Album Reviews: Reel Big Fish, Backstreet Boys, and Weezer

OK so a change in how I do album reviews. Just don't have the time I once did for this kind of stuff, or not willing to take the time like I once did and so I'm just going to give quick thoughts and a rating unless an album really strikes me.

I've been listening to the latest album from Reel Big Fish called Life Sucks . . . Let's Dance! They have been putting out albums since 1996 this being their 10th studio album if I'm counting correctly at allmusic.com. They pretty much come across as a local club ska band is fun and would always get people dancing at the local renaissance fair every year.

Following the Rhapsody rating method I give the album 1 out of 5 stars for Just OK.

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Another band who released their first album in 1996. I've never listened to a Backstreet Boys album until this and didn't realize some of them hailed from Lexington KY until reading about them. Wrong time for me I was living in Philly and really into a different scene of music in 1996 besides what was on the radio. I would imagine this album sounds very much like their older stuff just a bit more chill.

Following the Rhapsody rating method I give the album 1 out of 5 stars for Just OK.

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OK this band started in 1994 and this album started apparently off as an internet conversation of some sort when someone suggested they cover "Africa" by Toto. They did and this led to a full album of covers. Most are from the 80s and they are pretty much straight up covers. It is uninteresting. Back in 1987 Siouxsie and the Banshees did an album of covers and though it is certainly not their best work it was interesting to hear her arranging songs that she found influential and of course putting her spin on them. I don't need to hear Weezer covering a bunch of old pop hits in an uninspired way.

Following the Rhapsody rating method I give it 0 out of 5 stars for Don't Like





1. This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both of Us by Sparks
2. Hall of Mirrors by Kraftwerk
3. Trust in Me from Disney's the Jungle Book
4. This Wheels on Fire by Bob Dylan
5. Strange Fruit by Abel Meeropol
6. You're Lost Little Girl by The Doors
7. The Passenger by Iggy Pop
8. Gun by John Cale
9. Sea Breezes by Roxy Music
10. Little Johnny Jewel by Television

An interesting mix of songs and obviously pulling from music that she found inspirational and these are not all songs people will know. The great thing here is that it will make her fans go dig up this music.

In Weezer's case they did songs we all know. I don't have a problem with them covering A-Ha, but choose an A-Ha song that people don't know not "Take On Me." Better yet cover music you really like that no one can get digitally and put some pressure on getting that music available. I'm thinking here that Weezer should have covered The Watermelon Men and American Music Club.

Maybe this classic from Jr. Gone Wild



When I was in college my roommate and I found this song and fell in love with it in part because there was a cashier at our local Kroger named Heather who was college aged and always seemed like she was in a bad frame of mind. I'm pretty sure he asked her out but don't remember if she said yes or no.