PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – Sibling members of local DIY punk band Reserve recently changed their musical style and image after discovering they are the beneficiaries of a family trust, jealous sources confirmed.
“We’ve really matured lately,” said vocalist, drummer, and eldest brother Anders Albrecht. “It’s pretty crazy to think that only days ago when we were poor, our music was so utterly unrefined, full of anger, and raw. This week we’ve started to explore longer songs, odd tempos, and multiple movements. It’s just hard to convey real emotion in ninety seconds of angry, thrashing punk music. The real game-changer was quitting our jobs, which freed up tons of time for rehearsing and buying new gear. I think we’ll build a home studio next. Truly amazing what a little financial stability can do for the evolution of the group.”
Adam Pelagia, a longtime fan of the group, noted that the brothers have even begun to explore new venues to better suit their sudden change in style and direction.
“I’ve seen these guys play a million basements, but last week they did a house party way up in the hills. Good set, but the crowd was real stiff and I didn’t see anyone else in Docs,” Pelagia said while double-fisting a PBR and an American Spirit. “Must have been a new spot, because no one had put stickers up in the bathrooms yet. Kind of got the vibe that everyone there not only started art school, but finished it, too. I was surprised the band finally ditched their duct-taped guitar straps and trash can cymbals, but the projector playing ‘Requiem for a Dream’ really threw me. Plus, their bassist ‘Skunk’ who is known to launch snot rockets mid-set actually pulled out a monogrammed silk handkerchief at one point.”
Reserve’s newly-hired manager Rich Neebly believes the the band’s evolution is positive..
“They say money can’t buy happiness, but it can definitely help you outbid other artists for a tour. We’re officially doing six weeks in Europe this summer, followed by a month-long stay at Coco Chanel’s former hotel suite in Paris to start writing the next record. And to top it off, instead of selling lame t-shirts, we’re actually going to auction off NFTs during the show so the most committed fans can flex their one-of-one digital artwork in the metaverse. Nothing says ‘real fan’ quite like a blockchain record of how much you paid for a .JPEG.”
At press time, the group had left town to attend “a thing on a boat” and could not be reached for further comment.
In 2012, after several decades of ska-punking, the Reel Big Fish honed in on their signature “happy music/angry lyrics” combo. It’s literally right there in the album title. This record isn’t bad if you’re already a fan but it feels like a paint-by-numbers RBF album that any ska band could have written.
Life Sucks…Let’s Dance! is the follow-up to Candy Coated Fury. Over the six years in between these albums, the Fish continued to double down on their signature songwriting style and cranked out some more sad and dancy songs for the kids, except this time the record sounds a bit more inspired. Still mostly recommended for those already fans of the band.
This album is the sound of freedom. Specifically, the freedom that comes from being dropped by a major label. Finally, the Fish could put out any songs they wanted! And what they put out was… well, fine. There are some solid tracks on here but nothing you can’t get from some of RBF’s past (and better) albums. Hell, some of those songs are actually on this record as the band re-recorded some from “Everything Sucks,” which is a big reason this album is ranked above the previous two.
Reel Big Fish is known for their covers. This album contains all the skank-i-fied versions of a bunch of catchy songs you know and love. And some you’re even probably sick of! Like “Brown Eyed Girl.” Seriously, did we really need another cover of that one?
For most of the previous albums on this list, Aaron Barrett’s angry and bitter lyrics target life in general. His scathing words on this record are a little more pointed. At this time in the band’s career, ska was mostly considered a joke in the music industry and on music forums, and this album certainly retorts that sentiment head-on. Fire this one up and pick a fight with a friend over petty jealousy. It’s the perfect soundtrack for that.
Going all the way back to 1995, this pre-Sell Out record sounds exactly like you’d expect a local ska band to sound in the 90s. Its recording is a little rough and the performances focus more on heart than technique, yet the songwriting clearly shows a promising band on the rise. You can find a lot of these songs re-recorded on future albums but this is a solid and unique listen from start to finish.
After exploding in popularity for 3 months in 1996, 3rd wave ska was mostly seen as a goofy 90s fad. By the early 2000s, many ska bands were vocal about their record labels rejecting any songs that contained upstrokes or too many horn parts, leading to many ska albums of this time being classified as “rock with horns” by fans. Cheer Up is Reel Big Fish’s “rock with horns” album and it’s fantastic. RBF wrote what could have been the saddest 80s hair metal album if Aaron Barrett was born just a few years earlier.
This is Reel Big Fish’s most well-known album. And for good reason: it has a moderately successful single on it which, in perfect RBF irony, is a song about selling out. “Turn the Radio Off” is the album that proliferated the sound most people still think of today when they hear the word “ska.” You can love them or hate them for that, but it’s true.
After the massive success of Turn the Radio Off, Reel Big Fish released their magnum opus, colloquially referred to by fans as “White Trash.” WDTRSH picks up where RBF left off by reinventing ska and adding a massive amount of influence from the guitar-heavy bands Aaron Barrett grew up listening to. The lyrics on the album come across as extremely personal and vulnerable. It’s like Weezer’s Pinkerton except without all the… unpleasantness.