Reel Big Fish - Turn the Radio Off

The next few reviews will be for albums in which you will probably say don't fit in the hard rock/metal/classic rock genre in which my heading says I review. In previous posts I have reviews from some of my favorite punk albums and will have more in the coming months. Along with punk I had also discovered ska and ska/punk music. I was introduced to the punk and ska scene back in the fall of 1996 at the start of my senior year in high school. This music was like nothing I had really heard before and had all the emotion of music but in a different way and in many ways I related to it better than any other type of genre.

Like I said I was first introduced to this music back in 1996 when a friend invited me to a show at the Wetlands, a very small club in NYC. A ska/punk band called Reel Big Fish was playing there that night. The music was different with horns and reggae type guitar but with a punk twist and rather funny and clever lyrics. I was really into the band so the next day I went to my local music store and bought their album "Turn the Radio Off". The music jumped out of the speakers and into my soul. It was such great music. Every single song from the opening track "Sell Out" to the secret track "I'm Cool" was amazing. Songs about a band that doesn't believe in themselves as a band, doesn't do well with women and who just like to party. I related to all of it. I really can't say enough good things about this album. Some of my most favorite songs a are "Sell Out" which is all about how the music industry tries to shove what they think is good music down our throats and will only sign a band to a contract if they write a hit single. "Skatanic" is a song all about a guy who is obsessed with a girl who wants nothing to do with him. "All I want is More" is about being dumped and then the other person wants you back but you tell them to fuck off. One of the most clever and fun songs to listen to is "She has a Girlfriend Now" which is about a guy who got dumped by or just knows a girl who gave up on guys and now she is a lesbian. Other great songs are "Alternative Baby", "Suburban Rhythm, "Beer" (A Really Awesome Song), "Everything Sucks", "Trendy" and "Snoop Dog Baby" (Not about the rapper).

Again this album really stuck to me at a strange time in my life when I needed it and is just a lot of fun to listen to yet it still relates to you on an emotional level. You should buy it!

Album Quote:
" Your gonna go to the record store, your gonna give'em all your money, radio plays what they want you to hear, they tell me its cool but I just don't believe it!"