If you didn't know it already, summertime is almost here (officially that is) and I can't think of a better way to kick off the summer than with a little high-octane party music. Coincidentally (or not) punk rock stalwarts Less Than Jake have a new album out called In With The Out Crowd that is filled with the same brand of consistently great high-quality melodic punk-ska that LTJ has been pumping out for more than a dozen years and roughly ten full-length albums. Old reliable (if you will).
Now I've seen the band live probably a dozen or more times at venues ranging from tiny basements, to the legendary Fireside Bowl, to the main stage at the Warped Tour, and they always make it special. They are also one of the few bands that survived the ska-punk boom and bust of the mid nineties, and have done so jumping from indie label to major label and back and forth all over again.
I also admire their dedication to the 7" vinyl record. They've released backwards one-sided 7" records complete with pizza box packaging, a split 7" with Megadeth, an orange and black limited edition Halloween 7" (commerating Amy's 21st birthday), and even a 7 x 7" box set for their album Hello Rockview.
Needless to say, the music of LTJ has been a major influence on me over the years. There is something very endearing about the band. Despite the catchy, poppy, upbeat nature of their music, there has always been an underlying sadness and a world-weary quality to their songs. Feelings of longing for better days gone by and the futility of it all come creeping through the candy-coated exterior.
Even the new material on In With The Out Crowd has that same nostalgic feeling that has remained consistent in their music since the beginning. With the core trio of Chris, Roger, and Vinnie in tact you get the same great vocal harmonies, bouncing basslines, buzzsaw pseudo-metal punk guitars, and snappy drumming flanked by an always tight horn section. It is standard-issue Less Than Jake, which is just the way I like it. So enjoy the 30 minutes of LTJ below and go pick up a copy of In With The Out Crowd from here or here today. As my brother says, "Less Than Jake... I like that song."
MP3 | Less Than Jake - Fall Apart In With The Out Crowd
MP3 | Less Than Jake - Scott Farcas Takes It On The Chin LTJ/J Church Split 7"
MP3 | Less Than Jake - 24 Hours In Paramus Losers, Kings, And Things We Don't Understand
MP3 | Less Than Jake - Liquor Store Pezcore
MP3 | Less Than Jake - You're The One That I Want Greased
MP3 | Less Than Jake - Sugar In Your Gas Tank Losing Streak
MP3 | Less Than Jake - Look What Happened Anthem
MP3 | Less Than Jake - All My Best Friends Are Metalheads Hello Rockview
MP3 | Less Than Jake - Bridge And Tunnel Authority B Is For B-Sides
MP3 | Less Than Jake - Gainesville Rock City Borders & Boundaries
3 Comments ↓
How good is pezcore and losing streak? really.. haha.
I have that pizza 7 inch somewhere.
krist
http://www.thepunkguy.com
johnny quest thinks we're sellouts was my ANTHEM back in the day! thanks for the nostalgia.
pshhh I like BYOP... marlon is just a...a...something not good.
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