“You and I are mortal, but rock and roll will never die.†These simple words herald the eagerly anticipated return of everybody’s favourite ska-punk band. That’s right folks; Reel Big Fish are back with ‘Cheer Up!’, their first new album for four years. The four years that have passed since the release of ‘Why do they rock so hard?’ have seen a number of changes. The ska-punk scene has declined rapidly, particularly in America, and the fish boys have lost trumpet player Tavis Werts (who still features on part of the album). However, the band did manage to replace him with the legend that is Tyler Jones! The band have also signed to Jive records, so the question to be answered is: does ‘Cheer Up’ make you to want to hit play on your stereo one more time?
The one fact I am sure everybody wants to know is whether or not the band have altered their sound. Well yes they have, (as they have done on their previous releases) but unlike most ska bands who automatically jumped aboard the pop-punk bandwagon, Reel Big Fish have added a great deal of diversity to their sound. ‘Cheer Up’ is not a pop-punk album in any sense of imagination. It is an album that shows a band who have matured musically during the last four years and are not afraid to do what they want. However, despite the changes, this is still the same Reel Big Fish that so many people fell in love with. The horns are still there, there are a number of great ska guitar riffs, and most importantly the sense of fun the band covey is still there.
The album opens in fine style with a couple of up-tempo ska-punk songs, that feature a distinct summer feel. Both ‘Good Thing’ and ‘Somebody Loved Me’ will jump inside your head and stay there for days. They also give the first taste of what quickly becomes one of the best features of the album, namely the great vocal interplay between Aaron and Scott. This has long been a feature of live shows, but has never been captured as well on record.
There are three songs in particular which I am sure will divide opinion between fans of the band. The first is ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll is Bitchin’, a song that is a great parody of the hair metal bands of the 80’s. It features mood setting crowd noises and some outrageous guitar solos. Just don’t take it too seriously! The next is a cover of Frank Sinatra’s classic ‘New York, New York’. The band don’t do much to the song, and use it instead as a fitting tribute to a musical legend. The last of the three disputed songs is the instrumental ‘Sayonara Senorita’, a song that sees the horn section in full swing. The song has a distinct Latin feel to it, and is a definite grower; something that can be applied to the album as a whole. It gets better with every listen.
There are a number of songs that showcase the bands more mature musical leanings. Both ‘Where Have You Been?’ and, Scott’s lead vocal showcase, ‘Drunk Again’ ditch the horns and show the band in a different light. Both songs show a tender and reflective side to the bands song writing and are well worthy of inclusion on the album. The band dip into reggae territory on the cover of ‘Boss DJ’ something they first did successfully on their last album. Another notable point is the number of times the band beef up songs with heavier guitar solos, something that harks back to some of the bands rock influences.
However, it is still in ska-punk territory where the band are at their best. Great examples of this can be found throughout the album particularly on the melodic and comedic ‘Suckers’ and on ‘Valerie’. Also worthy of mention are the ska-heavy ‘What Are Friends For’ the bizarre ‘A Little Doubt Goes a Long Way’ and the superb cover of ‘Kiss Me Deadly’, which is a UK bonus track.
Ultimately this isn’t the same band that recorded ‘Turn The Radio Off’; nor is it the same band that recorded ‘Why Do They Rock So Hard?’. The band have been constantly evolving throughout their existence. The Reel Big Fish that recorded ‘Cheer Up!’ have matured both physically and musically. However, despite the slight changes in sound, the band aren’t really that different. They still write great songs, they still have pretty much the same line-up, and essentially they are still a ska-punk band. It may not always be evident but their ska leanings are an undercurrent running throughout this album, and it still influences much of what they have produced here. ‘Cheer Up!’ isn’t the best album the band have recorded, personally I think that honour goes to ‘Why Do They Rock So Hard?’ However, it is full of quality songs, and after a four-year wait it is certainly good enough to keep me smiling for the next four years.
Mark