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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Doesn't quite live up to the hype, July 16, 2008
So the story goes that this is "the comeback CD" by this band, the so called return to form, and in some sense, it is. Since the last CD "In with the Outcrowd" we see a lot of the old Less Than Jake coming back. We have the horns-a-plenty concept back at the front line, we have Roger's insanely techy underlying basslines, and the ever so catchy ska-guitar. This will remind you more of Hello Rockview than it will Anthem or their previous release. However, I'm hesitant to call it a comeback CD because there's something that's just eating away at my conscience.
That is catchiness. I wanted to fall to me knees and scream "It's the second coming" but it's not. The songs, while they are horn driven and most certainly more ska than radio friendly pop-punk, the songs aren't as fun as they used to be. A lot of the songs take on a depressing tone, especially the songs where Chris does the singing. Noteably the song "Abandon Ship" is just downright dismal. I will give them credit for "Lion City" the quasi single, as well as a good bunch of songs like "Golden Age of my Negative Ways" and "Space they can't touch" but a lot of the songs just blend together and aren't that good. Then, when they try to be fun, like on "Conviction Notice," it becomes repetitive and corny. Sure, Less Than Jake doesn't always sing about happy things, but before, such as on Losing Streak, they managed to make a song about selling drugs into the most upbeat fun song on the CD. Here, when the subject matter is bleak, the music is bleak.
Not saying that this CD isn't fun, it does have it's moments. Instrumentally this might be Less Than Jake's best CD. We have Chris busting out some neat guitar licks, Roger's bass is astonishing like it used to be, and we have horns literally everywhere. It just seems like in and effort to re-invent themselves, the boys forgot to have fun with it. Three and a half stars for a solid effort to go back to the glory days, but we're not quite there.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
More than Less Than Jake's last album, June 27, 2008
Remember the first time you heard 'Borders and Boundries'? If you're like me, all the greatness of that album didnt really sink in on the first listen.. I came to love 'Borders' over time. This album works in exactly the same way - it is not as over-the-top-catchy as 'In with the Out Crowd' which is probably why the first listen doesnt pack all the punch.
What we have here is a welcome return-to-form from Less Than Jake with a new collection of fresh and enjoyable songs that sound like they could have appeared on earlier LTJ albums (particularly 'Borders and Bounderies'). The band have included way more horns throughout GNV FLA than on the last album, bringing the true LTJ sound back. Youre going to love it!
It doesnt earn the 5 star rating for me however, as it doesn't quite meet 'hello rockview' standards... but is that even possible?
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Old school ways coming back..., July 17, 2008
Less Than Jake, is one of my (3) favorite bands of ALL times, (Rancid & Goldfinger)...
Proud of the boys for "ditching" the idea of NOT putting horns in every song just because they have them. Yes, one of the main reasons we listen to LTJ is because they have horns. Its their staple sound.
...and they figured that out. There are horns all over the new CD.
After all, when you choose to listen to an AC/DC tune, you are not expecting a ballad and soft vocals... its AC/DC and you know it.
By the way, I went to the LTJ show last night at the H.O.B. in New Orleans... they were at the top of there game !!! Fantastic show, sounded great, and as always, LTJ played only (3) songs from the new CD and played tons of old tunes. They played for 1-1/2 hours and did a (3) song encore... (Gainsville Rock City, Dope Man and Plastic Cup Politics) ...outstanding show!!!
Back to the new CD;
With "Hello Rockview" and "Borders and Boundaries" being their two best CD's to date, (I would rate them as 5 stars) GNV FLA gets close but falls a bit short (just a taste under 4 stars.) To me it sounds like the latter (2) CD's I mentioned, but a bit more mature than those two CD's (musically).
The lyrics, however, are like novels. Way too many words in each song, to crowded with lyrics, they need to let their tunes breath a bit.
GNV FLA lacks vocal hooks...
I have been listening to the CD since its release (and digging it) and found only 2 or maybe 3 vocal hooks on the whole CD. Hell, when I want to sing along with one of the songs, I get the lyrics sheet out of the inside cover and each song is like reading a novel. Who wants to do that.
Anyway, that is my 1 and ONLY complaint with GNV FLA, too many lyrics and not enough vocal hooks. Well, that is technically 2 complaints.
The sound production is great, as always, the horns are back, finally, and musically, the mature LTJ sound is great! just too many lyrics.
This CD is definitely worth the buy, if you like Ska and Punk!!!
...and the show is one you DO NOT want to miss!
So, enjoy both.
Lil' Gleason
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