Back in the day, Reel Big Fish was a real big deal. But folks don’t care so much for its O.C.-blessed ska-punk anymore. That doesn’t mean the Fish should be tossed back in the sea of forgotten ’90s rockers — there are still some mighty sounds on its new CD, We’re Not Happy ‘Til You’re Not Happy. Though it’s telling that the album’s best cuts are a trio of covers: Morrissey’s “We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful,” Tracy Chapman’s “Talkin’ ‘Bout a Revolution” and Social Distortion’s “Story of My Life.” On stage, it all comes together.
This article appears in Jul 14-20, 2005.