Customer Reviews

School of Fish

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

School of Fish's self-titled debut was highly praised by critics, yet never really garnered the fame it deserved by the general music-listening public. Some fans of "alternative" may recall the video for their single "Three Strange Days" getting some airplay on MTV. It wasn't their only video; "Take me Anywhere", from their second album _Human Cannonball_ also made it to music television. The two leaders of School of Fish, Josh Clayton-Felt and Michael Ward, created an album full of beautiful ballads and all-out rockers. Besides the catchy "Three Strange Days", other standouts include the bitter and seething "Talk Like Strangers" (one of the best breakup songs ever), the rockin' "King of the Dollar", the anguishing "Deep End", and the beautiful acoustic guitars behind the wistful "Fell". After two brilliant albums, Josh Clayton-Felt and Michael Ward amicably parted ways. Many of you have likely seen Michael playing lead guitar with the Wallflowers (yes, Jakob Dylan's band). Josh Clayton-Felt made a musically lush solo record, _Inarticulate Nature Boy_, and did some extensive touring. He was working on another album in the late '90s; sadly, he lost his battle with cancer in January of 2000. There are plans to release the music he was working on at the time of his death; please keep your eyes and ears peeled for it!

School of Fish's first album, the 1991 release 'School of Fish', is a great album but was, unfortunately, their one-and-only great album. Artistic disagreements between the SOF members and management led to a less-than-stellar second album and the eventual breakup of the band. Fortunately we still have this jewel to enjoy!

The two lead tracks (actually just one song), "Intro/Three Strange Days", still get limited radio play today even though the band remains all-but-unknown. "Three Strange Days" is a smooth, moderately-infectious rocker that preps the listener for the heavily studio-processed sound that's found throughout the album. The only other rock-and-roll song found on the disc is "King of the Dollar", an adequate but generally un-noteworthy track. The third track, "Talk Like Strangers", moves into the 'mature rock' category with a dark, plodding beat and a relationship-probing topic. A few tracks later is "Speechless", the first of two -very- good ballad-esque tunes. The second is "Fell" and both songs are mature enough in lyric and style to have been recorded by the likes of Crowded House or Elvis Costello.

Most of this album emotes a somber, slightly-depressed mood. The tracks "Rose Colored Glasses", "Under the Microscope" and "Euphoria" are all good songs that fully fit this description.

I listen to this disc from start to end, although I occasionally skip "King of the Dollar" when I'm in a more mellow mood. There are not many albums that I really enjoy every track on but this one comes very close to making my "short list". If you're looking for a generally mellow, mature-rock sound then I highly recommend getting a copy of the first and best School of Fish release.

I had completely forgotten about this album. I recently saw a commercial that had a small tidbit of a melody playing in the background that I could not seem to place. Rose Colored Glasses came to mind, but I knew that was not the name of the song or the band. Lucky me that websites like this one exist to help me track down SCHOOL OF FISH! I knew the name of the band as soon as I saw it. I purchased the cassette somewhere around late 1991 early 1992 and it INSTANTLY became my favorite. As others have stated - you could play the whole thing over and over and never tire of it. I can't begin to describe how excited I was to hear that commercial last week. Will be ordering my CD today! Even better - I had no idea there was a second album - will be buying that one as well! I am so glad I get to revisit School of Fish!

This is one of the best CDs I have in my collection. I am a rock/alternative fan and I still think this CD tops most of what I have. I never have to skip around, and I can play it repeatedly. I am very impressed. I wish I could hear more from them. It is refreshing and relaxing. I love it!

This CD is the most expensive CD I have ever purchased. Why? Because I have purchased it at least a dozen times and given it to all my friends and siblings. In turn, it has become the CD they give to all their friends as well. And a gift is what this album is. It was 1991 when the guy at the music store told me I had to get this album from this new group and I haven't stopped listening to it since. I have read a lot of album reviews on Amazon and I have never seen an album that nearly every single reviewer gives 5 stars. That should clearly tell you something about this album. I have about 400 albums and this is in the top 5.

Rarely does a CD come out and contain no bad songs. More rare is one with no bad or average songs. All songs on this CD are great. The flow from one song to the next is flawless. From the rocking "3 Strange Days" to the haunting "Speechless" and ending with the personal "Euphoria", one can leave this CD in the changer for months with wanting to take it out. I find myself putting it back in after having it out for a couple days, and I've owned this CD for 6 years. It's unusual in that if you have some office/home work to do you can put it on and ignore it as background music, or you can turn it up and rock out to it. Either way, grab a brew, sit back and enjoy it. You will not regret buying it.

This album(and the even better follow-up)got all but drowned out in the din of the early nineties grunge mania!It seems like radio( and quite possibly their record company)never gave these guys a chance,although"Three Strange Days" from this album was a pretty big hit in the SF bay area at the time(if not anywhere else!)I never even knew about the follow up album "Human Cannonball" until months after it's release,and I didn't find out about their breakup(and the lead singer's excellent solo album)until more than a YEAR after the fact!Stong songwritting,great vocals,& killer guitar work from one of the most underated melodic players of all time,Michael Ward,this is absolutley not only the most crinimaly ignored band of the 90's,but one of THE most crinimaly ignored bands of all time!I'm waiting & hoping for a reunion!

Both School of Fish albums are excellent, if you are not a fool you will go buy them now. They used Josh Freese on drums on the second album and that is a treat in and of itself. How could "Rose Colored Glasses" not have been a huge hit??? Josh's solo album "Inarticulate Nature Boy" is also high on my list of favorite records. It gets better with every listen.

I am a listener of mostly HEAVY METAL...still I am not narrow minded to other styles or genres of music. Thus, when I listen to good muscianship and well written lyrics, I will give the credit where it is rightfully due......School of Fish won me over and over again with this cd. Every track easily flows after the other. Never do I skip a track....I just let it play on thru. There are no fillers....however, I do have my favorites. The obvious "Strange Days," "Talks Like Strangers," "Speechless," and "Euphoria." I have traded other cd's from my collection, but this is one I won't let go. I eventually get to it after letting my other METAL cd's get some play...and when I do get to School of Fish, it is so damn good and refreshing listening to it. This is a get in my truck and take the drive with the cd playing until all the tracks are played.

I always like a CD I can put in, throw the headphones on and not worry about having to skip this song or that song...This is one of those RARE compilations. This band/CD reminds me of another early 90's debut by a band called The Poorboys (Pardon Me). Just spilling over with catchy guitar riffs and understandable lyrics. If you like no-nonsense Rock n Roll the way it's meant to be played, do yourself a favor and get this CD...Especially since it's available "like new" for less than $1 + shipping. And if you can find The Poorboys, give them a listen too...You'll be playing it around the clock before long.