[poll] RBF Petition

Home Forums Reel Big Fish Discussion Reel Big Fish Discussion [poll] RBF Petition

Viewing 150 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • #3042
      CannonBall
      Member

      First, I would like to say that I have been a fan of RBF since 1996 and have everything they have ever recorded, and I owe my entire interest in music to this band. Now that I've said that, onto the constructive criticism.

      After I listened to the new cover album, I became horribly disappointed in their creative abilities. While there are a few good parts on a couple of songs, most of the album could have been recorded by a high school ska band. Obviously RBF are far more talented than any high school band, but in terms of creativity, this album has none.

      I always expected RBF to record a cover album, but I didn't expect it to come out like this. Their cover songs used to be their best and most creative songs, but this album sounds like something FOE would have recorded. What happened to their creativity? There is no comparison of this album to any of their old cover songs. I always loved the fact that they would cover songs in a completely different style than the original and their own.

      All of these songs were covered so creatively and were, and still are amazing:
      There is nothing like a dame
      Hungry like the wolf
      Uniform of destruction
      Gigantic
      Love Boat
      NY NY
      We close our eyes

      I don't care about this cover album though, I will probably never listen to it, it's just boring. This is not my main concern though, I'm mostly worried about their next new album.

      It would be a shame to see their next album come out as bland and boring as this cover album did. RBF have the best lineup of their career right now, and they have no record label telling them what to do.

      This is no knock on Aaron producing the new albums, but I think that when a band produces their own albums, they get stuck doing the same things over and over again.

      This petition is to encourage RBF to hire John Avila to produce their next album. Hands down TTRO and White Trash are their best albums, and he produced both of them. Cheer Up is good as well because of who produced it, but it's not quite their sound. John Avila is the best choice for RBF due to his experience playing with Oingo Boingo.

      Here is a list of requests for the next album, if you agree with these requests, vote yes, if not, vote no. Please explain why you voted the way you did.

      Petition Requests:
      Producer: John Avila
      Co-Producer: Aaron Barrett
      Past songs that should influence this album:
      Cannibal, Average Man, Drunk Again, Slow Down, Nothin' Like a Dame, Uniform of Destruction, Brand New Song, etc…
      Overall Feel of Album: Highly Energetic, with songs like Slow Down mixed in.
      More Creative Influence from Scott: Average Man is one of their best songs.

      If you have any other suggestions please add them, RBF need to take into account their fans and give us what we want, we have all supported them for a long time, and now they have the freedom to write anything they want.

      This is not intended to be a slap in the face to anyone in the band, but just a note to let them know what we expect of them.

    • #20422

      I have to disagree with most people on the latest cover album. I like it tremendously. Is it time for a new original?…or course, and I'm sure ya'll will get it, but let the band do it the way they want. There is a reason they aren't with a record label…who the fuck wants you telling you what songs you can or can't produce, sing, or have on an album? Not having a [i]record label[/i] is what will ultimately allow them to show off their best talents without it being censored.

      They are getting their feet wet with being independant and away from the label. Anybody else would have failed by now, and in my opinion…they haven't failed at all.
      So go ahead…beat me up and disagree with me, but my mind is not changing.

    • #20424
      CannonBall
      Member

      I completely AGREE with you. I understand your points, and I'm not telling them what to do, but I am telling them what I like, and as a long term fan, I would like to have them release some music that I like again. I like Monkeys, and I think it was a good album. I really just want to hear some new music that will impress me. The RxBandits are a perfect example of growth and progress that we should see from talented bands. RBF have the talent, but they seem to be lacking inspiration.

      We aren't the record label, we are more important, we are the fans that pay them to make music, without us they are nothing.

      Other bands wouldn't have failed by now, for example: LTJ, Goldfinger, RxBandits, and RBF have all left major labels and are doing very well on their own.

      Lots of people love Cannibal, and Average Man. We would love to see more songs like that, I think it would really take them to the next level.

      Maybe this is what they have planned for the next album, I have no idea, but from the sound of this cover album, I'm not getting my hopes up.

    • #20423
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      john Avila has very little to do with why TTRO and White Trash, those albums are gold because of how long aaron had to work on the songs… to tell you the truth, the production on TTRO and White Trash is the worst part.

      in fact, I've always liked aaron's producing more than any other's (as far as rbf albums go)…. and if you can't see why adding a producer would hinder creativity and, in fact, push things more twards what others have done you're foolish, aaron has produced almost no one else except RBF, he (for several reasons) is the most qualified person for the job, any other producer would base what he does with RBF on past experiences, Aaron's past experience is RBF,
      therefore he knows what the band wants to so more than anyone….. also, he writes all the songs

      …. not only that, hiring a producer would mean the band loses a percentage of creative control… the more people you add, the more people have a vote, you put a producer in the mix and it's not reel big fish's album, it's reel big fish & the producer's album!

      also, I think you should go fuck yourself, RBF puts out one album you don't like and you come on here guns 'a blazin' thinking you've got a plan that'll save the band and then expect everyone to yell at a band for still making ska music when it hasn't been popular in over a decade?

      relax, take a deep breath, you're not a genius, and you should "keep your mouth shut" if you don't like the new record, don't listen, but it's a fucking cunt move to roll in here and tell the band what THEY should be doing with THEIR record….

      I did find it funny that you whined about how they're not being creative and doing there own thing and then you TOLD them exactly what YOU wanted them to do, which was a total contradiction.

    • #20428
      CannonBall
      Member

      Producing an album does not just involve recording a band. It involves working out harmonies and fine tuning songs, and helping the band work out parts of songs that they need help on. Why do you think the horns sound so much different harmony wise on the John Avila albums than their other albums? Listen to some Oingo Boingo and you will hear the influence.

      Yes, a producer does have creative control over a recording, but that's when a record label hires a producer so that a band can have a sound that would sell. RBF would be hiring a producer and therefore they would always have final say on anything.

      No, I won't fuck myself because RBF put out one album I didn't like, it's not about that, I also didn't like WNHTYNH.

      No need to get mad dude, we can have a calm conversation about this without any name calling.

      As I said, I've been a fan of RBF for a long time and I have everything they have ever recorded.

      Their new stuff just sounds like FOE, I never liked that band that much, and I'd hate to see RBF loose what made them as successful as they are.

    • #20429
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      [quote1232759595=CannonBall]
      Producing an album does not just involve recording a band. It involves working out harmonies and fine tuning songs, and helping the band work out parts of songs that they need help on. Why do you think the horns sound so much different harmony wise on the John Avila albums than their other albums? Listen to some Oingo Boingo and you will hear the influence.

      Yes, a producer does have creative control over a recording, but that's when a record label hires a producer so that a band can have a sound that would sell. RBF would be hiring a producer and therefore they would always have final say on anything.

      No, I won't fuck myself because RBF put out one album I didn't like, it's not about that, I also didn't like WNHTYNH.

      No need to get mad dude, we can have a calm conversation about this without any name calling.

      As I said, I've been a fan of RBF for a long time and I have everything they have ever recorded.

      Their new stuff just sounds like FOE, I never liked that band that much, and I'd hate to see RBF loose what made them as successful as they are.
      [/quote1232759595]

      90% of the horn lines on the avila albums are in unison and always sound crackle-tastic and shitty, the horns on the post avila albums (not to mention the other instruments have sounded MUCH better. just because avila played in boingo doesn't men he knows what RBF should sound like, RBF isn't boingo, and they sure as hell don't need boingo's bassist's "help" on any of their songs, it seems completely foolish to hire some guy to poorly produce the albums when Aaron, who comes up with, does vocals, and plays guitar on the songs does a great job of producing the albums and is the only one who knows how they should truly sound…. a produce would simply give us HIS interpretation of Aaron's work

      we all own all the records, and yet you're the only one on the board to eve post something as pretentious and bitchy as this, just because you buy the records doesn't mean you know anything about what the band "should be" and it's just annoying to see someone come in here thinking they can "save the band from themselves", the sound on the records is going to change from record to record, you're either along for the ride or not, but if RBF made albums like TTRO and White Trash all the time you'd be in here bitching about how all the records sound the same

      Aaron wrote the songs for both RBF and FOE, it's understandable that they'd sound the same…. in fact, Aaron disbanded the FOE because they sounded the same as RBF and he was writing the same songs for both bands, not to mention, Derek & john are ex-FOE….. however, I'm not hearing any FOE influence at all, really, I'd tell you if I did, but I honestly don't….. it sounds…. like an RBF covers album…. can you plese explain why, A.) it sounds like FOE, and B.) how you could like RBF and not FOE (considering Aaron wrote MOST of the FOE album for RBF originally)

    • #20436
      Desensitized
      Member

      I do agree with you to an extent. But not when you say Cheer Up doesn't sound like RBF. In my mind, other than the tracklisting which feels like was just thrown together and has no flow, the sound is PERFECT, and the songs feel like Aaron trying something new. He might not have been writing about his usual stuff, but this is the one album where it works to his benefit. I never understand when people hate on it. If you put 'Brand New Song, Somebody Hates Me, Big Star, Sleep All Day, Peter Bones, or even The Set Up on the album, nobody would think twice. It was a logical step forward with their sound.

      The problem is, after that, Aaron seemed scared about moving forward.

      WNHTYNH is not a step forward overall. The production was lousy, the songs mostly feel safe, and the subject matter of the songs was more of the same. However, songs like One Hit Wonderful, The Joke's On Me (despite the strange fan hate. It's not that bad, people.), Last Show, and Say Goodbye, the album felt like a holding pattern. Not to say the 'old school' songs sucked, The Bad Guy is one of RBF's best songs, it could have even been on Cheer Up, and Story Of My Life and Revolution have nice sounds even if they're covers. But the rest feels so been there, done that.

      Monkeys is actually the same, other than the a couple of songs, it manages to feel more stale. Slow Down, and Cannibal are the only songs that seem to have thought put into them. Also, it's telling when the REMAKES of the songs are far better than the new ones. The band feels like they're actually into the songs. Although, the New Version Of You, is actually pretty good too.

      The cover album is the same. 10 songs just given the standard ska trappings. You might be happy with that, but it doesn't change the fact that even RBF COVERS were better than that. Even the cover album feels like it could be more than it is.

      But for some reason, casual fans think of this album as a comeback. That's what worries me. I don't want to see a creative band rest on mediocre songwriting.

      Cannibal is one of the best songs Aaron has ever written. It shows that he's still willing to try to new things, and that's what I want to see. Creative songs like Cannibal, RBF trying new styles of songs like Slow Down, and a handful of classic RBF style tracks like The Bad Guy or The New Version Of You. As long as the production doesn't sound like TTRO, WNHTYNH, or the new songs on Monkeys, then it's already a step up.

    • #20437
      Desensitized
      Member

      Also, whether you like FOE or not, it was better than any RBF album since Cheer Up and is far better produced than TTRO is.

    • #20427
      CannonBall
      Member

      I'll reply to Desensitized on this one since he knows how to have a casual debate.

      I pretty much agree with everything you've said. I do like Cheer Up and I think it has the best ska songs on it that RBF ever wrote, but it's not quite a RBF album because it feels like it has more filler (thanks Jive). and as for the Track order, yeah, it sucks, I think Jon put together a better track list once. The other letdown is that Average Man wasn't on Cheer Up!

      There is stuff on WNHTYNH that I like, but the use of room mics killed it for me, horrible sounding record. I'm a bit of a snob and have to have good quality recordings to get into the music, it really sucks because it prevents me from enjoying a lot of good music from the 60's.

      Yes, Cannibal is the best song Aaron ever wrote, very Oingo Boingo, hence my push for John Avila. Slow Down is good too, but I do have to say that Party Down is very creative too, even if it's just in a novelty kind of way.

      Seriously, what does everyone have against the production of TTRO and WDTRSH? I thought those were really good albums, great guitar and drum sounds, the horns are very powerful and the vocals have great tone…

      …And that brings me to my next point, the cover album has very uninspired vocals, why? Aaron and Scott are a great vocal duo, but when I play songs from that album and then compare them with the singing on other albums, something is lacking, but I don't know.

      "But for some reason, casual fans think of this album as a comeback. That's what worries me. I don't want to see a creative band rest on mediocre songwriting."

      That was the exact reason I started this post.

      And Sonic Libido,
      "if RBF made albums like TTRO and White Trash all the time you'd be in here bitching about how all the records sound the same"

      I'm referring to the production of the albums, the power that they have when you press play. WDTRSH rocks from the very first second it starts playing.

      I'll answer your questions:
      can you plese explain why,
      A.) it sounds like FOE,
      It sounds like FOE because there is nothing characteristically RBF about it, the horn lines are bland, skipping from track to track in the middle of the song, I can hardly notice a change in anything. The horns sound pinched and uninspired, just like FOE. It's just simple ska like any band would write, RBF became popular because they weren't a typical ska band.

      and B.) how you could like RBF and not FOE (considering Aaron wrote MOST of the FOE album for RBF originally)

      I don't like FOE because Scott isn't in the band. Scott is the most talented member in RBF and has a very special singing voice, FOE is Aaron singing with himself. I just don't like FOE, I really don't like much ska to begin with so it takes a lot to win my approval (my approval is important to myself and only myself)

      If you can't see the difference between RBF and FOE then you are the one that really doesn't understand RBF.

      What made RBF good was the fact that their songs weren't straight up ska songs, they had creativity and depth and dynamic to them. They would always have interesting transitions from one part of a song to the next.

      Listen to "Nothin' Like A Dame" and then listen to their new cover album and explain to me how any part of this album matches the creativity of that one song.

    • #20430
      Desensitized
      Member

      About TTRO, since that's the only production I hate… To me, it feels very tinny, and the snare drum sounds like popcorn popping. For a while, ska bands loved this sound in the 90s, and I just hate it. I love the snare drum to be a loud bang, as if the beat of the song is truly important (because it really is) instead of a passive, tiny pop that gets covered by every other instrument.

      Also, the songs are basically the same as the ones on Everything Sucks, except faster. nothing really amazing.

      However, WDTRSH complaints, I don't understand. It has a rich, full sound and every instrument sounds bright and beaming. It's almost like glam rock meets ska, a sound that you never hear as opposed to the standard ska/punk on TTRO (though they ARE great songs) and every song is a brand new experience. I think they probably could have done without 'Everything Is Cool' (a weaker 'Skatanic' re-write) and 'Scott's A Dork' (B-side material, really. It's kind of boring), but otherwise every song is top notch. (Also, 'Sleep All Day' is better than 'Song #3')

      As for Cheer Up, this is the tracklist I made and posted in the other thread:

      1- Kiss Me Deadly
      2- Cheer Up
      3- Suckers
      4- Ban The Tube Top
      5- What Are Friends For?
      6- Somebody Loved Me
      7- A Little Doubt Goes A Long Way
      8- Dateless Losers
      9- Good Thing
      10- Valerie
      11- Give It To Me
      12- Average Man
      13- Sayonara Senorita
      14- Boss DJ
      15- Brand New Hero
      16- Drunk Again

      Listening to it in that order gives it a fantastic flow and makes it feel more like an album than a collection of songs. and in this age of digital albums and playlists, this is the Cheer Up I play.

      It feels like a full fledged follow-up to WDTRSH, where every song is a new experience and has a bright pop sound that is totally different from WDTRSH's giant glam sound, but IMO, is every bit as enthralling.

      But, then again, the band considers Monkeys and the B-Sides as pure stop gap releases, and given that WNHTYNH felt more like a way to end their contract than to make a legitimate album, I hold hope that Aaron will really work to make the next one a great album. And it doesn't have to be a great SKA album, either.

    • #20443
      CannonBall
      Member

      I've always loved the snare on TTRO, but I do get your point. I like the punch, but I also like So Long and Thanks for All the Shoes by NOFX which has a similar snare sound, but you can actually hear the snares with NOFX.

      Yes, the Glam rock is perfect for WDTRSH. I miss Andrews Drumming, it always seemed just hectic enough, but Ryland is a good replacement, he's got that same punk energy. I also like how WDTRSH is a cohesive album where the songs were written to flow into the next song, form the end of the setup to, thank you for not moshing, although that wasn't the best song to transition into. Down in Flames to We Care works much better.

      Sleep all day is better, and Scott's a dork is a skipper, but when you listen to it, there are some really good. musical aspects to it.

      Yeah, WNHTYNH just seemed like the last nail to piss off jive and get fired.

      I just think there is nothing dramatic anymore to inspire them. They are on their own and doing very well, what's there to complain about and cause angst?

      Stress always makes for good music, and I think they have none now, like they did before.

    • #20439
      CannonBall
      Member

      Those google ads are pretty powerful, anyone else notice the Forbidden Zone ads below?

    • #20445
      The Wind
      Member

      [quote1232777325=Desensitized]
      The Joke's On Me (despite the strange fan hate. It's not that bad, people.)

      [/quote1232777325]

      I love that song. My favourite on the album.

      I think it all boils down to saying that Reel Big Fish needs to stop writing ska-punk and just start writing music.

    • #20446
      Desensitized
      Member

      [quote1232779996=The Wind]
      [quote1232777325=Desensitized]
      The Joke's On Me (despite the strange fan hate. It's not that bad, people.)

      [/quote1232777325]

      I love that song. My favourite on the album.

      I think it all boils down to saying that Reel Big Fish needs to stop writing ska-punk and just start writing music.
      [/quote1232779996]BAM. Dead on.

    • #20448
      CannonBall
      Member

      [quote1232781419=Desensitized]
      [quote1232779996=The Wind]
      [quote1232777325=Desensitized]
      The Joke's On Me (despite the strange fan hate. It's not that bad, people.)

      [/quote1232777325]

      I love that song. My favourite on the album.

      I think it all boils down to saying that Reel Big Fish needs to stop writing ska-punk and just start writing music.
      [/quote1232779996]BAM. Dead on.
      [/quote1232781419]
      Yup, I think that would do it. The RxBandits have done pretty well with that idea. They can still have horns, just something new.

      So, good idea, let's see what kind of Music this band can write! Do they read this board, or are we going to get another ska album?

    • #20449

      I'm going to throw a link out here to an interview. Hopefully it'll make some of you chill the fuck out.

      [link=hyperlink url]http://www.swigged.net/index.php?view=article&catid=3:interviews&id=166:interview-with-reel-big-fish[/link]

    • #20453
      The Wind
      Member

      Still don't know how to hyper link, eh?

      [link=http://www.swigged.net/index.php?view=article&catid=3:interviews&id=166:interview-with-reel-big-fish ]Click here[/link]

    • #20409
      Surly
      Member

      That interview is great actually. I agree with some of your points, but everything has already been said. And i'd only say it worse.

      EDIT: "I think it all boils down to saying that Reel Big Fish needs to stop writing ska-punk and just start writing music."

      Definetly the truth.

    • #20458
      CannonBall
      Member

      I couldn't be more chilled out, I posted this because I wanted to see what other people thought, that's why I made a poll so you could clearly disagree with me. Are people not allowed to disagree?

      "Is that why you started producing the records for Reel Big Fish?
      Sometimes when you’re in a band it’s good to have an outside opinion. But in this band, people don’t get what we do. It just doesn’t work out [for us] with those producer types. I’ve learned a lot from producers – they’ve definitely given me good advice at times – but it’s never worked out the way it should."

      I don't disagree with what he said, but a producer would be different now because they would ultimately have the last word since they aren't on a record label. If they talked to enough people, I'm sure they could find someone that understands the RBF sound. And it's partially NOT knowing that sound that can bring things to another level.

    • #20461
      Desensitized
      Member

      Actually, an album of Poison covers might have been better. :p

      By the way, you know Guy Stevens? The guy who produced London Calling, arguably the greatest album of all time? It's because he threw chairs, screamed at everyone, and tampered with the band's sound that the album ever came to be. If the Clash produced it purely by themselves… Well, you should listen to the demos, they're awful.

      But what worked for the album was that Mick Jones and Joe Strummer sat down and WROTE songs. The songs themselves in the demos are awesome, but the production is horrid on them.

      What I'm saying is, without Guy Stevens, The Clash would never have made London Calling.

      Now I'm not saying they're the same as The Clash or anything, but the point is The Clash weren't afraid to take the risk with a crazy fucker like Guy Stevens and it took their sound to a new level.

      They don't need a big-wig producer or anything, but how can it hurt using Jim Siegal (How It Goes), Joe Gittleman, Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore, or even Mark Hoppus. All these guys produced some of the best albums of recent years, ska and punk, and I'm fairly certain they'd "get" the RBF sound.

      Another thing, all the production credits for these albums (even London Calling) have the band as co-producers. In other words, the band gets outside input AND keeps creative control.

      And what's wrong with that?

    • #20471
      CannonBall
      Member

      Thank you, my point exactly.

      When you look at the most creative and inspired albums throughout history, a huge amount of their success it attributed to the producers. It doesn't even have to be someone with any skill, it just needs to be someone with outside ears, to ad perspective, to diffuse arguments (or even to encourage them). I'm sure that any of the fans on this board could go and produce the RBF album and it would sound better. This is not to say that Aaron isn't a good producer, he's actually really good, but only on other bands work (like Chase Long Beach). You can't write the songs, and then produce the songs because you don't have anything new to add to them, it's still going to be coming from the same perspective.

      When I had my Ska band years ago, I was a hard nose just like Aaron and I fought any input from the other band members because I knew how I wanted everything to sound. Finally I gave in when we recorded and let other people write some of the music and influence the production. Had I not done that, the album would have been total shit, now it's just a little shitty. 8 years later I'm glad I did it, and the parts I hated back then that other people wrote, are my favorite parts now, and I completely regret hindering the creative influence from the other band members.

      And I do think that Aaron and Scott need to sit down with some acoustic guitars and write the album like John Lennon and Paul McCartney. There is no doubt in my mind that Aaron and Scott could write one of the best RBF albums ever if they did that. RBF isn't just Aaron like FOE was, and the whole reason I keep listening to RBF is because I'm waiting for them to collaborate on a project.

      I think the best kind of producer WOULD be someone that doesn't know RBF and doesn't even know what Ska is, it would bring so much new inspiration to the band, but since there is no label, the band could co-produce and override anything the really didn't like.

      My friends band The Expendables have been around for over 10 years, and they write good stuff, but it comes out the same style for ever album. In March and April they are going to record a new album with El Hefe producing it. He has even been practicing with them and has helped write the songs. I went to a secret show a few weeks ago and I have to say that the new songs are some of the best songs they have ever written. I have only bought their music in the past because I'm friends with them, but I think this would be the first album of theirs I would be even if I didn't know them.

      What about getting El Hefe to produce them? He plays trumpet and wrote some really awesome parts for some of the new expendabls ska songs.

    • #20486
      CannonBall
      Member

      I just saw the post that included the link to the new songs by Scott (scottklopfenstein.ning.com ). This is exactly why I think Aaron and Scott need to collaborate more.

      Combine these songs with Aaron's and we'd get some amazing music.

    • #20487
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      [quote1232919870=CannonBall]

      and B.) how you could like RBF and not FOE (considering Aaron wrote MOST of the FOE album for RBF originally)

      I don't like FOE because Scott isn't in the band. Scott is the most talented member in RBF and has a very special singing voice, FOE is Aaron singing with himself. I just don't like FOE, I really don't like much ska to begin with so it takes a lot to win my approval (my approval is important to myself and only myself)

      If you can't see the difference between RBF and FOE then you are the one that really doesn't understand RBF.

      What made RBF good was the fact that their songs weren't straight up ska songs, they had creativity and depth and dynamic to them. They would always have interesting transitions from one part of a song to the next.

      Listen to "Nothin' Like A Dame" and then listen to their new cover album and explain to me how any part of this album matches the creativity of that one song.

      [/quote1232919870]

      So, what you're saying is…. the difference between RBF and FOE is scott?
      … dude scott's great but there's certainly more to RBF than scott, he's got a great voice and he's a talented guy but he're really just one fuckin' part of it.

      I understand that FOE and RBF are different bands, but scott doesn't account for all of it.

      and as for the productin calls everyone's yelling for, quite frenkly, what you're saying (and correct me if I'm wrong) is that you want someone else to tell RBF how to be R…. B…. F? …. if you don't like RBF produced by RBF then what you're saying is you don't like products that are 100% made by the band… and you think they should bring in a producer to make a cookie-cutter album based on his experience with other groups? Aaron knows how the songs are supposed to sound, if you don't like the RBF songs that RBF writes, plays and produces themselves then you don't like RBF…. pretty much plain and simple…. because no one is more qualified to produce the albums than Aaron.

      …. I've heard nothin' like a dame…. but I don't particularly think "Won't back down" would've worked as a disco song….

    • #20489
      CannonBall
      Member

      Discussing this with you is like discussing gay marriage with a hard core christian, seriously, you are pulling things out of my words that I never said.

      We don't agree, and no matter how much I try to explain my perspective to you, you come back with things like "you think they should bring in a producer to make a cookie-cutter album based on his experience with other groups?" which I never said, and anyway, right now they have a cookie cutter ska sound.

      I'm done discussing this with you, you're so closed minded and unwilling to accept any other opinion than your own, that you have to twist my words into something that I didn't say.

    • #20488
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      Okay, you could've just said "I didn't say that" and then told me how a producer, whom you wanted because they have an outside perspective, wouldn't bring in perspectives from the outside… I mean, it just doesn't make sense to me why you would want someone who's not in the band telling the band what they should do on there records and changing they're sound at all, I'm pretty sure they're sick of that shit after Jive

    • #20492
      Seamus
      Member

      Cannonball, you have a very interesting, well thought out argument.

      SL, you also have good points.

      From what I can glean, Cannonball, you want RBF to write music more like Streetlight, with multiple contributors, and SL, you want RBF to write like RBF, with Aaron being Aaron.

      Feel free to correct me, as this is what I am basing my opinion on, and I don't want to get it wrong.

      That said, I think I have to agree with SL on this one. RBF wouldn't be RBF with any different kind of writing style. When they're happy, Aaron produces excellent songs, and that is very fun to listen to, and its why RBF has so many fans who stay loyal through every album.

      Keep in mind that I am not saying that bringing in different writers/producers is bad, its just not RBF's style. I also don't mean to beat on Scott. Hell, if I knew someone who could sing, play guitar, and play trumpet, he'd be in my band no question. The LMB and his new songs are excellent, but I feel that the LMB should stay on the LMB album and RBF should stay on the RBF album. I'm not saying Aaron and Scott won't make great music, I'm saying Aaron and Scott won't make RBF music

    • #20441
      madamadam
      Member

      To be honest it's entirely up to Aaron & the band to decide what "RBF music" is.

      Let's just see where they take this album.

    • #20493
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      [quote1232940968=Seamus]
      Cannonball, you have a very interesting, well thought out argument.

      SL, you also have good points.

      From what I can glean, Cannonball, you want RBF to write music more like Streetlight, with multiple contributors, and SL, you want RBF to write like RBF, with Aaron being Aaron.

      Feel free to correct me, as this is what I am basing my opinion on, and I don't want to get it wrong.

      That said, I think I have to agree with SL on this one. RBF wouldn't be RBF with any different kind of writing style. When they're happy, Aaron produces excellent songs, and that is very fun to listen to, and its why RBF has so many fans who stay loyal through every album.

      Keep in mind that I am not saying that bringing in different writers/producers is bad, its just not RBF's style. I also don't mean to beat on Scott. Hell, if I knew someone who could sing, play guitar, and play trumpet, he'd be in my band no question. The LMB and his new songs are excellent, but I feel that the LMB should stay on the LMB album and RBF should stay on the RBF album. I'm not saying Aaron and Scott won't make great music, I'm saying Aaron and Scott won't make RBF music
      [/quote1232940968]

      I agree, 100%

    • #20495
      CannonBall
      Member

      Man, this is so complicated to explain.

      Yes, I would like to see some outside perspective added to the next RBF album, they can still be RBF and have someone help produce the album.

      The RxBandits did not use a producer for ATBB and it was an awesome album, but it still sounded like the RxBandits who had previously released two albums with a producer. On Feb 2nd, they are going back into the studio to record a new album, and they will be bringing back the person who produced Progress and The Resignation. Just because they will have a producer on this next album, does not mean that they won't be the RxBandits anymore. The outside ears will just help develop their sound more.

      It makes no logical sense to say that a band wouldn't be the same band if they used a producer.

      You said: "
      Keep in mind that I am not saying that bringing in different writers/producers is bad, its just not RBF's style" and "When they're happy, Aaron produces excellent songs, and that is very fun to listen to, and its why RBF has so many fans who stay loyal through every album."

      The problem with that argument is that most loyal fans started listening to them with TTRO of WDTRSH, both of which had John Avila as a producer, Cheer Up! had Val Garay. So to say that it's not their style doesn't make sense because their style would have been completely different if those producers didn't work on the 3 albums before Aaron started producing.

      We have all seen RBF live, and when they preform songs from TTRO, WDTRSH, and Cheer Up, the sound the same as they did on the albums. I can't say exactly what the producers of those albums did to the songs, but they probably wouldn't be the same band if they didn't have the experience from those producers, I think they even said that in the interview posted earlier in this thread.

      Anything that RBF writes, will be in the style of RBF. A producer wouldn't change that, especially when a record label isn't controlling him.

      Maybe a producer on WNHTYNH would have said "hey, I don't think this album is going to sound good with room mics, we should do something different" or "hey, that's a good harmony, but when I was listening this idea popped into my head, and I think you should do this instead".

      It's not like a producer will come in and say "these songs are shit, you need to change everything and write them this way".

      I think I need to define what I expect a producer to do, this way we can be clear.

      If I were to hire a producer, I would expect this:

      They would listen to the demos of the songs for a month or so, just to get an idea of what my band had written so far.

      After the producer had a good amount of time to listen to and absorb the album, the band would meet with him and discuss what he thought of the album.

      At that point we could also discuss what we think of the album. If there were some songs that I thought had issues and were kind of week, I would ask for his input. Maybe there would be some lyrics that didn't fit, but for some reason, I wasn't able to think of anything else, maybe he'd have some suggestions.

      I'd expect input on vocal and horn harmonies. Maybe what I wrote was good, but the producer might hear something I didn't and he might simply suggest adding a minor 3rd or something to thicken up the harmonies.

      Maybe I'd want to use some sort of effect, but the producer might say that it's too campy or cheesy and would degrade the album.

      I can go on, but my hands are cold and I'm having trouble typing.

      What do you guys think a producers job is?

    • #20496
      Jeanie
      Member

      Oh my lord, I sure have missed a bunch! Not to be rude, but this seems like an awful lot of discussion on something we have zero control over.

    • #20501
      CannonBall
      Member

      I know, it was just supposed to be a conversation, but some people took offense to what I said, so I had to try and explain myself, over and over again.

    • #20507
      Desensitized
      Member

      You guys do understand that without producers, TTRO, White Trash, and Cheer Up wouldn't exist, right?

      I want you to honestly tell me what damage someone like Joe Gittleman would do if he produced the next RBF album. Do you honestly think he would ruin something his friend Aaron wrote?

      I'm serious here. Outside perspective is NEVER a bad idea.

    • #20509
      CannonBall
      Member

      I'm serious here. Outside perspective is NEVER a bad idea.

      I think the Bush Administration would have to disagree with you on that.

      Also, that's an interesting comment, what do you mean when you say those albums wouldn't exist? I know they would be dramatically different, but not exist? Elaborate…

    • #20508
      Desensitized
      Member

      They would exist, but they'd probably sound quite different. If Everything Sucks and WNHTYH is anything to go by, it would probably sound like shit and the songs would not be all they could be. It was the producers that helped flesh the ideas out.

    • #20154
      The Wind
      Member

      [quote1232963463=Seamus]
      From what I can glean, Cannonball, you want RBF to write music more like Streetlight, with multiple contributors,
      [/quote1232963463]

      Now, I'm not educated on the subject, but it seems to me that Kalnoky is the type of arrogant jerk to not let ANYONE touch his music, does he really let the rest of the ever-changing line-up or a producer tell him what to do?

    • #20514
      Desensitized
      Member

      [quote1232967144=The Wind]
      [quote1232963463=Seamus]
      From what I can glean, Cannonball, you want RBF to write music more like Streetlight, with multiple contributors,
      [/quote1232963463]

      Now, I'm not educated on the subject, but it seems to me that Kalnoky is the type of arrogant jerk to not let ANYONE touch his music, does he really let the rest of the ever-changing line-up or a producer tell him what to do?
      [/quote1232967144]Yeah, I get that impression too.

      Especially with how bloated and 'important' he seems to be making his songs recently.

      I used to love Everything Goes Numb, but now I far prefer Keasbey Nights. And their latest album wore out it's welcome faster than Monkeys did. Kalnoky's writing is probably far more stagnant than Aaron's is.

      Streetlight is in a boat fairly similar to RBF's, imo.

    • #20517
      Surly
      Member

      I'd definetly rather see a producer come help the band with the next album. The band, being independent would always have the final say anyway, but it would definetly help with refining the songs and taking them to different, probably better levels.

    • #20518

      [quote1232993352=Desensitized]
      You guys do understand that without producers, TTRO, White Trash, and Cheer Up wouldn't exist, right?
      [/quote1232993352]

      Maybe so, but Aaron [i]hated[/i] doing Cheer Up with Val Garay producing. So much so that he wrote a song specifically aimed at Val, titled Valerie. Go ahead, read the lyrics…it's not about an ex girlfriend. Cheer Up was awesome, but think of how much better it could've been if the band could've done it the way they wanted to.

    • #20520
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      [quote1232994874=LyinAss Bitch]
      [quote1232993352=Desensitized]
      You guys do understand that without producers, TTRO, White Trash, and Cheer Up wouldn't exist, right?
      [/quote1232993352]

      Maybe so, but Aaron [i]hated[/i] doing Cheer Up with Val Garay producing. So much so that he wrote a song specifically aimed at Val, titled Valerie. Go ahead, read the lyrics…it's not about an ex girlfriend. Cheer Up was awesome, but think of how much better it could've been if the band could've done it the way they wanted to.
      [/quote1232994874]

      It probably wouldn't have been made…. they made cheer up! 'cause they had to…. instead, we'd probably have an album with the best songs from Cheer Up! and a few from Friend or FOE (since without Cheer Up! the FOE never would've existed) and maybe some songs that ended up on WNHTYNH

    • #20527
      Desensitized
      Member

      Valerie is an awesome song, and so is the FOE album. I don't understand the argument.

      If he didn't hate doing Cheer Up we never would have gotten those songs at all.

      Plus, it still doesn't explain why they never play What Are Friends For live, despite it being one of RBF's best songs. (It even made the top ten in that poll we had for best RBF songs by the fans.)

      I'd bring up London Calling again, but then again Mick Jones is grateful he went through hell making it.

    • #20541
      The Wind
      Member

      FOE was just a contingency plan.

    • #20542
      CannonBall
      Member

      Yeah, that doesn't make sense, I love what are friends for, it just has such an awesome feel.

    • #20578
      CannonBall
      Member

      Ok, I was reading Steve Choi's blog (he plays guitar in the RxBandits). A fan made this comment on the blog, regarding them getting someone to produce their new album.

      Incidentally, I hear that you fellows are not recording at the Elizabethan and what's more, you aren't doing the full production yourself but are reverting to a producer from The Resignation and Progress era. I am curious as to how/why you guys made this decision, as "And The Battle Begun" is so high above the past records and so free and wonderful. If you could comment on this stuff that would be really cool.

      Steve replied back to explain why they are having someone produce this album.

      Blogger S. Choi RXB said…

      To kate:

      Here's the thing that's crucial that everyone knows; we by no means give up any creative control working with a producer. In the case of a band like us, its about having the 3rd party who's ears we trust to keep performances in check and make sure everything sounds amazing.. an unspoken member of the band if you will.. in the studio with us, who understands our music and our personalities to help mold and capture our music in the best way possible. I appreciate your props for 'Battle'. Just like that album, we cannot do what we have done before, and returning to the studio with an old friend like Chris Fudurich recording our CURRENT music nearly 7 years after we last worked with him, with our grown and matured musical minds, in addition to his changes in style and skills is a unique and very different thing indeed. For us, collaborative chemistry doesn't become worn out so there's no reverting being done. Even 'Battle' was engineered by another person who played the same role for us that Chris Fudurich had done before, and will be doing again. As far as recording at The Elizabethen.. we've never done a record there. Only parts of the later tracking and over-dubbing for 'Battle' were done at the garage, the rest was done in a studio, just like the one we will enter in a couple weeks.. Although great sounds are obviously achievable there, RX has primarily used it for rehearsing and demo-ing songs. In short, there really isn't much that is different about the process for making this record. Who and where and how can influence certain aspects, but that's about it.. the music will be what it is regardless.

      That's been my exact point.

      You can listen to some new stuff here [link=hyperlink url]http://mattembree.blogspot.com/[/link]

    • #20604
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      yes, we get that a producer would be useful if they really knew the band…. but with aaron acting as producer we have a producer who knows the band and how it should sound more than anyone else ever could!

    • #20606
      The Wind
      Member

      Do you really not get it or are you just trying to be funny now?

    • #20603
      CannonBall
      Member

      Does Aaron really know the band? Sometimes when you're so deeply involved in something, you loose sight of what things really are. It happens to everyone. When you write a paper for class, do you get a better grade on it when you proof read it for errors, or when someone in the english lab proof reads it for you? Same theory here.

    • #20607

      [quote1233283292=CannonBall]
      Does Aaron really know the band? Sometimes when you're so deeply involved in something, you loose sight of what things really are. It happens to everyone. When you write a paper for class, do you get a better grade on it when you proof read it for errors, or when someone in the english lab proof reads it for you? Same theory here.
      [/quote1233283292]

      For lack of a better way to put it…Aaron pretty much is the band. If everyone excluding Aaron quit, there can always be a replacement, and it would still be RBF, but with out Aaron, there is no RBF. The band formed to have fun and make music, not be graded like a term paper.

    • #20609
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      [quote1233288098=CannonBall]
      Does Aaron really know the band? Sometimes when you're so deeply involved in something, you loose sight of what things really are.
      [/quote1233288098]

      but… but aaron hasn't…. that's what I'm saying… and aaron DOES know the band because:

      [quote1233288199=LyinAss Bitch]
      For lack of a better way to put it…Aaron pretty much is the band. If everyone excluding Aaron quit, there can always be a replacement, and it would still be RBF, but with out Aaron, there is no RBF. The band formed to have fun and make music, not be graded like a term paper.
      [/quote1233288199]

    • #20610
      madamadam
      Member

      Fancy Aarom much?

    • #20608
      The Wind
      Member

      This feels like circles.

    • #20611
      Seamus
      Member

      [quote1233296323=LyinAss Bitch]
      For lack of a better way to put it…Aaron pretty much is the band. If everyone excluding Aaron quit, there can always be a replacement, and it would still be RBF, but with out Aaron, there is no RBF. The band formed to have fun and make music, not be graded like a term paper.
      [/quote1233296323]
      [i]If[/i] everyone excluding Aaron quit?

    • #20618
      CannonBall
      Member

      [/quote1233283292]

      For lack of a better way to put it…Aaron pretty much is the band. If everyone excluding Aaron quit, there can always be a replacement, and it would still be RBF, but with out Aaron, there is no RBF. The band formed to have fun and make music, not be graded like a term paper.
      [/quote1233298046]

      I have to agree with you there, have you heard the new Queen album? It's a disrespect to use that name without Freddie Mercury.

    • #20628
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      [quote1233344723=CannonBall]
      [/quote1233283292]

      For lack of a better way to put it…Aaron pretty much is the band. If everyone excluding Aaron quit, there can always be a replacement, and it would still be RBF, but with out Aaron, there is no RBF. The band formed to have fun and make music, not be graded like a term paper.
      [/quote1233298046]

      I have to agree with you there, have you heard the new Queen album? It's a disrespect to use that name without Freddie Mercury.
      [/quote1233344723]

      thank you, thank you so much, fucking truth. the way I see it Queen was like a hive mind…. you lose one of the four and it becomes a shit wagon, and has.

    • #20632
      Desensitized
      Member

      Honestly, your RXB point is pretty dead on. I didn't like their last album, because it sounded like them vanishing up their ass. Because they had no producer to tell them they were jerking their instruments off.

      Dude, I'd give up trying to convince anyone a producer won't put Aaron over a table and fuck his ass if I were you. Apparently that's all producers do if you listen to anyone around here.

      Apparently, Everything Sucks was a better album than TTRO, if producers suck.

    • #20634
      The Wind
      Member

      HUURRRR TWO THREE FOUR! HURRRRR TWO THREE FOUR!

    • #20639
      Seamus
      Member

      I see no issue to counting a song off that way

    • #20640
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      [quote1233355253=Desensitized]
      Apparently, Everything Sucks was a better album than TTRO, if producers suck.
      [/quote1233355253]

      lack of teach and experience are what made ES shitty, Aaron now has Tech and Experience.

    • #20645
      Desensitized
      Member

      If WNHTYNH is any indication, I disagree strongly.

    • #20649
      madamadam
      Member

      Seriously what is wrong with all of you? Just wait until the album's released and THEN we'll discuss whether a producer was necessary or not – have a bit of neutrality.

    • #20650
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      [quote1233373565=Desensitized]
      If WNHTYNH is any indication, I disagree strongly.
      [/quote1233373565]

      I said "Aaron NOW has tech and experience"

    • #20653
      Desensitized
      Member

      I'm willing to wait and see what he does on the next album, I'm just saying that from what I've heard, I'm not sure he can pull it off.

    • #20655
      Surly
      Member

      The guitar sound is quite muddy on FFF. I'd really rather see someone else help based on that recording.

    • #20651
      CannonBall
      Member

      [quote1233422551=madamadam]
      Seriously what is wrong with all of you? Just wait until the album's released and THEN we'll discuss whether a producer was necessary or not – have a bit of neutrality.
      [/quote1233422551]

      No way, it's much better to make our arguments now, this way we can come back and quote ourselves as being right when the album is released.

      As for Queen.
      There were a couple parts on that album where the guitar still sounded good, but that's about it. I had to buy it off a russian website for $2 because it wasn't out in the U.S. iTunes store yet, thank god! Freddie Mercury must be rolling in his grave. The only reason they are still using that name is for recognition, it would take too long for them to make money if they changed it to King or something.

      Oh, dudes, wouldn't it have been rad if there was a band called King in the 80's? Then King, Queen, and Prince could have all played a show together!

    • #20643
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      and a comedian named jester could have opened

    • #20658
      The Wind
      Member

      Lame.

    • #20657
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      jeez, yeah, sorry

    • #20663
      Desensitized
      Member

      Don't cower to him!

    • #20664
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      FUCK ALL YOU GUYS!

    • #20665
      The Wind
      Member

      Don't be a cheddar

    • #20659

      ^^^words to live by.

    • #20669
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      cheddar is dead.

    • #20505
      Seamus
      Member

      cheddar?

    • #20666
      The Wind
      Member

      It's cheese, idiot.

    • #20675
      Desensitized
      Member

      A former mod gone batshit insane. He's the reason we don't have any mods around here. (Not like we needed them anyway)

    • #20692
      Seamus
      Member

      [quote1233771275=The Wind]
      It's cheese, idiot.
      [/quote1233771275]

      Damn, I keep forgetting

    • #20711
      jrock241
      Member

      I really think a producer would help on the next RBF album. There is some confusion as to what a producer does, because every producer takes a different approach.

      Take Rick Rubin for example. He may not even go into the studio until 5-7 songs are completed and say "the 3rd song you showed me is a keeper". There's no agruement, no constructive criticism of the other songs, they simply aren't good enough and the band needs to write a lot more from which he'll stop into the studio for an hour or so again to hand select a few more and repeat this until a cd's worth have been choosen. Now to me, that's crazy. But it must work because almost everything he touches turns into gold.

      Most producers aren't that style but I'm just saying it can vary depending on the person. Most won't throw away almost perfect songs. Most will try to take the songs that aren't great and get the person responsible for the songs to make them great. Aaron may think he's done a perfect job on a song, but the producer will then challenge his thinking and say "lets try this instead" which may work and it may not. But to have that outsider looking in is priceless, and it's not that the producer makes the song better, the producer makes the writer make it better.

    • #20713
      The Wind
      Member

      but who to make a rbf song betr than rbf themselves lololololoolololololol?

    • #20717
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      I'm having a hard time understanding why that doesn't make sense to you…

      the reason RBF doesn't have a producer and doesn't need one is because Aaron has never liked being told what to do… even if they had a producer, I seriously doubt (at this point, since aaron knows he can just do it himself) it would make a difference….. the producer would say "Why don't we try this" and aaron would tell him to go fuck himself

      I have a feeling we won't se non-aaron producers on the albums and frankly I'm relived

      I just want to hear RBF songs that RBF makes… not songs RBF wrote that got fucked with by some guy who has no idea how their supposed to sound…

      I mean, the way we're hearing them now is how Aaron (the writer) want;s them to sound… why would you want anything else then the song how it's supposed to be?

      …it just seems…. I don't know… stupid.

    • #20719
      The Wind
      Member

      I'm going to go ahead and assume you haven't read this topic. At all. OR know anything about the music industry.

      So. Reel Big Fish is independent. That means they don't have to hire a producer. THAT means that they still can. THAT means that if they were, they could hire who they wanted. And, that means, they're not going to hire someone who a) has final say, b) they're just going to go ahead and tell them to fuck off, and c) someone who doesn't know the band at all.

      Outside perspective is good. Have you ever done something, and then someone comes along and says "Hey, how about trying THIS instead?" Was your reaction to tell them to fuck off, or did you think "Hey, you're right! I just got too focused on the overall picture of what I was doing! It's a good thing someone came by to help me fine-tune some details!" If you've never thought that, chances are you're a narcissistic prick.

      That's what producers do. Okay, that's what SOME producers do. And that's what the kind of producer RBF needs. Not someone to co-write, just an educated person to say "That song you wrote, Please Don't Tell Her I Have A Girlfriend? Don't even bother recording it. But that other one, Bang! The Mouse Explodes? That belongs on the album."

      See how much better Monkeys would have been already?

    • #20718
      jrock241
      Member

      [quote1234219075=The Wind]
      but who to make a rbf song betr than rbf themselves lololololoolololololol?
      [/quote1234219075]

      Jerry Abbott
      Josh Abraham
      Herb Abramson
      Mark Abramson
      Patrick Adams
      Cisco Adler
      Lou Adler
      John Agnello
      Chuck Ainlay
      John Alagía
      Chris Albertson
      Steve Albini
      Walt Aldridge
      Gregg Alexander
      Sean Alexander
      Alias (artist)
      All Smiles
      Joe Allison
      Matt Allison
      Tommy Allsup
      Herb Alpert
      Marshall Altman
      Amerie
      David Anderle
      Billy Anderson (music)
      Pete Anderson
      Johnny Andrews
      Ken Andrews
      D-Dot
      Ron Aniello
      Anthony J. Resta
      Mike Appel
      Dave Appell
      India.Arie
      Reed Arvin
      Moe Asch
      Chet Atkins
      Atomly
      Dallas Austin
      Scott Austin
      Steve Austin (musician)
      George Avakian
      Clarence Avant
      John Avila
      David Axelrod (musician)
      Estelle Axton
      Ayatollah (producer)
      Jon B.
      Chris Badami
      Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.
      Ross Bagdasarian, Jr.
      Ben Bagley
      Dan Baird
      Arthur Baker (musician)
      Jeff Balding
      Glen Ballard
      Gordon Banks (musician)
      Brown Bannister
      Camille Barbone
      Chris Barbosa
      Paul Barker
      Stephen Barncard
      Richard Barone
      Steve Barri
      Jeff Barry
      The Basement Boys
      Mark Batson
      Deric Battiste
      Battlecat (producer)
      Matt Bayles
      Beans (rapper)
      Jim Beanz
      Beau Burchell
      Sean Beavan
      Walter Becker
      Barry Beckett
      Michael Beinhorn
      Leila Bela
      Bob Belden
      Al Bell
      Thom Bell
      Dean Benedetti
      Don Benjamin
      Alvin Bennett
      Chico Bennett
      Richard Bennett (guitarist)
      Benny Blanco
      Scott Benzel
      Spencer Bernard
      Bert Berns
      Herb Bernstein
      Paco Betancourt
      Louis Biancaniello
      Biff Blumfumgagnge
      Bill Goodwin (jazz drummer)
      Scott Billington
      Dinky Bingham
      Bink (producer)
      Martin Bisi
      Clint Black
      Larry Blackmon
      Blackout Movement
      Robert Blackwell
      Tchad Blake
      Charles Blenzig
      Kurt Bloch
      Jeff Blue
      Danny Blume
      Bob Rosa
      Doug Boehm
      Curt Boettcher
      Armen Boladian
      Niko Bolas
      Justin Boller
      Maya Bond
      Tony Bongiovi
      Sonny Bono
      J Boogie
      Chuckii Booker
      Bob Both
      Bruce Botnick
      Bill Bottrell
      Brent Bourgeois
      Jeff Bova
      Jimmy Bowen
      Ryan Bowser
      Joe Boyd
      John Boylan (record producer)
      Owen Bradley
      Braille (Bryan Winchester)
      Delaney Bramlett
      Stephen Bray
      David Briggs (producer)
      David Briggs (American musician)
      Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs
      Jon Brion
      Craig Brockman
      Brian Bromberg
      Matt Bronleewe
      Robert Green Brooks
      The Brothers (producers)
      Darrell Brown (musician)
      James Brown
      Jonathan David Brown
      Michael Brown (writer)
      Tony Brown (record producer)
      Venus Brown
      Denny Bruce
      Trey Bruce
      Ted Bruner
      Tim Buckley
      Bud'da
      Norton Buffalo
      Jim Burgess (producer)
      Keni Burke
      T-Bone Burnett
      Scott Burns (producer)
      Gary Burr
      Butcher Bros.
      Nate Butler
      Hillous Butrum
      Ray Buttigieg
      Daniel Buxton
      Marc Byrd
      C. Renegade
      CX KiDTRONiK
      Scott Cable
      Ken Caillat
      Mario Caldato, Jr.
      Charles Calello
      Jasper Cameron
      Tony Camillo
      Rob Campanella
      Mike Campbell
      Warryn Campbell
      Buddy Cannon
      Don Cannon
      Jesse Cannon
      Nick Cannon
      Joey Cape
      Arnold S. Caplin
      Billy Cardine
      Joe Carducci
      Mariah Carey
      Chris Carter (producer/disc jockey)
      Johnny Fred Carter
      Alec Cartio
      Peter Case
      Harry Wayne Casey
      John Carter Cash
      Terry Cashman
      Buzz Cason
      David Castell
      Russ Castella
      Brian Castillo
      JT Castillo
      Steve Caton
      Felix Cavaliere
      Rob Cavallo
      Mister Cee
      Gustavo Celis
      Channel 7 (musician)
      Charles Dye
      Samuel Charters
      JC Chasez
      David T. Chastain
      Cher
      Yury G. Chernavsky
      Travis Cherry
      Marshall Chess
      Chic (band)
      Joe Chicarelli
      Alex Chilton
      Jae Chong
      Chris Carter (record producer/mixer)
      Chris Grainger
      Chris Christian
      Gavin Christopher
      Ciara
      Mike City
      Mike E. Clark
      Gilby Clarke
      Bob Clearmountain
      Jack Clement
      Clifton "Jiggs" Chase
      Mike Clink
      George Clinton (musician)
      Robert Clivillés
      Steven Cloud
      DJ Clue
      Charles Cobb
      Ed Cobb
      Anita Cochran
      Paul Cohen (producer)
      David Cole (producer)
      Jude Cole
      Paula Cole
      Colin C. Allrich
      Colin Cobb
      Kimball Collins
      Bobby Colomby
      John Congleton
      Christopher "F.L.O." Conner
      Monte Conner
      Con Conrad
      Conya Doss
      Deborah Cooper
      Nick Cooper
      Miles Copeland III
      John Corbett (writer)
      Rich Costey
      Count Bass D
      Kurt "Kobane" Couthon
      Joey Covington
      Bryan-Michael Cox
      Luigi Creatore
      Bob Crewe
      Rodney Crowell
      Janice Cruz
      CunninLynguists
      Mike Curb
      Michael Cuscuna
      Zulema
      John Custer
      Scott Cutler
      André Cymone
      DJ Clay
      DJ Day
      DJ Deeon
      DJ Funk
      DJ Godfather
      DJ Infamous
      DJ Premier
      DJ Scientific
      DJ Smash
      DJ Toomp
      DJ U-Neek
      DJ Wrekk
      Pappy Daily
      Dame Grease
      Damizza
      Danger Mouse
      Danja
      Danny!
      Ron Dante
      Joe Darone
      Richard Dashut
      Terry Date
      Derri Daugherty
      Dave Dresden
      Billy Davis (songwriter)
      Clive Davis
      Lionell Davis
      Maxwell Davis
      De'Angelo Wilson
      Brian Deck
      DeLon
      ED Denson
      Amir Derakh
      Joe DeRenzo
      Lawrence Dermer
      Russ DeSalvo
      Jimmy Destri
      Kurt Deutsch
      Sidney DeWayne
      Andrew Diamond
      Jim Diamond (music producer)
      Diaz Brothers
      Travis Dickerson
      Jim Dickinson
      Nick DiDia
      James Diener
      Paul Dieter
      Clark Dimond
      Dino (singer)
      Don Dixon (musician)
      Willie Dixon
      Mark Dodson
      Domino (producer)
      Joel Dorn
      Double Dee and Steinski
      Alan Douglas (record producer)
      Chip Douglas
      Jack Douglas (record producer)
      Jimmy Douglass
      Tom Dowd
      Mark Doyon
      Lamont Dozier
      Bob Drake (musician)
      Pete Drake
      George Drakoulias
      Dre & Vidal
      Bruce Driscoll
      Donald "Duck" Dunn
      Jermaine Dupri
      Paul Durham
      Dust Brothers
      Adam Dutkiewicz
      Dyloot
      E-A-Ski
      Luke Ebbin
      Jimmy Edgar
      Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds
      Bernard Edwards
      Esmond Edwards
      Phil Ek
      Frankie El Jefe
      Jonathan Elias
      Anye Elite
      Rachel Elkind-Tourre
      Ray Ellis
      Peter Elman
      Kevin Elson
      Justin Emerle
      Eminem
      Eric Emm
      Jack Endino
      Jack Endino's recording discography
      Scott English
      Lorne Entress
      Jason "Jay E" Epperson
      Howie Epstein
      Andy Ernst
      Tim Eschliman
      Allan Evans (producer)
      Faith Evans
      Lee Evans (producer)
      Edan Everly
      Exile (producer)
      Fabo
      Faceboy
      Tony Fagenson
      Ron Fair
      Jim Fairchild
      Jay Faires
      Keith Farley
      Wes Farrell
      John Feldmann
      Felix da Housecat
      Sid Feller
      DJ Felli Fel
      Joe Fields (producer)
      John Fields (producer)
      Frank Filipetti
      Carl Finch
      Fingazz
      Doctor Fink
      Jerry Finn
      Frank Fitzpatrick
      Don Fleming (musician)
      Flex&Hated
      Mike Flicker
      Jerome Fontamillas
      Willa Ford
      Lawrence Fordyce
      DJ Forest Green
      Dave Fortman
      Foster & McElroy
      Fred Foster
      Kim Fowley
      Paul Fox (producer)
      Petey Franchise
      Brian French
      Steve Freund
      Jeff Freundlich
      Dave Fridmann
      Fritz the Cat (producer)
      Mitchell Froom
      John Fry (record producer)
      Chris Fudurich
      Jerry Fuller
      Garth Fundis
      Tret Fure
      Ethel Gabriel
      Josh Gabriel
      Wally Gagel
      Fred Gaisberg
      Eddie Galan
      Stephan Galfas
      Byron Gallimore
      Albhy Galuten
      Gamble and Huff
      Don Gant
      Val Garay
      Pedro Garcia (producer)
      Brian Gardner
      McKay Garner
      Sean Garrett
      Snuff Garrett
      Javier Garza
      Humberto Gatica
      Timmy Gatling
      Bob Gaudio
      Richard Gavalis
      Erik Gavriluk
      Marvin Gaye
      Bob Geddins
      Don Gehman
      Peter Gelb
      Gene Page
      Sergio George
      Geri King
      Scott Gerow
      Serban Ghenea
      Walter Gibbons
      Debbie Gibson
      Quinton Gibson
      Scott McKay Gibson
      Verna Gillis
      Don Gilmore
      Jimmie Dale Gilmore
      Voyle Gilmore
      Kenny Gioia
      Lou Giordano
      Glass ghost
      Daniel Glass
      Dick Glasser
      Lloyd Glenn
      Henry Glover
      Erik Godal
      Dito Godwin
      Andrew Gold
      Barry Goldberg
      Matt Goldman (record producer)
      George Goldner
      Shep Goodman
      John Goodmanson
      Jay Gordon
      Berry Gordy
      Emory Gordy, Jr.
      Kerry Gordy
      Gorilla Tek
      Arthur Gorson
      Chris Goss
      Richard Gottehrer
      Irv Gotti
      Billy Gould
      Katerina Graham
      Gerry Granahan
      Norman Granz
      Grap Luva
      Anthony Gravino
      Jay Graydon
      Doug Grean
      Matt Green (musician)
      Roger Greenawalt
      Steve Greenberg (record producer)
      Ryan Greene
      Ellie Greenwich
      Louis L. Gregory
      Eric Greif
      Billy Griffin
      J Chris Griffin
      James William Guercio
      Frank Guida
      Tom Gulotta
      Brett Gurewitz
      Gary G-Wiz
      Janek Gwizdala
      Stephen Hague
      Dave Hall (record producer)
      Bill Ham
      Anthony Hamilton (musician)
      Diane Hamilton
      Joel Hamilton
      Roy "Royalty" Hamilton
      Samantha Hammel
      John H. Hammond
      Barry Hankerson
      Kip Hanrahan
      Chris Hanzsek
      Larry Harlow (musician)
      Mark Harmon (musician)
      Norman Harris
      Jerry Harrison
      Rich Harrison
      Dan Hartman
      Derrick Harvin
      Donny Hathaway
      Chris Hawkes
      Isaac Hayes III
      Lee Hazlewood
      Mark Heard
      Paul Heck
      Jason Heinrichs
      Christian Hejnal
      Fred Hellerman
      Herb Hendler
      Belford Hendricks
      Scott Hendricks
      Jennifer Herrema
      Dennis Herring
      David Hilker
      Beau Hill
      Jason Hill
      Steve Hindalong
      Truc Ho
      Tony Hoffer
      Brian Holland
      Edward Holland, Jr.
      Sam Hollander
      Jac Holzman
      Nikki Hornsby
      Paul Hornsby
      Israel Horowitz (producer)
      Whitney Houston
      Bones Howe
      David Miles Huber
      Eric Hudson
      Mark Hudson
      Rod Hui
      Billy Hume
      Scott Humphrey
      Van Hunt
      Ivy Jo Hunter
      Jeff Huskins
      Leroy Hutson
      Ted Hutt
      L. T. Hutton
      Tor Hyams
      Jimmy Ienner
      Jimmy Iovine
      Loren Israel
      Stevie J
      Eric J
      Cordell Jackson
      Janet Jackson
      Mark Jackson (producer)
      Marlon Jackson
      Michael Jackson
      Randy Jackson
      Rodney Jackson
      Dick Jacobs
      Erik Jacobsen
      Jake and the Phatman
      Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
      Brett James
      Tim James (music producer)
      Rick James
      Roosevelt Jamison
      Eli Janney (musician)
      John Jansen (producer)
      John Jaszcz
      Jay Baumgardner
      Jay-J
      Jay-Z
      Jazzy Jay
      Jeff Glixman
      Carl Jefferson
      Jel
      John Jennings (musician)
      Lyfe Jennings
      Ted Jensen
      Dave Jerden
      Fred Jerkins III
      Jerry Riopelle
      Jim Jonsin
      Joe (singer)
      John Davis and the Monster Orchestra
      John McEntire
      Johnny K
      Aaron Johnson (musician)
      General Norman Johnson
      Nathaniel Johnson
      Bob Johnston
      David Jude Jolicoeur
      Jon Monday
      Jondi & Spesh
      Allen Jones (record producer)
      Donell Jones
      Gloria Jones
      Leslie Ann Jones
      Quincy Jones
      Stacy Jones
      Steve Jordan (musician)
      Jorge Calderón
      Jeffrey K.
      K-Def
      K-Rab
      David Kahne
      Keezo Kane
      Janice Karman
      Kashif (musician)
      Adam Kasper
      Tolga Katas
      Gary Katz
      Yuri Katz
      Matthew King Kaufman
      Kawan "KP" Prather
      Justin Kawashima
      Sonny Kay
      Barry Miller Kaye
      Lenny Kaye
      Bob Keane
      John Keane (record producer)
      Theodore Keep
      Brian Kehew
      Keith Thomas (producer)
      Ben Keith
      Gary Kellgren
      R. Kelly
      Ken Mansfield
      Don Kent
      Anita Kerr
      Ron Kersey
      David Kershenbaum
      Kevin Kadish
      Alicia Keys
      Khia
      Wes Kidd
      Buddy Killen
      Bruce Kimmel
      Kimo Kaulani
      John King (producer)
      Ronnie King
      Don Kirshner
      KJ-52
      Bill Klatt
      KLC
      Gary Klein (producer)
      Larry Klein
      Frederick Knight (singer)
      Suge Knight
      Terry Knight
      Knobody
      Beyoncé Knowles
      Paul Q. Kolderie
      Paul Kostabi
      Kount Fif
      Kovas
      Robert Kraft (composer)
      Eddie Kramer
      Mark Kramer
      Lenny Kravitz
      Jonathan Kreinik
      Andy Kubiszewski
      Gary Kurfirst
      Greg Kurstin
      John Kurzweg
      Kush Arora
      L.E.S. (producer)
      LRoc
      Gary LaBarr
      Greg Ladanyi
      Greg Landau
      Jon Landau
      Donn Landee
      Tim Landers
      George Landress
      Michael Lange
      Frankie LaRocka
      Amel Larrieux
      Brian Larsen
      Denise LaSalle
      Adam Lasus
      Bill Laswell
      Laurent Cohen
      Rhett Lawrence
      Laylaw
      Randy Layton
      Paul Leary
      Rod Lee
      Howard Leese
      The Legendary Traxster
      Josh Leo (musician)
      Craig Leon
      Patrick Leonard
      Ryan Leslie
      John Leventhal
      Joey Levine
      Larry Levine
      Stewart Levine
      Aaron Levinson
      Daniel Levitin
      Gennessee Lewis
      Rob Lewis
      Sarah Lewitinn
      David Libert
      Libretto chief
      Max Avery Lichtenstein
      Goddard Lieberson
      Shelly Liebowitz
      Lil' C
      Kevin Liles
      Arto Lindsay
      Mark Linett
      Miriam Linna
      Linus Of Hollywood
      Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell
      Alfred Lion
      Tommy LiPuma
      Scott Litt
      Lonnie Ratliff
      Shaun Lopez
      Michael Lord (music)
      Tom Lord-Alge
      Christopher Lorenzo
      Johnny Love
      Bernie Lowe
      Lucas Secon
      Reggie Lucas
      Lucian Piane
      Jaye Luckett
      LeToya Luckett
      Dr. Luke
      Terry Lupton
      Stan Lynch
      Alex MacDougall
      Teo Macero
      Phil Madeira
      Madlib
      Lee Magid
      Fred Maher
      Dan Maimone
      Major Matt Mason USA
      Malay (producer)
      Peter Malick
      Earle Mankey
      Billy Mann
      Terry Manning
      Kurtis Mantronik
      Ray Manzarek
      Wade Marcus
      Arif Mardin
      Joe Mardin
      Robert Margouleff
      Ben Margulies
      Teena Marie
      Lou Marini
      Mark Capps
      Mark Schatz
      Steve Marker
      Clair Marlo
      Jerry Marotta
      Athan Maroulis
      Trade Martin
      Tucker Martine
      Jasun Martz
      Vincent Mason
      Kedar Massenburg
      Michael Masser
      Sylvia Massy
      Master P
      Masters At Work
      Cosimo Matassa
      Mateo & Matos
      Rob Mathes
      Eddie Matos (musician)
      The Matrix (record production team)
      Matthew Hager
      Matthew Katz
      Michael Mauldin (producer)
      Curtis Mayfield
      Jody Mayfield
      Tim McAllister
      Mac McAnally
      McFadden & Whitehead
      Gene McFadden
      David McGarry
      Brian McKnight
      Billy McLaughlin
      Lillian McMurry
      Dugan McNeill
      Brian McTernan
      E.D.I. Mean
      Meco
      Mr. J. Medeiros
      Hank Medress
      Medway (producer)
      Terry Melcher
      Lester Melrose
      Lester Mendez
      Kelvin Mercer
      Lewis Merenstein
      Ellis Miah
      Micayle Mckinney
      Michael Stewart (musician)
      James Michael
      Dan Michaels
      Midi Mafia
      Midnight Black
      Miguel Migs
      Mike Daly
      Christina Milian
      Buddy Miller
      Dave Miller (producer)
      J. D. "Jay" Miller
      Jimmy Miller
      Mitch Miller
      Steven Miller
      Brent Milligan
      June Millington
      Paul Miner
      Rickey Minor
      George Mitchell (music historian)
      Willie Mitchell (musician)
      Mizell Brothers
      Mobonix
      Multiman
      Frazier Mohawk
      Chips Moman
      Bob Montgomery (musician)
      Chris Moore (producer/audio engineer)
      René Moore
      Steve Moore (musician/producer)
      Michael Morales (musician)
      Richard Morel
      Brian Alexander Morgan
      Alanis Morissette
      Gurf Morlix
      Doug Morris
      Shadow Morton
      Roli Mosimann
      J. Moss
      Jerry Moss
      Bob Mould
      Tom Moulton
      Rob Mounsey
      Sylvia Moy
      Muhsinah
      Ben Mumphrey
      Marty Munsch
      Andrew Murdock
      Dwayne Murphy
      James Murphy (electronic musician)
      Rian Murphy
      Juggy Murray
      Frank J. Myers
      Myrus Jones
      Napoleon XIV
      Syd Nathan
      Mason Neely
      Greg Nelson (producer)
      Ken Nelson (United States record producer)
      The Neptunes
      Bob Neuwirth
      Tom Newman (musician, producer)
      Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen
      Hayden Nicholas
      James P. Nichols
      Lynn Nichols
      Roger Nichols (recording engineer)
      Nick Sansano
      Filip Nikolic
      Nitti (producer)
      Jack Nitzsche
      No I.D.
      Vada Nobles
      Paul Northfield
      Novel (musician)
      Rick Nowels
      Oak (producer)
      Brendan O'Brien (music producer)
      Ric Ocasek
      St. Louis Jimmy Oden
      Sean O'Keefe (producer)
      Milt Okun
      Tommy Oliver (musician)
      Keith Olsen
      Michael Omartian
      Paul O'Neill (rock producer)
      Barbara Orbison
      Bobby Orlando
      Robert Ellis Orrall
      Shuggie Otis
      Owsley (musician)
      PAJAM
      Marty Paich
      Andy Paley
      Robert Palmer (writer)
      Henry Panion
      Thom Panunzio
      Felix Pappalardi
      Robin Pappas
      Rick Parashar
      Dawaun Parker
      Ray Parker, Jr.
      Cameron Michael Parkes
      Parthenon Huxley
      Joseph Patrych
      Alexandra Patsavas
      Michael Patterson (producer)
      Paul C
      Brian Paulson
      George Paulus
      Gary S. Paxton
      George Paxton
      Sir Arthur Payson
      Charlie Peacock
      Lou Pearlman
      Sandy Pearlman
      Darryl Pearson
      Ralph Peer
      Shelly Peiken
      Michael Penn
      Bill Pere
      Hugo Peretti
      Rudy Perez
      Alex Perialas
      Dave Perkins (guitarist)
      Marvin Perkins
      Freddie Perren
      Gordon Perry
      Linda Perry
      Richard Perry
      John Petrucci
      Shep Pettibone
      Norman Petty
      Craig Peyton
      Darrin Pfeiffer
      Pharrell Williams
      Sam Phillips
      Stu Phillips (composer)
      Mark Picchiotti
      Harve Pierre
      Felton Pilate
      Mark Pistel
      Shaun Pizzonia
      Plan B (producer/musician)
      Mark Plati
      Richard Podolor
      Neil Portnow
      Mike Portnoy
      Michael J. Powell
      Millard Powers
      James Poyser
      Mark Prator
      Prince Markie Dee
      Dan Prothero
      PSD (rapper)
      John Purdell
      Bill Putnam
      Norbert Putnam
      Mike Puwal
      Wardell Quezergue
      Darin Raffaelli
      Jerry Ragovoy
      Bonnie Raitt
      Ralfi Pagan
      Don Ralke
      Eddie Rambeau
      Phil Ramone
      Tommy Ramone
      Fred Ramsey
      Lee Ranaldo
      Gordon Raphael
      Doug Rasheed
      Nick Raskulinecz
      David Rawlings
      Ray Reach
      Shawty Redd
      Russ Regan
      L. A. Reid
      John Reis
      Brian Reitzell
      Remot
      Henri René
      Carl Restivo
      Grey Revell
      Daniel Rey
      Allen Reynolds
      Trent Reznor
      Taylor Rhodes
      Victor Rice
      Tony Rich
      Deke Richards
      Lionel Richie
      Rick Rock
      David Ricketts
      Geoff Rickly
      Steve Ripley
      Johnny Rivers
      Carmen Rizzo
      Bruce Robb (producer)
      Dante Roberson
      Don Robey
      John Robie
      Jack Robinson (songwriter and music publisher)
      Ross Robinson
      Sharon Robinson (songwriter)
      Smokey Robinson
      Sylvia Robinson
      Rodney Jerkins
      Michael Roe
      Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers
      Frank Rogers (record producer)
      Ken Rogers
      Roy Rogers (guitarist)
      Christopher Rojas
      Frank Romano
      Richie Rome
      Cory Rooney
      Ralphi Rosario
      Ed Rose
      Wesley Rose
      Larry Rosen (producer)
      Eric Rosse
      J. R. Rotem
      Paul A. Rothchild
      Hahn Rowe
      Steve Rowland (record producer)
      Roy Z
      Glenn Rubenstein
      Rick Rubin
      Kevin Rudolf
      Richard Rudolph
      Todd Rundgren
      Art Rupe
      Bob Rupe
      Bob Rusch
      Bryan Russell
      Ross Russell
      Erik Rutan
      Joshua Ryan
      Paul Sabu
      Alex Sadkin
      Ron Saint Germain
      Ralph Sall
      Bob Sallese
      Frank Salvato II
      Paul Salveson
      Ruwanga Samath
      Chink Santana
      Mike Sapone
      Joe Saraceno
      Dave Sardy
      David Sardy
      Art Satherly
      DJ Satisfaction
      Ann Savoy
      Jimmy Scalia
      Warren Schatz
      Ben Schigel
      Don Schlitten
      Rob Schnapf
      Ian Scott (producer)
      Manuel Seal, Jr.
      Chris Seefried
      Michael Seifert (producer)
      Mark Selby (musician)
      Dan Sembello
      Danny Seraphine
      Matt Serletic
      Bob Shad
      James Shaffer
      Robert Shahnazarian
      Noah Shain
      Tupac Shakur
      Siavash Shams
      Wayne Shanklin
      John Shanks
      Nat Shapiro
      Sharam
      Harold Shedd
      Rob Shelby
      Louis Shelton
      Thomas Z. Shepard
      Billy Sherrill
      Edward Shimborske III
      Robert Shimp
      Kia Shine
      Mike Shinoda
      Trina Shoemaker
      Stephen H. Sholes
      Bobby Shriver
      Bunny Sigler
      DJ Signify
      Ely E. "Si" Siman, Jr.
      Daryl Simmons
      John Simon (record producer)
      Michael Simpson (producer)
      Rena Sinakin
      Shelby Singleton
      Sir Jinx
      David Andrew Sitek
      Jack Skurnick
      Sean Slade
      Jamie Slocum
      Anthony Smith (songwriter)
      Floyd Soileau
      Steven Soles
      Scott Solter
      Tim Sommer
      Soul Diggaz
      Soulquarians
      The Soulseekers
      Cipha Sounds
      Joe South
      Caleb Southern
      Phil Spector
      Spectre (musician)
      Nick Speed
      Bruce Spencer
      Mark Spiro
      Spot (producer)
      Cory Spotts
      Richard K. Spottswood
      Devo Springsteen
      Aaron Sprinkle
      Trey Spruance
      Red Spyda
      Matt Squire
      Stephen St. Croix
      Maurice Starr
      Ed Stasium
      Jeremy Staska
      Static Revenger
      Keith Stegall
      Seymour Stein
      Jim Steinman
      Philip Steir
      Eric Stenman
      Stephen Tirpak
      Carl Stephenson (producer)
      Liam Sternberg
      Steve Anderson (musician)
      William "Mickey" Stevenson
      Christopher Stewart (music producer)
      Jim Stewart (music)
      Nisan Stewart
      Shakir Stewart
      Stircrazy
      Chris Stokes
      Angie Stone
      Henry Stone
      Sly Stone
      Scott Storch
      Steve Stoute
      Craig Street
      James Stroud
      Patrick Stump
      Style Misia
      Mark Sudack
      Al B. Sure!
      Bobby Susser
      Glenn Sutton
      Swamp Dogg
      Phillip Swann
      Keith Sweat
      Leon Sylvers III
      Bill Szymczyk
      Sean T
      Shel Talmy
      Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers
      Creed Taylor
      Ojo Taylor
      Terry Scott Taylor
      Troy Taylor (producer)
      Tedd T
      Ryan Tedder
      Teddy Gentry
      Ted Templeman
      Ernie Terrell
      Tha Cornaboyz
      Marty Thau
      Bob Thiele
      Kit Thomas
      Antwan "Amadeus" Thompson
      Steve Thompson (musician)
      Thuy Nga
      T.I.
      Wharton Tiers
      Timbaland
      Russ Titelman
      Jon Tiven
      Todd Tobias
      Bryan Todd
      Tony Black (music producer)
      Allen Toussaint
      Eric Townsend
      Jason Townsend
      Lee Townsend
      T-Pain
      Trackmasters
      Trey Told 'Em
      Trilogy Productions
      Mark Trombino
      Justin Trosper
      Roger Troutman
      True Master
      Dave Trumfio
      Tuan Anh
      Ike Turner
      Jeff Turzo
      Stephanie Tyrell
      Badru Umi
      Dick Urine
      Gary Usher
      Michael Utley
      Sam Valenti IV
      Eric Valentine
      Leonardo Valvassori
      Armand Van Helden
      Steven Van Zandt
      Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool
      Luther Vandross
      Mike Varney
      Junior Vasquez
      Frankie Vega
      V cont.
      Nick Venet
      Butch Vig
      Sal Villanueva
      Johnny Vincent
      Kyle Vincent
      Tony Visconti
      Claude VonStroke
      Andrew W.K.
      Waddy Wachtel
      Ric Wake
      Narada Michael Walden
      Mark Walk
      Butch Walker
      Joe Louis Walker
      Robert Walker (musician)
      Scott Walker (singer)
      Jeremy Wall
      Chris Walla
      Andy Wallace (producer)
      Matt Wallace
      James Walsh (record producer)
      Asaph Ward
      Leon Ware
      Lenny Waronker
      Simon Waronker
      David Was
      Don Was
      Jody Watley
      Rob Watson
      Gregg Wattenberg
      Sam Watters
      Dave Way
      Fee Waybill
      Artie Wayne
      Fred Weintraub
      Andrew Weiss (guitarist)
      Hy Weiss
      Pete Welding
      J. Wells
      Meech Wells
      Tom Werman
      Ben West (musician, producer)
      Kanye West
      Jerry Wexler
      Harold Wheeler (musician)
      Mark Whitaker (music producer)
      Maurice White
      John Whitehead (singer)
      Norman Whitfield
      George Whitty
      Ulrich Wild
      Matthew Wilder
      D'Extra Wiley
      Ethan Wiley
      Sue G. Wilkinson
      Will.i.am
      Deniece Williams
      Desmond Williams
      J. Mayo Williams
      James Williamson (musician)
      Hal Willner
      Brian Wilson
      Bryce Wilson
      Darleen Wilson
      Frank Wilson (musician)
      Murry Wilson
      Norro Wilson
      Thom Wilson
      Tom Wilson (producer)
      Wally Wilson
      Angela Winbush
      James Paul Wisner
      Jimmy Wisner
      Joe Wissert
      Brian Witkin
      Wizardz of Oz
      Peter Wolf (producer)
      Francis Wolff
      Bobby Womack
      Stevie Wonder
      Brad Wood
      Jeffery Wood
      Lyle Workman
      Paul Worley
      Bill Wray (composer)
      Betty Wright
      James "Big Jim" Wright
      Toby Wright
      Craig Wuest
      Jyro Xhan
      Jerry Yester
      Yogi (producer)
      Hans York
      Young Blaze
      Kenny Young
      Younglord
      Jerome T. Youngman
      Bobby Z.
      Robert W. Zachary
      Michael Zager

      But that's jsut a few that I can name off the top of my head. :p

    • #20720
      Seamus
      Member

      Producers?

    • #20722
      jrock241
      Member

      Yes Seamus. 1,370 I think.

      [quote]
      I'm having a hard time understanding why that doesn't make sense to you…

      the reason RBF doesn't have a producer and doesn't need one is because Aaron has never liked being told what to do…[/quote]

      Think about this as a football team. Brett Favre doesn't like being told what to do so he doesn't need a coach? Imagine a team playing without an outsider telling them what they see wrong.

      [quote]even if they had a producer, I seriously doubt (at this point, since aaron knows he can just do it himself) it would make a difference….. the producer would say "Why don't we try this" and aaron would tell him to go fuck himself

      I have a feeling we won't se non-aaron producers on the albums and frankly I'm relived

      I just want to hear RBF songs that RBF makes… not songs RBF wrote that got fucked with by some guy who has no idea how their supposed to sound…

      I mean, the way we're hearing them now is how Aaron (the writer) want;s them to sound… why would you want anything else then the song how it's supposed to be?[/quote]

      So you don't like TTRO and White Thrash because somebody told Aaron that the breakdown in trendy was too jazzy. And I Want Your Girlfriend's break down was changed also, there for the song is now bad?

    • #20724
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      [quote1234222336=The Wind]
      I'm going to go ahead and assume you haven't read this topic. At all. OR know anything about the music industry.

      So. Reel Big Fish is independent. That means they don't have to hire a producer. THAT means that they still can. THAT means that if they were, they could hire who they wanted. And, that means, they're not going to hire someone who a) has final say, b) they're just going to go ahead and tell them to fuck off, and c) someone who doesn't know the band at all.

      Outside perspective is good. Have you ever done something, and then someone comes along and says "Hey, how about trying THIS instead?" Was your reaction to tell them to fuck off, or did you think "Hey, you're right! I just got too focused on the overall picture of what I was doing! It's a good thing someone came by to help me fine-tune some details!" If you've never thought that, chances are you're a narcissistic prick.

      That's what producers do. Okay, that's what SOME producers do. And that's what the kind of producer RBF needs. Not someone to co-write, just an educated person to say "That song you wrote, Please Don't Tell Her I Have A Girlfriend? Don't even bother recording it. But that other one, Bang! The Mouse Explodes? That belongs on the album."

      See how much better Monkeys would have been already?
      [/quote1234222336]

      I've read every post in ths topic and take classes in music business I Am also prepping to go to college for music production.

      what I'm saying is, at this point, since Aaron (Aaron Barrett, he writes the songs for a band called "Reel Big Fish"… you probably wouldn't like them because the don't have producers mess with their sound) knows how to produce he wouldn't fucking listen to a producer anyway, and why should he? invite some coach on to tell him how the songs he wrote should sound? aaron's beyond that… he doesn't need suggestions, he knows what he wants to do.

      here I go, once again….. RBF are going to do shit by themselves from now on, it's more natural for them, they don't need help, I don't know, I like the new album, If you don't like it I have a feeling you're going to be dissapointed for a while.

      because, looking at it from a musicians standpoint, If I could produce my own albums and make them the way I want to, There's no fucking way i'd hire some guy to tell me how my songs should sound…

      you say they need a produce who knows RBF really well? who fucking knows RBF better than RBF?

    • #20726
      jrock241
      Member

      [quote]If I could produce my own albums and make them the way I want to, There's no fucking way i'd hire some guy to tell me how my songs should sound

      I Am also prepping to go to college for music production[/quote]

      You should put that first line on your business card.

      [quote]aaron's beyond that… [/quote] Yet Metallica, Blink-182, No Doubt aren't quite there yet, that's why they still use producers?

    • #20725
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      [quote1234224048=jrock241]
      Yes Seamus. 1,370 I think.
      So you don't like TTRO and White Thrash because somebody told Aaron that the breakdown in trendy was too jazzy. And I Want Your Girlfriend's break down was changed also, there for the song is now bad?
      [/quote1234224048]

      you have no way of knowing who changed the breakdowns and It sounds as though arron him self did, my groups and I change huge chunks of songs all the time, songs change over time, when you write a song you constantly re-write in your head, plus, aaron had the ES versions of those tracks to go by.

    • #20728
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      [quote1234224279=jrock241]
      [quote]If I could produce my own albums and make them the way I want to, There's no fucking way i'd hire some guy to tell me how my songs should sound

      I Am also prepping to go to college for music production[/quote]

      You should put that first line on your business card.

      [b]yes, so I can be a producer for bands that don't consist of producers[/b]

      [quote]aaron's beyond that… [/quote] Yet Metallica, Blink-182, No Doubt aren't quite there yet, that's why they still use producers?

      [b] A.) could you have named a good band? [/b]
      [b]B.) No Doubt, Metallica, And ….. B-Blink-182? really? …out of all the bands that use producers they were in the top 3?…. anyway, they don't have producers IN THE BAND! RBF do, they have some3one in the group that fits the bill[/b]
      [/quote1234224279]

    • #20730
      jrock241
      Member

      YOU also have no way of saying that Aaron made those changes to the break downs.

      I understand that art is subject but can you say you'll ever sell a tenth of the albums any of those bands have.
      And yes they do have producers in the band. Mark Hoppus' list of producing is quite long for the short amount of time he has to spend on other people's projects. And No Doubt has Tony Kanal, who I'd use in a second if offered. Yet they are both smart enough to know that an outsider is best for the band. Otherwise you end up with a control freak who admits that he is mad when somebody gets writers' credit on a song. [Aaron mentions this on the 1st DVD commentary]

    • #20732
      The Wind
      Member

      [quote1234225869=Sonic Libido]

      you say they need a produce who knows RBF really well? who fucking knows RBF better than RBF?

      [/quote1234225869]

      Stop saying that. You're not listening.

      Outsider perspective has nothing to do with someone else knowing them better. Obviously. Well, it would seem obviously.

      If you don't see the importance of a producer, why the hell do you think you can be one?

    • #20739
      CannonBall
      Member

      Just because Aaron knows how to jerk himself off better than anyone else doesn't mean that it's better than sex.

      A band without a producer is like a group jerkoff session, with a producer it's a group orgy.

      Just because you know how to do something, doesn't mean that you're better qualified than anyone else.

      Aaron would probably do a great job producing my bands album, he'd have lots of outside opinions.

      Aaron will have no outside opinions if he produces the next RBF album himself. Therefore he will most likely be rehashing the same ideas that he's always had. No matter how great of a musician you are, it's easy to get lost in your own ideas.

      They can do what they want, but if they don't think it will hurt them as a band they are wrong. Just because they don't have a label anymore, doesn't mean that they can do whatever they want. They still have to please the fans, and as you can see, we are more critical than any record company can be.

      I have been a fan since 1996, and I'm just about done with RBF. I've grown up, but I still feel like they are in high school. I would like some musical development like the RxBandits. There is no reason that RBF couldn't expand their style to something more mature, but how will they do that without some outside ears?

      I think the bottom line is that, without a record company making them miserable, RBF aren't going to write the same kind of songs.

      Listen to the anger and passion in Aaron's singing on Cheer Up, he hated it, but it came through in his singing very emotionally. Then WNHTYNH went a little too far, but I think if there was a producer involved, he could have channeled Aaron's hate in the right direction.

      FFF, Aaron is happy and content, he sounds like a high school kid again, and without that anger, RBF just aren't the same. I hate to say it, but unless Aaron is miserable, RBF won't be the same band. Maybe he'll read all this and get pissed off and write a song about it.

      Either that, or he needs to write more songs like Cannibal, the best RBF song ever. It's not about anything they have written before. Does anyone know where that song came from?

    • #20740
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      [quote1234241795=CannonBall]
      Just because Aaron knows how to jerk himself off better than anyone else doesn't mean that it's better than sex.

      A band without a producer is like a group jerkoff session, with a producer it's a group orgy.

      Just because you know how to do something, doesn't mean that you're better qualified than anyone else.

      Aaron would probably do a great job producing my bands album, he'd have lots of outside opinions.

      Aaron will have no outside opinions if he produces the next RBF album himself. Therefore he will most likely be rehashing the same ideas that he's always had. No matter how great of a musician you are, it's easy to get lost in your own ideas.

      They can do what they want, but if they don't think it will hurt them as a band they are wrong. Just because they don't have a label anymore, doesn't mean that they can do whatever they want. They still have to please the fans, and as you can see, we are more critical than any record company can be.

      I have been a fan since 1996, and I'm just about done with RBF. I've grown up, but I still feel like they are in high school. I would like some musical development like the RxBandits. There is no reason that RBF couldn't expand their style to something more mature, but how will they do that without some outside ears?

      I think the bottom line is that, without a record company making them miserable, RBF aren't going to write the same kind of songs.

      Listen to the anger and passion in Aaron's singing on Cheer Up, he hated it, but it came through in his singing very emotionally. Then WNHTYNH went a little too far, but I think if there was a producer involved, he could have channeled Aaron's hate in the right direction.

      FFF, Aaron is happy and content, he sounds like a high school kid again, and without that anger, RBF just aren't the same. I hate to say it, but unless Aaron is miserable, RBF won't be the same band. Maybe he'll read all this and get pissed off and write a song about it.

      Either that, or he needs to write more songs like Cannibal, the best RBF song ever. It's not about anything they have written before. Does anyone know where that song came from?
      [/quote1234241795]

      okay, so first you said you wanted their sound to change and become more mature and then you said you with they'd write the same types of songs…. make up your fucking mind

      also, what's with the recording/sex comparisons? they were just painful to read 'cause I could tell you put alot of thought into them… overkill, dude

      I'd also like to mention that if you're "Pretty much Done" with RBF because you want them to "Grow UP" you've missed the point, the music isn't supposed to be mature, it's supposed to be fun, you're supposed to be able to flip on the hi fi and have a good time, not sit around wondering what the lyrics TRULY mean…

      that's what RBF are, if you wanted mature music you shoul've moved on long ago, If you'd made it to the last song "Friend Or FOE?" you'd realize what aaron's music is all about, and it's truly sad if you've "Grown Up" and can no longer sit back and enjoy the music for what it is.

      that's why I love RBF…. it doesn't make me think, doesn't bum me out and never lets me down. I laugh, I dance, I feel good. that's the beauty… asking RBF to lose that is like asking AC/DC to do a concerto.

      and in the end, there's absolutely NO guarantee that adding a producer would mature the sound…

      I don't know, I really had very little problem with this past album…. but if you guys all hate it then go ahead and listen to RXbandits and be proud of the fact that you have completely missed the point.

    • #20742
      CannonBall
      Member

      [/quote1234241795]

      okay, so first you said you wanted their sound to change and become more mature and then you said you with they'd write the same types of songs…. make up your fucking mind

      Obviously, in an argument like this, some of my points will contradict themselves. For the most part I've been talking about the production of the albums, not the specific songs themselves, and there will be some some songs that disprove my argument. Cannibal is a great song, but Dan also helped write it. The song also got a lot better with the faster punk drums

      also, what's with the recording/sex comparisons? they were just painful to read 'cause I could tell you put alot of thought into them… overkill, dude

      I'm just trying to find other ways to explain it to you that you might understand. How about, it's like being a cook and only using salt to season your food, but then one day someone comes and shows you the wonderful world of cooking herbs and spices? RBF is the cook, Aaron is the salt, and a producer could be the cumin, or Mrs. Dash to their next album.

      I'd also like to mention that if you're "Pretty much Done" with RBF because you want them to "Grow UP" you've missed the point, the music isn't supposed to be mature, it's supposed to be fun, you're supposed to be able to flip on the hi fi and have a good time, not sit around wondering what the lyrics TRULY mean…

      Would you stop hanging out with one of your best friends, because they started acting douchey? Mature doesn't have to mean deep lyrics like the RxBandits, it can also mean Mature musically like the RxBandits. My argument is that RBF is a really good band, WDTRSH and Cheer Up! are both great musical accomplishments, in fact, they are so great musically, that you can overlook the fact that a man in his late 20's is singing about hating everyone at school. I'm not bashing the lyrics, I sing them in my car, my point there is just that the music is really strong, and I would like them to write more songs of that caliber, I know they can.

      that's what RBF are, if you wanted mature music you shoul've moved on long ago, If you'd made it to the last song "Friend Or FOE?" you'd realize what aaron's music is all about, and it's truly sad if you've "Grown Up" and can no longer sit back and enjoy the music for what it is.

      That's no way to support RBF if you're a loyal fan, I'm always going to hope that something impressive will come out. I used to buy all their albums they day they came out, but now I'm probably just going to wait till I can get them from a friend if it's not a golden nugget of joy

      that's why I love RBF…. it doesn't make me think, doesn't bum me out and never lets me down. I laugh, I dance, I feel good. that's the beauty… asking RBF to lose that is like asking AC/DC to do a concerto.

      They could still be that way, do you have a problem dancing to music that's of a higher caliber, but still the same RBF?

      and in the end, there's absolutely NO guarantee that adding a producer would mature the sound…

      I don't know, I really had very little problem with this past album…. but if you guys all hate it then go ahead and listen to RXbandits and be proud of the fact that you have completely missed the point.

      I think the right producer WOULD make the next album better. I haven't missed the point. I know the band is happy and doing what they want to be doing now. No record company, Aaron gets to do anything he wants. George Bust was happy and got to do what he wanted to do, but that doesn't mean we got the best results out of it.

      This is a hypothetical argument, it's not like Aaron is going to read this and go "oh shit, you are totally right, we should get a producer!". This is just something I brought up so I could see what other people thought, I don't know why it has to be such a negative topic for you, and why you have ot dig so deep into everything we said while trying to make our point.

      [/quote1234244288]

    • #20734

      Over it already, and I'll agree to disagree with most of you. The funny thing is none of you have a say so in the direction RBF wants to go….neener neener neener! :p

      And if you quit being fans, then that's entirely up to you. They'll still be successful.

    • #20745
      Desensitized
      Member

      [quote1234294229=The Wind]"That song you wrote, Please Don't Tell Her I Have A Girlfriend? Don't even bother recording it. But that other one, Bang! The Mouse Explodes? That belongs on the album."

      See how much better Monkeys would have been already?
      [/quote1234294229]And a good Producer would have done just that. RBF needs more songs like Bang, and less songs like Girlfriend.

      RBF is quickly becoming the Nickleback of ska. All their songs sound alike, with no variation in tempo, generic topics, and then there's Aaron Kroeger.

      You know what the difference is? Aaron Barrett has TALENT. He's settling for a lot less than he's capable of because no one is fucking TELLING him he's wasting it.

      It's almost a fucking FACT that Monkeys was a disappointment. Outside of the redone songs, you couldn't find me a single RBF fan who thinks it's their best album. Because it's generally agreed upon that the songs are NOT well written outside of about 2 of them.

      THIS is what we're worried about. We don't think "Aaron needs a producer because he sucks lol", we're thinking that he needs someone to tell him to not make generic crap, because from what we have seen since Cheer Up, HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT FOR HIMSELF.

      And what has changed the most since Cheer Up? The fact that there has been NO person to tell Aaron Barrett that his songs need work. Nothing else is different.

      I think some of you are TRYING to not see the other side of the argument on purpose.

      EDIT: By the way, can someone send me Bang The Mouse Explodes? I lost it when I switched computers.

    • #20747
      Surly
      Member

      [quote1234297977=Desensitized]
      [quote1234294229=The Wind]"That song you wrote, Please Don't Tell Her I Have A Girlfriend? Don't even bother recording it. But that other one, Bang! The Mouse Explodes? That belongs on the album."

      See how much better Monkeys would have been already?
      [/quote1234294229]And a good Producer would have done just that. RBF needs more songs like Bang, and less songs like Girlfriend.

      RBF is quickly becoming the Nickleback of ska. All their songs sound alike, with no variation in tempo, generic topics, and then there's Aaron Kroeger.

      You know what the difference is? Aaron Barrett has TALENT. He's settling for a lot less than he's capable of because no one is fucking TELLING him he's wasting it.

      It's almost a fucking FACT that Monkeys was a disappointment. Outside of the redone songs, you couldn't find me a single RBF fan who thinks it's their best album. Because it's generally agreed upon that the songs are NOT well written outside of about 2 of them.

      THIS is what we're worried about. We don't think "Aaron needs a producer because he sucks lol", we're thinking that he needs someone to tell him to not make generic crap, because from what we have seen since Cheer Up, HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT FOR HIMSELF.

      And what has changed the most since Cheer Up? The fact that there has been NO person to tell Aaron Barrett that his songs need work. Nothing else is different.

      I think some of you are TRYING to not see the other side of the argument on purpose.

      EDIT: By the way, can someone send me Bang The Mouse Explodes? I lost it when I switched computers.
      [/quote1234297977]

      I'm not so great at getting my opinions written out well, but this sums it all up perfectly. JD. You're my MOTM. 😉

      And you'll find Bang! in the RBF Rarities thread.

    • #20743
      The Wind
      Member

      After your post, JD, I went to check the album inlines, but I realized that most are at my mom's house.

      ANYWAY, I do have TTRO and Monkeys.

      TTRO has four songs that are credited "a.barrett" alone.

      Monkeys has two songs that aren't credited to just Aaron Barret. And one of them is Co-credited to Capt. Morgan. The other is Cannibal.

      Can we assess what needs to happen, then?

    • #20694
      Surly
      Member

      I do believe the Capt. Morgan is refering to this:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Morgan

      So that leaves one song that wasn't just by Aaron. And it happens to be the best one on the album.

      I've said it before but what I'd like over anything is for more writing contributions from other members, Scott and Dan especially. I've never been in a writing situation myself where one person writes one song completely by themselves and I can't see how it can be beneficial to the music. It starts getting old and the writer usually starts becoming arrogant and protective about 'their' music.

      Case in point: Tomas Kalnoky.

    • #20749
      Desensitized
      Member

      Yes! Thanks for the directions to the rarity thread.

      Bang is such a fucking awesome song.

    • #20751
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      I really didn't like cannibal all that much, what's with all the crazy love for it?

    • #20754
      The Wind
      Member

      [quote1234305749=Surly]
      I do believe the Capt. Morgan is refering to this:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Morgan

      So that leaves one song that wasn't just by Aaron. And it happens to be the best one on the album.

      I've said it before but what I'd like over anything is for more writing contributions from other members, Scott and Dan especially. I've never been in a writing situation myself where one person writes one song completely by themselves and I can't see how it can be beneficial to the music. It starts getting old and the writer usually starts becoming arrogant and protective about 'their' music.

      Case in point: Tomas Kalnoky.
      [/quote1234305749]

      Well, duh, Capt. Morgan didn't actually help him write the song because he's not real. I was saying that tongue-in-cheek, and by saying it was Cannibal, I was insinuating that the best song on the album was a collaboration.

      And, UGH, don't get me started on Kalnoky and his superfans.

    • #20750
      Surly
      Member

      [quote1234306129=The Wind]
      [quote1234305749=Surly]
      I do believe the Capt. Morgan is refering to this:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Morgan

      So that leaves one song that wasn't just by Aaron. And it happens to be the best one on the album.

      I've said it before but what I'd like over anything is for more writing contributions from other members, Scott and Dan especially. I've never been in a writing situation myself where one person writes one song completely by themselves and I can't see how it can be beneficial to the music. It starts getting old and the writer usually starts becoming arrogant and protective about 'their' music.

      Case in point: Tomas Kalnoky.
      [/quote1234305749]

      Well, duh, Capt. Morgan didn't actually help him write the song because he's not real. I was saying that tongue-in-cheek, and by saying it was Cannibal, I was insinuating that the best song on the album was a collaboration.

      And, UGH, don't get me started on Kalnoky and his superfans.
      [/quote1234306129]

      You'll have to excuse me for missing the sarcasm of your text. 😀

    • #20755
      The Wind
      Member

      I know, it's hard.

    • #20777
      CannonBall
      Member

      [quote1234379653=Desensitized]

      RBF is quickly becoming the Nickleback of ska. All their songs sound alike, with no variation in tempo, generic topics, and then there's Aaron Kroeger.

      The thing I miss the most about their songs are the transitions. TTRO and WDTRSH always had good transitions into the different parts of the songs. And when was the last time you heard a transition into, and then a bridge like the one in The Setup?

      You know what the difference is? Aaron Barrett has TALENT. He's settling for a lot less than he's capable of because no one is fucking TELLING him he's wasting it.

      That's exactly why I started this thread. We get little snippets of talent in some songs, but the rest are starting to sound like a high school ska band with really talented members who just can't do anything but try and sound like RBF. RBF actually sound like a band that is trying to sound like RBF, but they aren't pulling it off anymore and I think they forgot how to do it.

      It's almost a fucking FACT that Monkeys was a disappointment. Outside of the redone songs, you couldn't find me a single RBF fan who thinks it's their best album. Because it's generally agreed upon that the songs are NOT well written outside of about 2 of them.

      I really liked Monkeys when it came out, and I think in terms of audio production, Aaron did a much better job than on WNHTYNH, but the album didn't have much staying power. That's saying a lot after I had to wait 3 months for CCNOW to not even give me my fucking CD. I Think most of the songs on that album were just kind of novelty songs. I think that Party Down is a musically interesting song, but it's just like a toy you'd buy at Spencers or Hot Topic and you're over it after awhile. I think with a producer, that song could have been really good.

      THIS is what we're worried about. We don't think "Aaron needs a producer because he sucks lol", we're thinking that he needs someone to tell him to not make generic crap, because from what we have seen since Cheer Up, HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT FOR HIMSELF.

      Exactly, and this IS RBF turning into a RBF cover band.

      And what has changed the most since Cheer Up? The fact that there has been NO person to tell Aaron Barrett that his songs need work. Nothing else is different.

      What kind of input do you think the rest of the band members have in the songs? Writers credits on songs are usually focused on the lyrics and general song structure, so I wonder who writes the horn lines?

      I think some of you are TRYING to not see the other side of the argument on purpose.

      Fuck you!! oh wait, we agree on this…

      EDIT: By the way, can someone send me Bang The Mouse Explodes? I lost it when I switched computers.
      [/quote1234379653]

    • #20779
      Desensitized
      Member

      I stand by my opinion on 'What Are Friends For?' being the best song RBF have ever written and performed.

      The drum beat, the horns, vocals, everything has so much thought put into it, that I can't even listen to it without rocking along with it. That part where all the instruments cut out and all you hear as 'YEAH! WOO!' then when everything kicks in again is fucking brilliant.

      The lyrics are original and well written, too. No girl problems, no high school juvenile lyrics, nothing pedestrian about it. Yet NO ONE will argue it's not 'RBF'.

      Nothing he has written since outside of Cannibal, Bang! The Mouse Explodes, Slow Down, or The Bad Guy comes anywhere close to it.

      I just wish they would PLAY IT LIVE!

    • #20780
      The Wind
      Member

      [quote1234382181=Desensitized]
      That part where all the instruments cut out and all you hear as 'YEAH! WOO!' then when everything kicks in again is fucking brilliant.
      [/quote1234382181]

      I love that part!

    • #20782
      Desensitized
      Member

      Yeah, that's my favorite part on all of Cheer Up. Just so well timed.

      I just listened to it again. Matt's bassline slithers through this song, it adds that little extra kick that he usually added. Carlos' drumming, the way the snare pops along to the bass adds this awesome undercurrent to the song.

      The background vocals ('Guess what?', 'I lied'), and the way Aaron let's the lyrics breathe with every line, the power of the horns, and the delicious guitar solo…

      Damn, I almost want to listen to it again. :p

    • #20753
      CannonBall
      Member

      That and Average Man need a good listen.

    • #20819
      MAX!
      Member

      I love Average Man

    • #20827
      Desensitized
      Member

      It should have been on Cheer Up.

      And as far as I'm concerned, it is. 😉

    • #26536
      CannonBall
      Member

      [quote1279765225=Sonic Libido]
      [quote1232919870=CannonBall]

      and B.) how you could like RBF and not FOE (considering Aaron wrote MOST of the FOE album for RBF originally)

      I don't like FOE because Scott isn't in the band. Scott is the most talented member in RBF and has a very special singing voice, FOE is Aaron singing with himself. I just don't like FOE, I really don't like much ska to begin with so it takes a lot to win my approval (my approval is important to myself and only myself)

      If you can't see the difference between RBF and FOE then you are the one that really doesn't understand RBF.

      What made RBF good was the fact that their songs weren't straight up ska songs, they had creativity and depth and dynamic to them. They would always have interesting transitions from one part of a song to the next.

      Listen to "Nothin' Like A Dame" and then listen to their new cover album and explain to me how any part of this album matches the creativity of that one song.

      [/quote1232919870]

      and as for the productin calls everyone's yelling for, quite frenkly, what you're saying (and correct me if I'm wrong) is that you want someone else to tell RBF how to be R…. B…. F? …. if you don't like RBF produced by RBF then what you're saying is you don't like products that are 100% made by the band… and you think they should bring in a producer to make a cookie-cutter album based on his experience with other groups? Aaron knows how the songs are supposed to sound, if you don't like the RBF songs that RBF writes, plays and produces themselves then you don't like RBF…. pretty much plain and simple…. because no one is more qualified to produce the albums than Aaron.
      [/quote1279765225]

      You are 100% correct and I think "A Best of us" clearly proves that I was right. Apples to Apples the RBF songs are better when someone helps produce the albums. There clearly needs to be someone in the room to tell Aaron to turn down the distorted guitars.

    • #26537
      CannonBall
      Member

      [quote1279765593=madamadam]
      Seriously what is wrong with all of you? Just wait until the album's released and THEN we'll discuss whether a producer was necessary or not – have a bit of neutrality.
      [/quote1279765593]

      I think we can all agree that I producer was necessary 🙂

    • #26538
      CannonBall
      Member

      [quote1279765645=Desensitized]
      I'm willing to wait and see what he does on the next album, I'm just saying that from what I've heard, I'm not sure he can pull it off.
      [/quote1279765645]

      And you were right!

      Sorry, it's really boring at work today…

    • #26539
      CannonBall
      Member

      [quote1279765689=CannonBall]
      [quote1233422551=madamadam]
      Seriously what is wrong with all of you? Just wait until the album's released and THEN we'll discuss whether a producer was necessary or not – have a bit of neutrality.
      [/quote1233422551]

      No way, it's much better to make our arguments now, this way we can come back and quote ourselves as being right when the album is released.
      [/quote1279765689]

      Ha, I totally forgot I said this, but at least I feel justified making all these stupid posts…

    • #26540
      CannonBall
      Member

      [quote1279765872=Sonic Libido]
      I mean, the way we're hearing them now is how Aaron (the writer) want;s them to sound… why would you want anything else then the song how it's supposed to be?

      …it just seems…. I don't know… stupid.
      [/quote1279765872]

      Is this how the songs are supposed to be?

    • #26541
      CannonBall
      Member

      [quote1279766915=CannonBall]
      Aaron will have no outside opinions if he produces the next RBF album himself. Therefore he will most likely be rehashing the same ideas that he's always had. No matter how great of a musician you are, it's easy to get lost in your own ideas.
      [/quote1279766915]

      If only I knew how right I was…

    • #26542
      CannonBall
      Member

      [quote1279767469=CannonBall]
      [quote1234379653=Desensitized]
      THIS is what we're worried about. We don't think "Aaron needs a producer because he sucks lol", we're thinking that he needs someone to tell him to not make generic crap, because from what we have seen since Cheer Up, HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT FOR HIMSELF.

      Exactly, and this IS RBF turning into a RBF cover band.

      [/quote1279767469]

      Once again, I called it! They really did turn into a RBF cover band…

    • #26543
      El
      Member

      I think Aaron has proved himself as a producer after A Best of Us. When the songs were great, they were great, sometimes even better than the originals. When I didn't like them, they were still pretty well-produced. It definitely wasn't a bland "samey" album like FFF was. All the songs on that album sounded the same, production-wise. I think we can expect better things from the new album, at least in a production sense, judging from the Best Of.

      Now Aaron just has to prove that he's still a good songwriter. He's had three years to write an album's worth of new songs, after all. I'm sure I could gloss over his steadily declining vocals if the album was just filled with well-written songs. The rest of the band's still got it, but if the frontman has really lost it, then we've got nothing left but the glorious past.

      So here's to hoping that Aaron's still got it and 2011 will be a great year for Reel Big Fish and their fans!

    • #26530
      CannonBall
      Member

      I don't think anything on this album proved that Aaron is good at producing RBF, maybe he's good at producing other bands, but from this album it's clear that he really likes his guitar to be cranked up really loud.

      There were also some pretty inexcusable issues on this album that I producer would have never let slide…

      Such as Suckers "Hey everybody, I got something to TELL", whatever he tries to do with "tell" is clearly out of key and sloppy.

      This album is bland and boring just like FFF. Actually the just for fun acoustic songs are probably the best part of the album because you can hear the other instruments since there is no distorted guitar.

      They also need to record in a real studio, the whole reason this album sounds flat compared to their others is because the studio sucks. I swear to god I could do a better job producing their next album in my friends professional studio.

      Aaron, I challenge you to let me record three new songs in my friends studio http://www.gadgetbox.net and if you like it you have to let me produce your next album and record it in this studio. These three songs will be free. I love you guys but the new stuff is weak. I've recorded better stuff than this with my band back in high school.

    • #26524
      El
      Member

      [quote1279774046=CannonBall]
      I don't think anything on this album proved that Aaron is good at producing RBF, maybe he's good at producing other bands, but from this album it's clear that he really likes his guitar to be cranked up really loud.
      [/quote1279774046]

      I didn't mind the volume of the guitar as much of the tone of it. And my favorite RBF albums are the guitar-heavy ones. Additionally, why wouldn't Aaron like his guitar cranked up really loud…he's producing himself! The one problem with him as producer is that he doesn't notice his mistakes as mistakes, though. The biggest problem on the disc music-wise was his singing and playing, and that's no coincidence.

      I've recorded better stuff than this with my band back in high school.

      I recorded an album in a basement that sounded better than the stuff done at Music Inc. or whatever. So what? I think Best Of turned out fine despite it.

    • #26547
      CannonBall
      Member

      I like the heavy guitar stuff too, but this was too loud and not heavy so it's not the same thing. Yeah, it turned out fine, but these guys have been playing music for a long time, they should be producing great records right now, not stuff like this.

    • #26548
      The Wind
      Member

      It does seem like masturbation.
      At this point, I'd say that Barrett needs to be a producer on all forthcoming RBF albums. He just should not be the only one.

    • #26554
      El
      Member

      Well, he's always said that he was always in the studio with the producers, telling them what to do and what not to do (maybe Cheer Up! is an exception? Maybe Val was just a very strong-willed producer.) and that technically being producer is just a level above that. I don't think Aaron would work with a producer because there's no one to tell him that he should. There's no record company to tell him, and no one in the band is going to tell him. I wish at least Scott would go in there and do some of the stuff with him, but since it's already been called into question if Scott even recorded vocals and stuff in the studio, I think that may be wishful thinking too.

      I want Aaron to have control of his band's music, of course. But not so much that he loses sight of all creativity and just sticks with "this is something that sounds like something I think we would do."

    • #26557
      CannonBall
      Member

      Good points. The overall feeling and energy I get from the post Jive releases are that of a ska band trying to sound like RBF. It just seems like they are trying too hard to do what they've already done when they should be trying slightly new ideas.

    • #26576
      Bradleystp
      Member

      [quote1279848754=Desensitized]
      [quote1234294229=The Wind]"That song you wrote, Please Don't Tell Her I Have A Girlfriend? Don't even bother recording it. But that other one, Bang! The Mouse Explodes? That belongs on the album."

      See how much better Monkeys would have been already?
      [/quote1234294229]And a good Producer would have done just that. RBF needs more songs like Bang, and less songs like Girlfriend.

      RBF is quickly becoming the Nickleback of ska. All their songs sound alike, with no variation in tempo, generic topics, and then there's Aaron Kroeger.

      You know what the difference is? Aaron Barrett has TALENT. He's settling for a lot less than he's capable of because no one is fucking TELLING him he's wasting it.

      It's almost a fucking FACT that Monkeys was a disappointment. Outside of the redone songs, you couldn't find me a single RBF fan who thinks it's their best album. Because it's generally agreed upon that the songs are NOT well written outside of about 2 of them.

      THIS is what we're worried about. We don't think "Aaron needs a producer because he sucks lol", we're thinking that he needs someone to tell him to not make generic crap, because from what we have seen since Cheer Up, HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT FOR HIMSELF.

      And what has changed the most since Cheer Up? The fact that there has been NO person to tell Aaron Barrett that his songs need work. Nothing else is different.

      I think some of you are TRYING to not see the other side of the argument on purpose.

      EDIT: By the way, can someone send me Bang The Mouse Explodes? I lost it when I switched computers.
      [/quote1279848754]

      This is dead on. I was reading through this thread and saw this post, and I couldn't agree more. Aaron can still have full control, but he needs someone else there to say, "try this, or adjust that, or retry that part and see if something else works." EVERY band needs that. The guy who writes/composes the songs, sings, and plays guitar should not be the only one producing. I don't care how much you worship the guy, this is just how it is. For any band, in my opinion.

      I read all the reviews of 'A best of us', and I can't believe I am listening to the same CD as some of you guys. Maybe I am too old, and the old versions just sound 'right' to me, but some of the problems in these songs are too big for me to overlook. The vocals have serious issues, and to me, the horns just sound dead on a few of the songs. The guitar is really loud on a few songs, and completely overpowers everything else. This in itself is a reason for someone else to co-produce.

      I think that WDTRSH is the best RBF CD/Sound/Songs that they have ever done. I like the mix of rock/reggae/ska, and the sound is good on that album. It is full, it is rich, and if there are mistakes, they sound like they were done purposely. The new album is seriously painful at times to listen to. I don't know how I am in the minority on this. Are they all bad? Absolutely not. But it seems that every release just gets further and further away from what makes this band great. And they are great. They just need a little kick, and a little assistance.

    • #26578
      CannonBall
      Member

      I used to think WDTRSH was their best CD, but Cheer Up! has really grown on me and it was one of the first albums they recorded with all new songs. Clearly having someone produce that album made the songs good, because the re-recorded versions aren't good enough to be from the same band.

      If I was to cover Suckers and it came out as bad as their re-record, I would re-do the song. I know a few defunct ska bands that could have re-recorded these songs better than RBF.

      Now more than ever they need a producer, but I just don't think that's where they are headed.

      From a business stand point the only people the care about are the young kids, they are the ones who continue to pay the bills and in order to be successful as a band you need to get new fans, and they are doing a good job at that. They are now the Blink 182 of ska except for the fact that even they use a producer.

    • #26580
      The Wind
      Member

      You make it sound like Blink 182's latest album was made just to appease children, in which case I am forced to believe you have not even heard it.

    • #26581
      Bradleystp
      Member

      Listen, I read my posts after and feel like I come off like I don't like the band or what they do. That is the problem, I really like this band, and I just see changes that I feel set them back instead of forward. They should be absolutely blowing us away now; they are a great group of musicians. I think they just need a little channeling in the right direction.

      I look at the crazy cover songs they have done (Take on Me, Nothing Like a Dame, Kiss Me Deadly, Love Boat, Unity, Rock it With I, etc) and then I listen to FFF, some of them are so simple and plain, it seems like the effort just wasn't there. (I do really like the Poison covers; Brown Eyed Girl is one of my least favorite songs ever by Reel Big Fish)

      Anyway, I'm sure that the new album will be OK, but I want it to be great. I hope they have been working hard and that is why the cover and greatest hits album have been coming out; to give them more time to work on new material.

    • #26582
      The Wind
      Member

      Don't get us wrong: I don't think anyone here dislikes the band. By now, we're frustrated because we love the band RBF got me into music, simple as that. I probably wouldn't be as into music as I am if it weren't for them.

      It's like watching your father start using heroine and then he ends up retarded.

    • #26583
      The Wind
      Member

      I have on the new version of The New Version of You right now.

      The lyrics are ripe with unintended irony.

    • #26585
      CannonBall
      Member

      [quote1279870453=The Wind]
      It's like watching your father start using heroine and then he ends up retarded.
      [/quote1279870453]

      That's so awesome.

      I think we all feel the same way, they have so much potential to be great but it's like they just don't care anymore.

      As for blink 182 I was mostly referring to their between song banter about dicks and their childish stuff. Both bands have a young audience that they appeal to and that's a good thing because that's what keeps bands alive. RBF will be able to stay alive if they keep doing what they're doing just because young kids (for the most part) don't care about production values, they just care about fun songs.

      We are just no longer the audience that RBF cares about anymore. When I went to Best Buy to get the album I couldn't find it so I spent like 30 minutes looking for it because I was to embarrassed to ask someone if they had the new RBF album that came out that day.

    • #27128
      CannonBall
      Member

      John Avala produced, sang, mixed and played the Charango on this album http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariachi_El_Bronx

      Listen to it here http://www.ilike.com/artist/Mariachi+El+Bronx?src=onebox

      Just spend the money and let John Avala produce RBF again.

      Even just the whole idea of this album is cool. The band that did this album is a punk band but decided to do a Mariachi album.

      From the Wikipedia page.

      On the impetus for switching styles for the album, Caughthran remarked that many musicians "kind of blow it by not challenging themselves and not listening to their urges, so to speak. A lot of bands play it safe and make the same record over and over again […] It was just one of those things, where we got asked to do an acoustic thing for Fuel TV, and it's like nothing sucks more than rock bands playing acoustic rock songs. You know, it just sucks. So we did a song mariachi style, and it just opened up this whole thing where we were like 'This is awesome.' So we wrote some songs, and it just became."

      RBF need to just do something like this.

    • #27109
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      you have little concept of how much Aaron hates producers. It's like a religion for him.

    • #27132
      El
      Member

      [quote1285000976=Sonic Libido]
      you have little concept of how much Aaron hates producers. It's like a religion for him.
      [/quote1285000976]

      Aaron produces Reel Big Fish. Does he hate himself?

      If so, can he PLEASE write another album about it?

    • #27127
      The Wind
      Member

      I get it. I don't like it, but it's true. The dudes hates other people telling a band what to do. Someone posted an interview here, and in it Aaron said that he's not going to produce other bands anymore because he hates telling a band what to do and he feels they should hate him for it.

      Let's just hope he's learned enough to produce his own work effectively by now. I don't think any artist should do it, especially on a professional level, but there you have it.

    • #27135
      GodKill123
      Member

      I like John Avila.

      I just wish Aaron would ask some minor help from him because it's hard to produce your own album.

    • #27146
      CannonBall
      Member

      It's just kind of odd. I understand him not wanting a producer, but I don't agree with it. Now what he said about producing other bands is just weird. I thought the Chase Long Beach album sounded good… Kind of like, "damn I'm wrong, he can produce!".

      If I had a band right now and I could get him as a producer I'd do it in a second, he's probably good at it. He's just not good enough to produce RBF. RBF at their best is a really complex and interesting band, the production of their albums was really what set them apart from other ska bands, they were more than just a punk band with a horn section. They had very complex and interesting transitions and lots of interesting overdubs and dynamic. It's a big undertaking to produce a RBF album (look how long Cheer Up! took… Well the newest album is taking the longest) and when one person tries to do it all it's just too overwhelming.

      They don't need the major label, but they need a major label producer.

      Their first three major label albums set the bar really high for the rest of their career. So they either need to get a high caliber producer to help them record an album that's up to the standards of the label recordings, or they will never do anything like their first three albums ever again.

      To me that's the same as giving up. "Well, we're never going to release an album as solid as those three for the rest of the career, but let's just keep trucking along anyway". I wonder what that feels like?

      So for those of us in the argument here that's how it's going to be. The next time I'll be excited about a new album will be when they get a producer. Until then it's not the same band for me. I just have very high expectations and RBF will not meet those expectations unless they get a big name producer. That's all that I want, just throw $500,000 at someone big and I'll be happy.

    • #27149
      The Wind
      Member

      That's a lot of money that they've probably never had in their life. Is that a joke?

    • #27148
      El
      Member

      [quote1285048069=The Wind]
      That's a lot of money that they've probably never had in their life. Is that a joke?
      [/quote1285048069]

      Seriously. Without a record label (which they will definitely NEVER go back on), they don't have the money to hire a big-name producer.

    • #27145
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      yeah, for an indie band, $500,000 is sell the house type shit. you should read some of the stuff on how much mid-card bands make off tours. It's fucking gross.

    • #27154
      CannonBall
      Member

      Yeah it was a joke $500,000 was a joke, I don't know who gets paid that much. But they could drop some decent money for a producer. It would make the album more money in the long run. Get El Jefe from NOFX.

      And clearly John Avila isn't expensive since SL had him produce an album, and then that Mariachi band by the Bronx which is really good hired him to produce. He's wrked with RBF before, I'm sure he'd do it again.

    • #27153
      CannonBall
      Member

      We should just start spreading roumours about who is going to produce the next album, maybe hype it up and get John Avail the same way Betty White got on SNL. Let's facebook group this shit man!

    • #27155
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      [quote1285058566=Sonic Libido]
      you have little concept of how much Aaron hates producers. It's like a religion for him.
      [/quote1285058566]

    • #27163
      CannonBall
      Member

      That doesn't make it right, just stubborn.

    • #27156

      Right according to who? You're like a control freak…perhaps a producer yourself?

    • #27165
      CannonBall
      Member

      According to their albums that had producers and the ones produced by Aaron.

    • #27164
      El
      Member

      [quote1285221740=CannonBall]
      According to their albums that had producers and the ones produced by Aaron.
      [/quote1285221740]

      What about We're Not Happy? I think having a big record company giving you lots of money to record helps too.

    • #27166
      CannonBall
      Member

      The songs were good but even Aaron says the production of that album was bad, so…

    • #27167
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      Aaron says the production on every album is bad after he's done hyping it.

    • #27224
      CannonBall
      Member

      I got bored and emailed John Avila about working with RBF on their new album and here's what he said.

      Hi Julian, thanks for your message. I'm very happy you dig my work w RBF, Bronx. I'm very proud of those records. I'll be starting a 2nd Mariachi Bronx record in Nov.

      I have great memories working w RBF. They were so young when we did those records. Who knows. it might be a nice reunion. ??
      All The Best……
      J

      Doesn't sound like it was a horrible experience having John Avila produce their album. It would be so great to have him produce the new album.

    • #27168
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      [quote1286691400=Sonic Libido]
      [quote1285058566=Sonic Libido]
      you have little concept of how much Aaron hates producers. It's like a religion for him.
      [/quote1285058566]

      [/quote1286691400]

    • #27227
      CannonBall
      Member

      No, I just don't care.

    • #27226
      Sonic Libido
      Member

      Okay. That doesn't change anything.

Viewing 150 reply threads
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.