So now I know that at least 3 people on Ciao know who these guys are, I feel it’s time I treated you to an in-depth op on their second album – Turn The Radio Off (from now referred to as TTRO to save space and prevent repetitive strain injury). Reel Big Fish released TTRO in 1996, into an America that was going bonkers for Ska, and this, their second album, really got them noticed. The single Sellout got some major airplay on alternative radio in the states and even MTV noticed who they were. So is it a one-single-wonder or a modern musical masterpiece?

Sellout (3.46)

It is a great track, there’s absolutely no denying that, and it really arrived at the right time. The issue of selling out has caused many an argument among ska and punk fans across the world and this track looks at it from a humorous angle. The track kicks straight in with horns a blazin’ and a cracking hook line before going into a basic guitar/bass/drums sound for the verses. The lyrics are basically about a guy convincing his girlfriend that now he’s signed to a label he’s not going to have any worries anymore - “I know you can’t work in fast food all your life, but don’t sign that paper to night, she said”. I love the lyrics and it’s a fairly up tempo and bouncy track – one of the best on the album.

Trendy (2.26)

This is a weird combination of style/sounds/lyrics, but some how comes together to make a very enjoyable. It starts off with the bizarre chanting of “Everybody’s doing the fish” before going into a pretty quick guitar part, and then turning into something that distinctly reminds of the lambarda. Another track where the lyrics are sung with tongue firmly in cheek.

Join The Club (2.23)

This starts off very slowly with very quite guitar and lyrics, before the horns and bass kick in. This is a track with lots of whoa-ho’s and yeah’s (something that I always like in songs!), but the thing I really like is the fact it’s such a laid back track in places, but so quick and loud in others. The lyrics are partly about trying to get a girl to like you by playing guitar, and partly a teenage angst thing about not being about to do anything new because everything’s already been done before – “everybody, everybody, everybody plays guitar”. A good track.

She Has a Girlfriend Now (3.06)

I love this track. It’s the age old story – boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, girl decides that she much prefers women and leaves boy. This track has Monique Powell of Save Ferris (see previous op – hint, hint, plug, plug) guesting on vocals. It’s a very singalongable track with a slowish tempo to start off with before the guy (obviously getting a bit desperate by this point) speeds up the lyrics while proclaiming that he’d even cut his p***s off for her (does that need *’s? Would I offend anyone if I left them out?!). Very bouncy, Monique’s voice is fantastic and the lyrics are great. Definitely one of the best on the album.

Snoop Dog, Baby (3.24)

As I’m not really clued into the whole rap culture, I can’t tell you why the chorus is a reference to the master of rap Calvin Broadus, but the lyrics of the verses are all about a guy who’s girlfriend has left him and he’s reminded of her when he hears a specific song – I can only assume that “that song” that they are playing on the radio is Mr Dogg himself. Anyway this is another track that veers from slowish happy ska, to punky loud bits in the blink of an eye. One of the first songs I heard of this album and one of my favourites.

Beer (3.31)

An ode to drinking to forget your problems, it’s a quicker track and features lots of who-ho-ho’s (which make me a happy bunny). It’s actually a lot darker compared to a lot of RBF’s other tracks and it’s also focused more on the guitars than the brass section which isn’t the normal RBF style. I like this track, but it isn’t the best on the album.

241 (2.43 according to the album cover – surely it should be 2.41?)

An instrumental (well nearly – occasionally someone yells “twenty four one!” in the background, but that’s hardly much lyrical content). I have an aversion to instrumentals, but this has a kind of Spanish Mexican vibe and I always seem to get it stuck in my head. It does let the brass section take centre stage and let Aaron and Scott rest their voices a bit, so I guess it works in the album, but essentially it’s a filler (albeit a good one).

Everything Sucks (2.43)

This originally appeared on the first RBF album of the same name and is another one of those tongue-in-cheek tracks. It starts with possibly the most bouncy brass hook line you’ll ever hear and, bizarrely, what sounds like someone sucking a drink through a straw. It also takes ages for the lyrics to start, but it’s worth the wait. This is one of the favourite tracks when RBF play live, basically because it’s a perfect pogo track – you can bounce up and down and go crazy and everyone around you will be doing exactly the same thing!

S.R (1.25)

Suburban Rhythm were a ska band that were around when RBF started out – RBF got signed, Suburban Rhythm didn’t and then they disappeared. This is a very short but catchy track with very simple but catchy lyrics - “What ever happened to Suburban Rhythm, why did Ed and Scott quit? Please don’t go Suburban Rhythm, all the other bands are just s**t”. There is another (longer version) of this track which the band play at their live shows.

Skatanic (3.16)

This is just plain scary! It features spooky noises, slipknot style screaming and it all about stalking someone. It is actually a lot like the Voodoo Glow Skulls (anyone heard of them or am I on my own again?!) in places. Certainly not my favourite track – the screaming upsets my delicate nature ;) - but I do like the horn section parts a lot.

All I Want Is More (3.06)

Ah, now we’re back to the RBF I know and love. This is a much quicker more distorted, less ska-y track, and it really gets stuck in my head thanks to a very catchy chorus - “Somedayyyyyyyyyy – maybe she’ll come back to me. And I’ll sayyyyyyyyy – why don’t you go f**k yourself”. I don’t know whether it was one girl that destroyed Aaron’s faith in women, but he certainly uses it as a bit of a theme!

Nothing (2.28)

No brass and a totally punk track – very quick and angry with some frantic guitar playing and shouty lyrics. But suddenly it changes into a “I don’t f**king care” sing along ska bit. Either the band have very short attention spans, or they REALLY like totally changing songs half way through! As you may have gathered by now, this really isn’t the kind of record you want to play in front of your granny (mine asked me if I’d seen any ‘nice’ bands the first year I went to Leeds festival – I thought it best just to say yes…).

Say “Ten” (2.09)

The true comedy track on the album, this is about vegetarianism and features the cracking lyric “You know, I can't stop cryin', 'Cause I know this broccoli's dead”. It’s another track that has a real case of multiple personalities – it even features ‘half a pound of tuppenny (spelling anyone?!) rice’ played on a trumpet – and veers between ska and shouty punk. A very funny track taking the mickey out of vegetarians.

I’ll Never Be (3.15)

This track is about getting famous and the pressure of being on MTV and having ‘my face on your t-shirt’ – something that happened to them after they released this album (see, irony isn’t lost on the Americans). It has Mexican style brass and another very sing along chorus which is backed by a rousing collection of guitars and brass. I really like this track.

Alernative Baby (2.56)

Another really bouncy one with a great brass hook line and slightly slower verses. I love the lyrics to this which is about a guy who can’t really get the courage to tell a girl what he thinks about her – “But I don’t want to talk to you cause I know I’ll just say something stupid”- but is also about people thinking he’s cooler and less insecure that he really is. This is another mid-tempo track and is very typical RBF.

I’m Cool (hidden track)

This is a very poorly recorded version of a track which also appears on “Why Do They Rock So Hard?”. It’s stripped down to just guitar and vocals and is good (despite the recording quality) but probably one only for big RBF fans.

So, in conclusion, not as good as their third album “Why Do They Rock So Hard?” but not far off (i.e - I really want to give it 4 and a half, but I can't so I'll have to give it 5!). This album is probably a little darker than WDTRSH, but it still features some of the finest bouncy ska that you’ll ever hear, and boasts two of my all-time favourite songs – “She Has A Girlfriend Now” and “Sellout”. If you like ska then this is a must-buy album, and even if you don’t like ska I imagine it would be hard not to like this album as they play with so much enthusiasm.

MOJO RECORDS
UD53013

Check out www.reel-big-fish.com for more details.