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It would make sense that Reel Big Fish's long-time fans may very well be at the age where a refresher course in `80s pop would be quite the nostalgia trip. Perhaps this is why it makes perfect sense for the band to follow several years later on their "Take on Me" cover with the partially-collaborative release Duet All Night Long, which finds the band trading off `80s covers with synth-pop wunderkinds Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer.

Duet All Night Long is a little shorter than an episode of "I Love the '80s," and thankfully, since anything longer might start to wear on the nerves -- just like the show. The collaborations themselves however are admittedly memorable, well done and enjoyable for their 20-minute duration. Aaron and crew manage to inject melodies into your head the way they did on the early RBF records, while Rachel Minton of Zolof R 'n R provides an occasionally sassy spark to her otherwise sweetly flowing vocals, as she does in her destined cover of "Dress You Up," which is zested up with intentionally cheesy, over-the-top `80s metal solos. The goofy "Lyin' Ass Bitch" is vintage (third wave) ska-punk; I'd think this was actually some Save Ferris outtake if not for the rambled, group-vocal chorus. The brash chorus in the keyboard-heavy "Don't You Want Me" is one of the most arena-worthy moments you'll hear either band do in their careers, likely (despite some argument from the bitter fan base of the Fish, I'm sure). "It's Not Easy" is pleasantly bouncy but it's also where things get a little over-cutesy; after all, it's a song from the movie "Pete's Dragon" -- and it's a lot like what I'd imagine the Terrible Twos' album to sound like.

I'll have to agree with one of the great thinkers of our time in that the lasting value of Duet All Night Long is surely questionable, but it's hardly void of its moments. Covers cannot be taken in anything more than small doses and in that sense Duet All Night Long is a perfect little pill.

STREAM
Duet All Night Long on either Reel Big Fish or Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer's Punknews.org Profiles



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    Posted by domotime on 2007-03-19 14:50:06

    VERY FUN ALBUM! A lot of people may not recognize the covers they chose, but even for the more obscure covers RBF/Zolof were able to make it their own.

    I though the ASK cover was great, a great start to the CD, to quite mediocre Smiths Song.

    Lyin' Ass Bitch was probably my favorite, it sounded like a RBF original (although I am aware that is is a fishbone cover)

    Say Say Say couldve been a bit better...there were a few of the covers that were a bit slower, and i couldnt imagine them playing them live. My only negative is I wish it was a bit longer, RBF is one of the funnier and better ska bands around. And Zolof is a unique pop-punk group, that if RBF ever had a daughter who made a band, this is what I'd imagine.

    Good Stuff! New Album in 08'! Another AWESOME tour this summer.... If i see one more tour with stupid high school kids screaming "we want to hear beer" as if they arent going to play it, and its the only song these lame shitheds know, it will be a pain.

    RBF keep it up...and a real first new Zolof album would be nice. How can a band like Halifax beat them in a contest involving music? Explain that?

    Posted by domotime on 2007-03-19 14:50:05

    VERY FUN ALBUM! A lot of people may not recognize the covers they chose, but even for the more obscure covers RBF/Zolof were able to make it their own.

    I though the ASK cover was great, a great start to the CD, to quite mediocre Smiths Song.

    Lyin' Ass Bitch was probably my favorite, it sounded like a RBF original (although I am aware that is is a fishbone cover)

    Say Say Say couldve been a bit better...there were a few of the covers that were a bit slower, and i couldnt imagine them playing them live. My only negative is I wish it was a bit longer, RBF is one of the funnier and better ska bands around. And Zolof is a unique pop-punk group, that if RBF ever had a daughter who made a band, this is what I'd imagine.

    Good Stuff! New Album in 08'! Another AWESOME tour this summer.... If i see one more tour with stupid high school kids screaming "we want to hear beer" as if they arent going to play it, and its the only song these lame shitheds know, it will be a pain.

    RBF keep it up...and a real first new Zolof album would be nice. How can a band like Halifax beat them in a contest involving music? Explain that?

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 19, 2007 at 12:15 PM (EDT)

    I hope that this douche realizes that "Lyin' Ass Bitch" is a Fishbone song. It was a shitty cover at that. Fuck Reel Big Fish and their ska-punk bullshit.

    Posted by SloaneDaley on 2007-03-18 18:01:42

    actually the "oh, my word" guy in this thread is the only one to get it right. All the old reviews the person repeatedly said "world" instead of "word" which isn't even an expression at all. It is a relief that someone finally did it correctly.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 17, 2007 at 9:09 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this is good.

    Posted by klonny on 2007-03-16 16:21:23

    I love RBF, but I can't live through albums with nothing but covers...Except Streetlight's Keasbey Nights. I liked that.

    Posted by baseball on 2007-03-16 11:28:30
    My Score:

    this isn't bad, but i think one listen was plenty

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 16, 2007 at 10:06 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I like old Reel Big Fish a lot, and even liked most of "Cheer Up", but these covers just aren't that good. Zolof is tolerable, but together they absolutely BUTCHERED "Ask", possibly my favorite Smiths song. For that alone I must give this a low score.

    -r3venge therapy

    Posted by MikeStupid on 2007-03-16 04:56:13

    Yeah, what the fuck does that mean? I see it almost every time I look at old reviews.

    Posted by LanceUppercut on 2007-03-16 02:38:36
    My Score:

    Reel Big Fish on tour with Less Than Jake and Streetlight Manifesto this summer! I couldn't be happier, there's nothing else to say. Except this album is pretty good, but nothing spectacular.

    Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2007-03-16 02:31:16

    hahah wtf. was that you on all those reviews? "oh my word, it is ok" with a half star rating is on so many reviews...Jawbreaker - Dear You, Avoid One Thing - s/t, Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros - Global a G-Go, Capdown - Civil Disobedience, and At the Drive-In - Relationship of Command just to name a few. i've always wondered who posted those and what they really meant.

    Posted by bloofy on 2007-03-16 01:52:35
    My Score:

    oh, my word. it is ok

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