok but not great. The verse kinda drags along at a much too slow pace. the tempo is picked up though on a good chorus which features chicken pickin' with horn lines. the song is basically the band thanking their fans for putting up with the all the random **** they do...doesn’t really fit with the rest of the album b/c the lyrics are actually serious. Still a decent song though 7.5-10
Victory over Peter Bones
This song really doesn’t fit in. It’s the kind of mellow tune you'd associate with a fancy restaurant surrounded by bouncy, much more interesting ska songs. 5-10
Untitled
This is 11 minutes of random **** they improvised. Definitely more for humor then for musical quality. I wont wreck the surprise jokes for anyone who hasn’t heard this yet but it has some really funny stuff 10-10 for making me crack up.
Ok that’s it! overall I’d give this album 9-10. it is a nice break from the ANGST driven bands that are more well known. Reel big fish are basically about saying **** that and having fun and that’s why I like them. if you like that attitude then definitely buy this album.
