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)
Way Back
Reel Big Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Going back to the way
That it used to be
When things were much better
Going back to the way
Going back to the way
That it used to be
When we were together
It's been so hard for me
To take all the things that come my way
It's been so hard but know I say
We are
Going back to the way
Going back to the way
That it used to be
When things were much better
Going back to the way
Going back to the way
That it used to be
When we were together
I've been alone too long
There's no one else
I'd rather see
Nothing's more right
Than you and me
So we're
Going back to the way
Going back to the way
That it used to be
When things were much better
Going back to the way
Going back to the way
That it used to be
When we were together
Going back to the way
Going back to the way
That it used to be
When things were much better
Going back to the way
Going back to the way
That it used to be
When we were together
The lyrics to Reel Big Fish's "Way Back" are about nostalgia and the desire to go back to a simpler, happier time. The repetition of the phrase "going back to the way" emphasizes this longing for the past. The singer yearns for a time when things were better and they were with someone special - someone who is no longer around. They admit that it's been difficult to deal with the challenges that have come their way since then, but they are determined to return to a time when they were happy and in love.
The song is emotional and candid, fully exposing the feelings of the singer as they reflect on the past. It's a common experience for many people to miss a time when things seemed simpler and happier. "Way Back" highlights this universal desire and the pain that comes with wanting to relive a moment or period that is out of reach. While the lyrics may have personal meaning to the writer, they are also broadly relatable to anyone who has experienced nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
Going back to the way
Returning to the previous state of things
Going back to the way
Returning to the previous state of things
That it used to be
The way things were in the past
When things were much better
Referring to a time in the past where things were better than they are now
Going back to the way
Returning to the previous state of things
Going back to the way
Returning to the previous state of things
That it used to be
The way things were in the past
When we were together
Referring to a time in the past where the singer and the addressee were together
It's been so hard for me
The singer has been experiencing hardship
To take all the things that come my way
The singer has been having difficulty coping with the challenges in their life
It's been so hard but know I say
Despite the challenges faced, the singer is resolved to move forward
We are
The singer and the addressee are in agreement
I've been alone too long
The singer has been single for an extended time
There's no one else
No one else is as important to the singer as the addressee
I'd rather see
The singer would prefer to be with the addressee
Nothing's more right
Being with the addressee is the right decision
Than you and me
Referring to the singer and the addressee
So we're
Both the singer and the addressee are making a decision together
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ROLAND GROSCH, THOMAS (DE2) LOEFFLER, BETTINA VENTZKI-MISCHKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Krish Shanmugam
on Everyone Else is an Asshole
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