Ya know, I really wanted to dislike this cd. There's a part of me that can't deal with what's being called "punk" these days. I mean, I grew up on The Clash, Ramones and The Sex Pistols. This (Green Day, Blink 182, Sum 41, NOFX, etc) is punk?
But that same part of me is worried that his parents' words are finally coming out of his own danged mouth....those words being a variant of "it all sounds the same to me".
So I've come around to thinking that it's a waste of time arguing about the "purity" of this stuff: look for something to enjoy and just get over it!
Less Than Jake comes from the ska/punk side of the "new" punk. The horns on Anthem take on a supporting role. Not a back thing, 'cause the guitar is pretty damn rockin'...particularly on "She's Gonna Break Soon" and the scorching "Short Fuse Burning".
While grooving along on their 4-chord power pop it struck me that this stuff is a lot more personal than most of my "real" punk. They also seem to lack that nihilism, which is a good thing (tho I've gotta admit that I enjoyed Rotten snarling out "Bodies" during those Friday night college beer fests).
Two things finally won me over. The first was that they feature artwork from indie artists based on each tune's lyrics. How cool is that? A great gesture and... they actually care about the liner notes. A rarity in the cd age. The "last straw" was the smokin' cover of Cheap Trick's "Surrender": a song that cannot be turned up too loud and definitely a pop anthem.
(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)
Article comments
1 - weedo
Mark Saleski, your a faggott. go to hell. NOFX and Less Than Jake kick ass.
go fuck your mom.
2 - Mark Saleski
uh...would that be "dad"?
3 - Eric Olsen
Damn, Mark, what would he have said if you hadn't liked the CD?
4 - Mark Saleski
further proof that instant messenging and cellphone usage are makin' kids stupid.
5 - nando
hey mark, things've changed, obviously you won't find the extacly same sound as the ramones, clash and sex pistols nowadays. but there is a lot of good punk music nowadays, just because you don't like it means that is not punk you asshole, either way...what's punk to you?
6 - Leah
I thought his review hit the nail on the head.
This album was good, but not Less Than Jake good.
7 - LTJ#1fan
Less Than Jake kicks serious ass, and i dont care what anyone says!!! I LOVE YOU ROGER
8 - el cato
Hey, I thought the review was fair, perhaps a little closed-minded about new punk rock at the outset, but a fairly well informed view all the same.
The personal lyrics do add so much for me to LTJ's overall greatness, so, heads up on that.
Not sure about the "power pop" description of them though...
I'm 16, but I refuse to buy a mobile phone, thus I am intelligent and still have views which involve multi-syllabic words.
... so... um... ha!
Thank you.
9 - jdg
less than jake rules.
10 - joana
hello!!! (: my name is joana i am portuguese and i love less than jake i love very very very much the band and the songs!!! i love punk rock and techno musics :) kiss
skateboards da best!!!
joana
11 - Keith
Mark Salenki,
Be prepared in hell, because im gonna kick your ass.
12 - Mark Saleski
lookin' forward to it.
13 - Mango
the only things i can say is i love this album. i lived the punk life for awhile and god damn it was the best part of my life so far. this album was the sound track of that period. it got played so much in my car that all my mates know the lyrics off by heart. this album saw every high and low. but hey heres to apathy and everyones entitled to there view!now all my mates have been metal heads an grown up. i wish i could go back. :'(
14 - Tre_Cool
less than jake is the best band of punk/ska! your critic is a shiT!.
Roger has a spectacular voice!.
Less Thab Jake ruleZZZZZZZZZ!
15 - Meghan
Excuse me??? There is PLENTY good punk around, Green Day and Blink 182 being one of the best! Less than Jake Rocks, but hello??? What do you mean by punk, anyways??? Billie Joe Armstrong canNOT be Sid Vicious. Get over it.