Their debut album, "Everything Sucks" (1995), was an underground hit and led to a deal with Mojo Records (see also Mojo), an indie label. "Turn the Radio Off" (1996) established the band in the underground music scene, and they began touring throughout the USA. After the single "Sell Out" began breaking into the mainstream, including MTV, the album made an appearance on the charts. The ska revival was short-lived, however, and "Why Do They Rock So Hard?" (1998) did not lead the group to the mainstream.
Reel Big Fish released "Cheer Up" (2002) which began a movement into harder rock and pop sounds, with much less ska than the previous albums. The song "Where Have You Been?" was aimed at a wider audience, trying to drop the less popular ska sound, but was met with little mainstream success, despite the video. Their second most recent studio album was "We're Not Happy Until You're Not Happy" (2005).
They recently released "Our Live Album is Better Than Your Live Album" (2006) which includes 2 discs worth or their own tunes and a few covers of popular songs along with a DVD. They have worked on the soundtrack to BASEketball, which included a cover of A-Ha's Take On Me.
In 2006, they split from Jive records, who produced a "Best of" album against the will of the band, who could not prevent the release. The band has made a campaign to try and stop people buying the album.
Their 7th album "Monkeys For Nothing and the Chimps For Free" (2007) includes some songs that were previously recorded and released on other albums. It was also the first album with the band's new label, Rock Ridge Records.
In 2009, they released "Fame, Fortune, and Fornication" an album composed of covers of older songs, including "Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty, and "Nothin' But a Good Time" by Poison.
In 2012, Reel Big Fish released "Candy Coated Fury", which is their second album on Rock Ridge Records. This album was met with heavy amounts of criticism from fans and reviewers alike. PunkNews.org gave the album a 2/10.
in 2014, they released "Happy Skalidays", a holiday themed EP.
Their current release is 2018's "Life Sucks... Let's Dance!", which gained generally positive reviews from fans and critics.
Current members:
Aaron Barrett - guitar, lead vocals (1992–present)
Dan Regan - trombone, backing vocals (1994–present)
John Christianson - trumpet, backing vocals (2004–present)
Ryland Steen - drums (2005–present)
Derek Gibbs - bass guitar (2007–present)
Past members:
Ben Guzman - vocals (1992–1994)
Zach Gilltrap - keyboards/synthesizers (1992–1994)
Lisa Smith - guitar (1992–1994)
Eric Vismantes - trumpet (1994)
Stephan Reed - saxophone (1994)
Robert Quimby - trombone (1994–1995)
Adam Polakoff - saxophone (1994–1995)
Grant Barry - trombone (1995–1998)
Andrew Gonzales - drums (1992–1998)
Tavis Werts - trumpet (1994–2001)
Carlos de la Garza - drums (1999–2003)
Tyler Jones - trumpet (2001–2004)
Justin Ferreira - drums (2003–2005)
Matt Wong - bass, backing vocals (1992–2007)
Scott Klopfenstein - trumpet, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1995–2011)
Sell Out
Reel Big Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But don't sign that paper tonight
She said "But it's too late"
Then, I don't remember what I read
I don't remember what they said
I guess it doesn't matter
Guess it doesn't matter anymore
'Cause you're gonna go to the record store
You're gonna give 'em all your money
Radio plays what they want you to hear
They tell me it's cool, I just don't believe it
Sell out, with me, oh yea
Sell out, with me tonight
The record company's gonna give me lots of money and
Everything's gonna be alright
No more flipping burgers putting on my silly hat, you know
I don't want that no more
And I didn't ask when we'd get paid
I quit my day job anyway
I guess it doesn't matter
Guess it doesn't matter anymore
'Cause you're gonna go to the record store
You're gonna give 'em all your money
Radio plays what they want you to hear
Tell me it's cool, I just don't believe it
Sell out, with me, oh yea
Sell out with me tonight
The record company's gonna give me lots of money
And everything's gonna be
And I don't think it'll be so bad
And I know it won't be so bad
'Cause the man said "That's the way it is"
And the man said "It don't get better than this"
No, no, no
So I signed on to the record company
They say they're gonna give me lot's of money
If I play what they want you to hear
Tell me it's cool, and I'll sure believe it
Sell out, with me, oh yea
Sell out with me tonight
The record company's gonna give me lots of money
And everything's gonna be alright
Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah
The record company's gonna make everything alright
"Baby, don't you sign that paper tonight" she said
"But I can't work in fast food all my life"
The Reel Big Fish's song Sell Out is a satirical take on the music industry and corporate America. The song essentially tells the story of a struggling musician who is tired of working a dead-end job at a fast-food chain and is looking to sign a record deal to change his fortunes. The song begins with the singer being warned by his partner not to sign the contract with the record company, but he ultimately goes against her advice, giving in to the promises of wealth and success that come with the deal.
The chorus of the song, “Sell out with me, oh yeah, sell out, with me tonight. The record company’s gonna give me lots of money, and everything’s gonna be alright,” is a play on words as the singer is selling out his artistic integrity and principles for the allure of fame and fortune. The lines, “Radio plays what they want you to hear, they tell me its cool, I just don’t believe it,” highlights the influence of media and the music industry on the general public.
The song also touches on the importance of being true to oneself and having a clear sense of direction in life. The lines, “And I don't think it'll be so bad, and I know it won't be so bad, 'cause the man said "That's the way it is" and the man said "It don't get better than this",” show how the singer is convincing himself that the path he chose is the best option even though he is selling out his dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I know you can't work in fast food all your life
I understand that working in a fast food restaurant is not a career choice as it doesn't provide much scope for growth.
But don't sign that paper tonight
But don't sign that agreement this very night which might make you sell your soul to the devil.
She said "But it's too late"
She pleaded, but feels like it is too late now, the decision has been made.
Then, I don't remember what I read
I read something earlier but I seem to have forgotten what it was about.
I don't remember what they said
I can't recall what I was told by others.
I guess it doesn't matter
I suppose it doesn't make a difference now what I read or what they said.
Guess it doesn't matter anymore
I'm unsure why it should matter now; it's too late to change anything.
'Cause you're gonna go to the record store
Because you're planning on going to the record store.
You're gonna give 'em all your money
You're going to give all your money to the record store for their products.
Radio plays what they want you to hear
Radio stations only play what they want their listeners to hear.
They tell me it's cool, I just don't believe it
Although people may tell me that it's cool, I'm skeptical about it.
Sell out, with me, oh yea
Join me in selling out by giving up our originality for financial gains.
Sell out, with me tonight
Let's sell out together today by signing with a company that values our commercial appeal over our creativity.
The record company's gonna give me lots of money and
Since the record company is going to offer me a large sum of money.
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything will be fine now that I have the money I need to secure my future.
No more flipping burgers putting on my silly hat, you know
No more working at the fast food chain job where I have to wear a ridiculous hat and flip burgers.
I don't want that no more
I don't wish for such a job anymore.
And I didn't ask when we'd get paid
I didn't bother asking when we would be paid for our work.
I quit my day job anyway
I quit my day job, though I wasn't sure when I'd be paid from my new venture.
I guess it doesn't matter
I suppose it doesn't make a difference now that I quit my job without knowing when I'd be paid.
'Cause you're gonna go to the record store
Because you're planning on going to the record store.
You're gonna give 'em all your money
You're going to give all your money to the record store for their products.
Radio plays what they want you to hear
Radio stations only play what they want their listeners to hear.
Tell me it's cool, I just don't believe it
People can tell me it's cool, but I'm not convinced.
Sell out, with me, oh yea
Join me in selling out by giving up our originality for financial gains.
Sell out with me tonight
Let's sell out together today by signing with a company that values our commercial appeal over our creativity.
The record company's gonna give me lots of money
Since the record company is going to offer me a large sum of money.
And everything's gonna be alright
Everything will be fine now that I have the money I need to secure my future.
And I don't think it'll be so bad
I'm certain this won't be that bad.
And I know it won't be so bad
I firmly believe that it won't be so bad.
'Cause the man said "That's the way it is"
Because someone said 'That's just the way it is'.
And the man said "It don't get better than this"
And the man said 'It won't get any better than this'.
No, no, no
No, that can't be true.
So I signed on to the record company
I am signing on to the record company.
They say they're gonna give me lot's of money
They say they are going to give me a lot of money.
If I play what they want you to hear
If I perform/quite the way they want to.
Tell me it's cool, and I'll sure believe it
If they reassure me that it is 'cool,' I will surely believe it.
Sell out, with me, oh yea
Join me in selling out by giving up our originality for financial gains.
Sell out with me tonight
Let's sell out together today by signing with a company that values our commercial appeal over our creativity.
The record company's gonna give me lots of money
Since the record company is going to offer me a large sum of money.
And everything's gonna be alright
Everything will be fine now that I have the money I need to secure my future.
Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah
Yes, okay, okay.
The record company's gonna make everything alright
The record company will help make everything right by giving me bedazzled imaginations of grandeur and promises of financial stability.
"Baby, don't you sign that paper tonight" she said
"Darling, please don't sign that paper tonight," she pleaded with me.
"But I can't work in fast food all my life"
"But my love, how can I spend my entire life working in a fast food restaurant?"
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Aaron Asher Barrett, Scott Allen Klopfenstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
brooksysdead
Every time the horn section starts up i tear up thinking about what an awesome time period this came out in.
Brian Sypniewski
If we only knew what we had at the time. I don't think we fully appreciate things until they are gone.
Dan Collins
Very true
elmSTREETnasty
The 1997 Warped Tour was quite possibly the best Warped Tour ever.
SuperSaiyan Yichards
This song has always resonated with me. Cheers yall.
Ben Ladd
this is incredible! :)
Cholax Camuñas
Que subidon de adrenalina, que gran grupo
Pat Clarke
Great performance, guys!
rbfjunkie1
Thanks for the shout-out in the description! I feel almost famous!! And I'm glad I could help...it was an absolute honor to be able to offer input! Video is EPIIIIIC!
xthepierrex
That was soooo good!!!!!