For those who think Reel Big Fish scored big with their late nineties hit “Sell Out” and then disappeared, you have a lot of catching up to do! Since their brief entry into the mainstream, Aaron Barrett and a revolving cast of musicians have been releasing a string of great albums. The latest of which is a covers album entitled Fame, Fortune, and Fornication and features the bands unique take on such bands/artists as John Mellencamp, Poison, Van Morrison, Slade, and more.
As you’d expect when considering a Ska/Punk band doing and album of Pop cover songs, most of the songs here are excellent. Poison’s “Nothin’ But a Good Time” and “Talk Dirty To Me” book end the albums are a lot of fun. John Mellencamp’s “Authority Song” and Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” are highlights as well. The only real weak moment here is the Eagles “The Long Run” but I could do without Slade’s “Mama We’re All Crazy Now” as well. To each his own though and fans of fun music will definitely get their money’s worth form this party on plastic.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
