Something to cheer about? (Cheer Up - Reel Big Fish)

Member Name: khe_flatliner

Product:	Cheer Up - Reel Big Fish
Date:	03/09/02 (152 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's RBF

Disadvantages: non

Reel Big Fish are ska but not always with the punk edge shown by bands like Less Than Jake and The Mad Caddies. They draw more influence from rock ?n roll and to some extent ?80s ?hair? metal. Also they don?t include a trombone in every other track to call themselves a ska band they draw inspiration from original ska music. I don?t know if it?s because of them not thinking they have to put across a punk attitude but the don?t take themselves to seriously and use witty and sometimes stupid lyrics. The band consists of Aaron Barrett who is the lead singer, great guitarist and also all round showman. Carlos de la Garza who plays drums, Scott Klopfenstein who plays trombone, does backing vocals and sings the stunning final track ?Drunk Again?, plays guitar in many of the tracks and electric piano who is a very multi-talented person. Dan Regan who plays trombone and has a mad afro, and Matt Wong who plays bass. Ok now onto the album itself track by track:

-Good Thing-
Opens the album with the line ?You and I are mortal but Rock ?n Roll will never die!? which kinda sets the tone for the whola album. Then the guitars followed by backing up by the trombones and then you get Aaron with backing vocals supporting him, plenty of happy upbeat guitars, trombones and lyrics/vocals with a nice guitar solo in. It?s all trademark fish stuff.

-Somebody Loved Me-
A slow bass/guitar intro for this one then it all kicks in with great used off trombones supported by the guitar tune. Very upbeat song despite the some what depressed lyrics, the chorus is a drum based one with the more upbeat sounding vocals on and later comes another guitar solo so Aaron can show off his skills. Also a great rock ?n roll scream at the end of the chorus section

-Ban The TopTube-
Guitaring kicks off this one before the trombones playing the riff kick in, random lyrics about a girls clothes fill this one and there is a lot of trombone use with some cool bass playing. A lo
t of backing vocals and always that upbeat ska feel over the heavier drums.

-Cheer Up-
Title track for the album is one with some great semi muted guitar stuff and the classic fish vocals and backing vocals. The chorus says ?I?ve got a funny feeling we?re all going to lose? over the happy upbeat drum rhythm. Don?t worry they don?t leave out the trobones with some great use towards the end of the track.

-Where Have You Been?-
The single that seems to be all over the place at the moment and most likely why people will read a review of this album. Not much I can tell you about this song which you won?t already know. If you?re planning to buy the album just from hearing this track don?t. It doesn?t have the usual traits of a RBF song, without the ultra bouncy happy theme and non use of trombones and a ska rhythm. It?s got more of a pop/rock song feel to it, don?t get me wrong it?s a great song just not what they normally do. Good to see a band going in new directions though and not following the tried and tested route.

-Suckers-
?This one is for all the suckers that still believe in love? this starts with that line followed by a classic piece of ska guitaring along with some high pitched vocals before it drops into the normal tone with normal rock guitars a small bit of trombone and the blaring vocals. Later comes in a strange bridge section which needs to be heard for you to under stand then it breaks into a layered sections of vocals, trombones and vocals.

-What Are Friends For-
Big ska feel to the opening of this track and with a nice little guitar solo and the ska feel flows all the way through the song with normal lyrics and vocals, it?s all classic upbeat ska RBF.

-A Little Doubt Goes A Long Way-
Strange one this, about not making your self looking stupid but has a strange vocal section over normal ska guitars. Great trombones sections but kind of ruined bu the rest of the strangeness. Not the best b
ut still worth it for the trombone solos.

-Dateless Losers-
Great start to this one with upbeat tempo and small but clever use of trombones over the guitars. Then a muted verse before kicking into the great chorus section which starts almost blink 182 style then kicks into everything you expect from a fish track. Later comes a great guitar section which is coming some what routine .

-Valerie-
Subdued start the brought into the guitars and horns by a drum roll. Then a quiet ska guitar and trombone section with vocals and backing vocals. Then comes the chorus which you feel could just be a bit more powerful than it is but still some good horn use.

-Rock ?n Roll is Bitchin?-
Starts off like something from a hair metal concert with the classic guitars all done in the style of a big stadium style concert. Amazing guitar solos, saying that everything is bitchin? and showing their love of rock ?n roll. When you think it?s done another amazing guitar solo comes in, great stuff.

-New York, New York-
I was disappointed with this track, I was expecting some mad ska version of the classic track but no such luck more like a two man barbershop tune. And just as u expect it to kick in with guitars to kick in with trombones no such luck.

-Sayonara Senorita-
Caribbean sounding guitars and trombones soon covers random shouting. The rock guitars come in then it goes back to the Caribbean feel, a steel drum is all it?s missing. No vocals on this one just a load of feel good sounding instruments.

-Boss DJ-
Some Jamaican vocals are echoed before some classic ska guitar work comes in. Electric piano work is even in this one; it?s pure ska before a great rock ?n section. This is just RBF playing what has influenced them.

-Brand New Hero-
Great track this, muted guitars and low vocals before it kicks into the banging chorus with good backing vocals and later comes in the slow guitar solo, it?s all cla
ssic stuff. There is a slow section which soon kicks back into the chorus.

-Drunk Again-
Without doubt my favorite track even though it?s nothing like anything on the album or what I listen to, it?s just genius. Not sung by Aaron but by Scott and he is a real good singer. With a electric piano backing track, Scott croons over the top ?if i had a dollar bill for every time i've been wrong i'd be a self made millionaire and you'd still be gone?. It?s just a really well written/sung/produced track which I can listen too over and over. I wasn?t overly impressed the first listen but it grow on you till you just end up listening to it again and again.

An all round great album with a song for everyone on it. Get 10 quid get over to play.com and buy it.

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