Reviews

Having been a fan of Reel Big Fish since the “Everything Sucks” days, I had pretty high hopes for their new album, Monkeys for Nothin' and the Chimps for Free. In typical Big Fish fashion, a glance at the song titles prior to my first listen showcased their traditional get loaded, get in fights, and ditch the chick attitude, only serving as more incentive to get to the tunes these titles referred too.
 
When most people think about Reel Big Fish, they are immediately taken back to the “Sell Out” days from their ‘96 album, Turn the Radio Off. If you listened to popular radio in the late 90's and never heard that song, it's time to come out from under the rock... you've missed a lot. Little do they know these guys boast an eight-album catalog, most equally as good, if not better, than Turn the Radio Off.
 
The opening track on Monkeys for Nothin'… caught me off-guard. From the unexpected jumps to falsetto in the verses to the unbelievable hooks mashed into this 4-minute song, I decided to have another listen before moving on. All I'm saying is if you play in a band, and your listeners choose listening to the first and only song they've heard on your new album twice before moving on, you've done something right.
 
As the album progressed, I was surprised by the exceptional lyrical content. Don't get me wrong, they have their classic moments, such as "fuck everything, but fuck you the most, fuck everyone, but fuck you the most", from track two, entitled “Another F.U. Song.” However, they also have some impressive digression from the constant humor and nonsense they have become known for.
 
My only complaint about this album is the length; while the majority of the songs seem to fit together perfectly, there is definitely some filler. It seems like twelve to fourteen of these songs would have made a perfect album and they could have left it at that. Nineteen songs, on the other hand, gets slightly tedious near the end. At the end of the day, if you are a Reel Big Fish Fan, there is no reason why this album shouldn't find it's way into your cd player and remain their for at least a few months. The hooks are constant, the horns are relentless and the production is top notch. In a genre in need of a revival, Reel Big Fish are solidifying their roles as pioneers of third wave ska, and if they keep releasing albums like this, they will never have to “work in fast food all their lives.”