aah... interesting.... (Why Do They Rock So Hard? - Reel Big Fish)

Member Name: wednesday_addams

Product:	Why Do They Rock So Hard? - Reel Big Fish
Date:	05/08/01 (81 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good brass section, easy to listen to

Disadvantages: to commercial, gets a bit repetitive

When I first heard this album, I wasn't entirely sure what to think.

The initial impression it made on me was none too promising. It appeared to be the usual ska-punk-pop, a Less Than Jake meets Blink 182 type thing. Not really my sort of thing, but nothing I was going to immediately regard as not worth the effort of listening to. So, I continued through the album, and finally brought myself to repeat the experience.

OK. Maybe thats a bit of an exaggeration. It wasn't that bad.

Most of the tracks on this album are very catchy, very pop-ish. The sort songs with choruses you'll find yourself singing all day. The first single to be released from the album (track 4), titled 'The Set up (You Need This)', fitted this description perfectly. It is by no means a poorly written or recorded song, but I found it straying too far to the commercial side of things for my liking. If you enjoy lighter, happier, easy-to-listen-to ska influenced bands, then I'm sure you'd like this very much.

Unlike a large number of punk-ska bands, Reel Big Fish rarely abandon their brass section in favour of a punk song. This works to their advantage - they have a very talented brass section, which add more depth and harmony to all tracks on this album. Again, the horns add to the catchy pop-ness of the album, but it is done very well.

The lyrics from this album are widely spread. Certain songs on this album are used to raise issues that are widely debated and discussed ; the concept of 'selling out' (abandoning 'punk values' in order to gain chart success), and the act of moshing. These issues are raised in tracks 15 and 6.

I have a mixed opinion of this band. I can't say that I particuly enjoyed this album. However, I can explain this by the fact that I don't really like this type of music. Theres too much commercial ska-pop in here for my liking. But, they do what they do very well. They
are a good band, with some very good songs, and a good place to start if you are just beginning to get into ska-punk.

If you have heard and enjoyed this album, I would reccomend you tried:-
Edna's Goldfish
Mighty Mighty Bosstones
The Toasters

Summary: