I interpret ska to be upbeat, funny, and driving. There were two songs that didn’t fit my definition: “Won’t Back Down” and “Talk Dirty to Me.” Both songs are a little too slow and the arrangements didn’t feel ska enough. The arrangements didn’t have a strong horn section and both felt like an extra hour in the studio could have cleaned up the odd nuances that don’t fit.
On a whole this is a great summer album and sounds like classic Reel Big Fish. The album isn’t going to be the next big thing, but it is something that the fans would appreciate. I just hope that Reel Big Fish could sit down and write a few ska-style songs, because they are infectious to listen to and they leave me with a smile on my face. If you can get past the fact that the album isn’t original, Fame, Fortune, and Fornification is a good listen.
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