Candy Coated Fury
Reel Big Fish · 2012
55 min · 14 tracks · ska punk
A vibrant blend of ska and punk, infused with humor and sharp social commentary that keeps the energy high throughout.
Top tracks — play these first
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Everyone Else is an Asshole Start here — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its irreverent humor and catchy melody, encapsulating the band's signature style of blending social critique with upbeat ska rhythms.
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I Dare You to Break My Heart — This song stands out for its mix of vulnerability and defiance, featuring a dynamic arrangement that showcases the band's ability to balance emotional depth with infectious energy.
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P.S. I Hate You — The track captures the essence of playful angst prevalent throughout the album, delivering clever lyrics over a driving beat that highlights Reel Big Fish's knack for storytelling through music.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines energetic ska punk with humorous lyrics, creating an engaging but uneven listening experience.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a brisk tempo, maintaining this pace through the first half before introducing slower songs in the latter part.
- Several tracks feature call-and-response vocals, enhancing the lively atmosphere and engaging listeners.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo sing-alongs
- playful energy for group settings
- youthful angst with humor
- candid reflections on relationships
Maybe skip if you
- prefer slow, introspective music
- seek minimalist soundscapes
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Marks a strong return after a hiatus, showcasing continued vitality.
- Themes
- post-2000s disillusionment· humorous social critique· ska punk revival
- Career context
- Released in 2012, Candy Coated Fury marked Reel Big Fish's first studio album after a six-year hiatus since their last release, Monkeys for Nothing and the Chimps for Free. This album arrived during a period when the band was reestablishing its presence in a changing music landscape, showcasing their enduring relevance within the ska punk scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Less Than Jake· Streetlight Manifesto· The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Tracklist
- 1 Everyone Else is an Asshole Start here 4:11
- 2 Punisher 4:00
- 3 She’s Not the End of the World 3:42
- 4 Don’t Let Me Down Gently 2:25
- 5 I Know You Too Well to Like You Anymore 4:25
- 6 Hiding in My Headphones 4:47
- 7 I Dare You to Break My Heart 5:15
- 8 Your Girlfriend Sucks 3:30
- 9 Don’t Stop Skankin’ 3:59
- 10 Famous Last Words 3:50
- 11 Lost Cause 4:20
- 12 I Love/You Suck 3:13
- 13 P.S. I Hate You 4:04
- 14 The Promise 3:14
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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