Reel Big Fish with The English Beat, The Supervillains

Reel Big Fish

After more than 15 years of conveying negative vibes, warning listeners about the dangers of being in a band and lamenting their time in the music industry (case in point: the band's radio hit, "Sell Out"), the members of Southern California ska-punk stalwarts Reel Big Fish want to let the world know of a big change: They're finally happy.

Some of that happiness stems from being released from their former label's contract. "We're very happy to be off the major label because they didn't understand us," says front man Aaron Barrett. "They didn't know what to call us, how to market us or who to market us to. They are used to pre-packaged pop and radio-ready rock and I think we were just too weird for them to comprehend. So eventually they just ended up doing nothing."

Freed from such obligations, Reel Big Fish is finally releasing its first independent studio album since leaving its former label. The self-produced Monkeys For Nothin' And The Chimps For Free finds the members of Reel Big Fish doing things their way. In fact, it features material done their way, from quite a long ways back.

Constantly road-bound, Reel Big Fish squeezed three weeks between tour dates to write, rehearse and record 19 songs at Music Inc. Studios in Orange County. Late night tracking sessions ensued, with some band members only hearing the songs two or three times before actually recording them. However, despite the seemingly rushed production schedule, Barrett, who also served as producer, insists that the band's latest was probably one of the easiest albums he's ever created.

So, what exactly is featured on the band's latest? Expect weirder and sillier and even a little something that's missing. "Actually, this album doesn't really have any talk about being in a band," Barrett says, noting that there's just a little mention in one song. "There's not a lot of complaining and bitching. It's a lot more fun and funny."

Monkeys For Nothin' And The Chimps For Free covers classic Reel Big Fish fare, including random gibberish, love songs, hate songs and even songs about girlfriends (even though the band members are all married now) and drinking. "It's everything you ever wanted, needed and never expected from Reel Big Fish," notes Barrett.

"The best thing about us now is that we're not trying so hard. We're just having fun making music," says Barrett. "I think everybody is in a good place now and we're a better band. We're happy!"