REVIEW

Music Review: Reel Big Fish - Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album

Written by Dominick Evans
Published August 24, 2006

Turn the CD player up and keep it loud because The Reel Big Fish's new album, Our Live Album is Better than your Live Album, will keep your energy going all night long! When it comes to live albums I am normally weary. After all, in the majority of live elements, voices and songs sound different. However, Reel Big Fish did not let me down. In fact, it was hands down one of the best live albums I have heard in quite some time.

The band is completely in sync on this one and you immediately learn how well they work together. Of course, this CD was a labor of love for the Reel Big Fish. This CD marks the first CD release since their removal on the roster at Jive Records. This is the first time in ten years that Reel Big Fish have been able to call themselves independent artists.

While you might expect a band to show disappointment about losing their label the Reel Big Fish couldn’t be happier. Of course, thinking rationally no talented ska band needs to be saddled with contracts alongside Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys. Think of Our Live Album is better than Your Live Album as a celebration because it’s obvious they were having a party when they made it.

In true ska fashion all of the songs have excellent and upbeat instrumentals. You will hear a mix of trumpets, guitars, bass, drums, and more. The lead singer, Aaron Barrett rarely misses a beat. He is both comical during those moments of live downtime and right on the mark when singing. It is clear that Aaron truly brings the band together though the other band mates Matt Wong, Scott Klopfenstein, and John Christianson definitely do their part. Wong for instance, handles Lead Bass and the falsetto part of the vocals. Anyone who is used to hearing the Fish live or not, knows how important those falsetto parts really are.

Every song in this two-disc set was recorded in January 2006 while the Fish were on the Deep Freeze tour. The discs include 30 songs, including most of the best songs the band ever made. You could easily picture this CD set as the greatest hits of RBF in a live disc. You will be able to enjoy previously unreleased songs such as “So Much for Rock-n-Roll” and a cover of The Cure's “Boys Don't Cry“. As for fan favorites, nearly everything is represented here from “She's has a Girlfriend Now” to “Sell Out“.

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Dominick Evans was born in the great metropolis of Toledo, Ohio. From a young age, he excelled in the arts and trained as a professional singer and actor for over thirteen years. He attended Wright State University and Bowling Green State University from 1999-2003 where he majored in Theatre & Acting and minored in Political Science. Today, he spends his time running a freelance writing, editing, and design company, developing educational materials for children, writing and composing music, and developing screenplays. In his free time, he loves sports, spending time with his girlfriend and son, video games, reading the news, watching movies, and listening to music.
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Music Review: Reel Big Fish - Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album
Published: August 24, 2006
Type: Review
Section: Music
Writer: Dominick Evans
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Comments

#1 — August 28, 2006 @ 20:08PM — Connie Phillips [URL]

This article has been placed at the Advance.net websites, a site affiliated with about 12 newspapers.

One such site is here.

#2 — August 28, 2006 @ 23:18PM — Dominick Evans [URL]

Thanks so much! I want to give credit where credits is due. Ashtyn & I write all our reviews together...so she's as much responsible for this review as I am.

-Dominick

#3 — August 28, 2006 @ 23:19PM — Dominick Evans [URL]

errr - credit is due not credits is due!

I noticed we're on MLive. That is where we get our news here in Michigan so that's cool!

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