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)
Slow Down
Reel Big Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You got to slow down and
Take it easy
Slow down,
You got to slow down and
Take it easy Oh Yeah
Yeah you've been shaking the trees but no answers fall out just birds nests and leaves
You told that son of a bitch to get out of this place or you'd punch in his face
You threw the telephone down when the bad news came and then it stuck around
You've got to make it stop
Find a way to make that blood pressure drop, so
Slow down,
You got to slow down and
Take it easy, Oh Yeah
There will be times in your life when the roof falls in and the bed bugs bite
Those sweet dreams you heard about well you slept right through them what's that about
Cause of that snake in the grass well you never had such a pain in the ass
Yeah you tried speaking your mind but they got you convinced that its empty inside
You've got to make it stop
Find a way to make that blood pressure drop, so
Slow down,
You got to slow down and
Take it easy
Slow down,
You got to slow down and
Take it easy, Oh Yeah
You've got to make it stop
Find a way to make that blood pressure drop, so
Slow down,
You got to slow down and
Take it easy
Slow down,
You got to slow down and
Take it easy, Slow
Slow down,
You got to slow down and
Take it easy, Oh Yeah
Take it easy oh yeah!
The song "Slow Down" by Reel Big Fish is a call for the listener to take a step back, calm down, and take things easy. The first verse begins with the singer telling the listener that they need to slow down and take it easy because they've been racing around and their blood is flowing fast, causing their heart to pound. They've been trying hard to find answers but all they've found are birds nests and leaves. To add to this frustration, they've been dealing with loud and obnoxious people who are testing their patience. The singer uses the common phrase "son of a bitch" to describe these people and even considers violence as a solution. When they finally receive bad news, it only adds to their distress and sticks around in their mind. The chorus repeatedly encourages the listener to slow down and take it easy in order to control their blood pressure and find inner peace.
The second verse of the song is similar to the first but also introduces new challenges. The singer says that in life, there will be times when everything falls apart and the sweet dreams they hoped for disappear. They attribute this to a snake in the grass, an idiom meaning an enemy who is hiding their true intentions. This person causes them a great deal of discomfort, leading them to speak their mind, but ultimately being convinced that they are empty inside. The singer repeats the chorus to encourage the listener to slow down and take it easy in order to lower their blood pressure.
Overall, "Slow Down" is a song about taking a step back and not letting life's challenges dictate one's actions. The singer uses strong and direct language to convey the sense of urgency they feel and the importance of taking care of oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Slow down,
The song advises the listener to slow down and take things easy.
You got to slow down and
The singer emphasizes the importance of slowing down to avoid the negative effects of being too busy.
Take it easy
The repeated refrain highlights the central theme of the song, reminding listeners to relax and not get carried away with life's stresses.
Well you've been racing around and your bloods flowing fast and your heart starts to pound
The lyrics describe the dangers of living life at a fast pace, which can lead to health problems and high stress levels.
Yeah you've been shaking the trees but no answers fall out just birds nests and leaves
The lines suggest that even though the listener is active and trying to achieve things, those efforts might not always lead to the intended result.
You told that son of a bitch to get out of this place or you'd punch in his face
The lyrics describe an altercation with someone who is seen as an irritant or troublemaker. The singer takes a strong stance and threatens violence to get rid of them.
You threw the telephone down when the bad news came and then it stuck around
The singer highlights the negative consequences of reacting impulsively to bad news or events, which can lead to continued stress and anxiety.
There will be times in your life when the roof falls in and the bed bugs bite
The lyrics acknowledge that life is not always perfect, and there will be tough times that seem to come out of nowhere.
Those sweet dreams you heard about well you slept right through them what's that about
The song explores a sense of disillusionment or disappointment with unfulfilled hopes and aspirations.
Cause of that snake in the grass well you never had such a pain in the ass
The singer references a deceptive or harmful person who makes life difficult and creates stress and strife for those around them.
Yeah you tried speaking your mind but they got you convinced that its empty inside
The lyrics describe the impact of toxic people who undermine confidence and create a sense of self-doubt and inner emptiness.
You've got to make it stop
The singer urges the listener to take action to address the negative and stressful elements of their life.
Find a way to make that blood pressure drop, so
The song highlights the physical and emotional toll of stress and encourages listeners to find ways to lower their stress levels.
Slow down,
The refrain repeats the central message of the song, reminding listeners to slow down and relax.
Slow
The song concludes with another reminder to slow down and take life at a more manageable pace.
Take it easy, Oh Yeah
The final line of the song reiterates the importance of relaxing and not getting swept up in the stresses of everyday life.
Lyrics © BROADWAY MUSIC CORPORATION, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Aaron Barrett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Krish Shanmugam
on Everyone Else is an Asshole
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