EP Review: Reel Big Fish – Happy Skalidays (Rock Ridge Music)

What do you reckon? A serious take on Christmas? All about capturing the joyous time of the year? Of course not! It’s Reel Big Fish after all. Happy Skalidays was released December 2014.

I mean who wouldn’t want to Skank for Christmas? Even Nan will be up on her feet with this catchy little ditty. If you’ve never seen your 80-year old Nan skank, you’ve not played her Skank for Christmas. In their own words “there’s nobody I’d rather be skanking with then you, bay-bay.”

It’s very catchy and very funny too.

It’s a shame, even their good time ska tunes can’t quite rescue Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. The high tempo metal chorus is standard fare and while the verses have a nice ska beat, it’s nothing special. Whereas their skanky version of Little Drummer Boy (called Lickle Drummond Bwoy here) is well done even if the vocals are sorely missed.

No matter, as they’re back in style for the feel-good message of Whatever You Celebrate. A wonderful effort that simply says “whatever you celebrate, we hope it’s awesome for you”. That is just lovely and that it plays out in such catchy fashion, is the icing on the cake.

It’s back to something sillier and far more fun with a Reel Big Fish staple… beer. Take Carol of the Bells, replace everything with with the word beer, throw in the sound of someone getting drunker and drunker… it should be awful but it’s not. Although, the sound of someone burping directly in your ear isn’t so much fun.

Which brings us to the end and the classic New Year singalong, Auld Lang Syne. Chances are you might have heard this already as it’s a New Year skanking favourite and Reel Big Fish do it in their own special way. Upbeat and hopeful, it’s a skanky way to welcome in the New Year.

Reel Big Fish – Happy Skalidays Full Track Listing:

1. Skank for Christmas
2. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
3. Lickle Drummond Bwoy
4. Whatever You Celebrate
5. Carol of the Beers
6. Auld Lang Syne