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Less Than Jake
Borders and Boundaries


3.5
great

Review

by Chilly-Bean-Bop USER (10 Reviews)
July 19th, 2006 | 14 replies


Release Date: 2000 | Tracklist


Less Than Jake. They call themselves not a one-hit wonder, but a ten-year failure. They may not have had a radio single, but they have captured all their audiences with their fast, dance-like music. Not at all have they made a slow song. Its all horn filled music that’d you would just wanna skank to. But, speaking of horns, Borders and Boundaries may be a good CD, but has a lack of them. Like Anthem, this was sort of their downfall CD. I will explain more as I go more in-depth. So, look, read, and listen!

One of the most fun, creative, and coolest songs on the album is Mr. Chevy Celebrity. It is especially creative with the lyrics. And what do the lyrics talk about? None other than…drinking! This is supposedly their “friend,” Mark Cruce, who has a drinking problem.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Chevy Celebrity
Have another drink, Mark Cruce whoa-oh.
He’s the guy who’s passing out and crashing on your couch.
Mark Cruce, have another drink. Mark Cruce, whoa-oh.
He’s the guy pissing in the front yard of your house, Mark Cruce.
It’s a fun song to listen to, and it’s fun to watch them perform it. Is This Thing On? is one of those songs that teach you a lesson…that’s kinda surprising. Here, they’re talking about drinking and how life sucks…then they’re teaching you something? It’s also the same for Last Hour of the Last Day of Work. But I like that song, so I don’t mind.
Suburban Myth and Gainesville Rock City (kind of) are songs that are about their hometown, Gainesville, Florida. About where they worked, how it sucked, how their lives were in it…the usual. Nothing really new.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suburban Myth
So let's hit the streets tonight
And I'll show you where I drank on the job
and hung out In that parking lot
left at the light there's park 16th on the right
and that's the place that we called home.
Lots of the rest of the songs are just joke songs, and songs about drinking. But lots of them are fun/funny.

Magnetic North has a nice bass line that runs throughout the beginning. Though it’s really nothing special. It continues on with another line for the verse, making it sound more full. Suburban Myth is a key song on this album. It has a great, crazy bass line that goes along great with the ska-guitar and amazing lyrics. Malt Liquor Tastes Better When You’ve Got Problems has a nice clean guitar intro that continues throughout the song. Mr. Chevy Celebrity has nice bass fills during the song, same with Last Hour of the Last Day of Work. Gainesville Rock City has a complicated bass line goin’ on during the verse along with the guitar/horn solo at the beginning. Everything else is pretty plain and boring, so sorry this section is so short.

You hear a lot of horns in this CD, compared to Anthem. They aren’t in every song, but they’re in quite a few. You especially don’t hear much ska-guitar, which is definitely a minus. I think that this is still a ska-filled CD, but certainly not the whole thing. Songs with horn – Everything except Mr. Chevy Celebrity, Malt Liquor… Is This Thing On?, Last Hour of the Last Day of Work, and Bigger Picture. That’s not too bad, but they could do better.

Recommended Songs:
Last Hour of the Last Day of Work
Mr. Chevy Celebrity
Suburban Myth
Malt Liquor Tastes Better When You’ve Got Problems

Sorry if it's short, it's a pretty boring CD. =P



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3.6
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Comments:Add a Comment 
smokersdieyounger
July 20th 2006


672 Comments


Ive got alot of Less Than Jake but bot this, one of my favourite bands. I prefer thier more ska oriented stuff, but thier pop punk is good too.

Neoteric
July 20th 2006


3243 Comments


Chelsea (heart)

Cygnus Inter Anates
July 20th 2006


721 Comments


The quote boxes are sort of intruding in the review, especially the large gap there. Might want to fix that up.

Chilly-Bean-Bop
July 20th 2006


344 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Fix'd.



Derek: :-*

kolzig33189
July 20th 2006


335 Comments


this is actually my favorite less than jake with losing streak close behind. every song has something to bring with only one real filler song(1989). the production is right where it should be, the earlier albums if you turn up the volume it is not good quality and not overproduced like the newer two. just a great cd

Zebra
Moderator
July 20th 2006


2647 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

This is where Less Than Jake started to fall downill. There are still some obvious ska influences but the overall sound is just to poppy for my liking.

Chilly-Bean-Bop
July 20th 2006


344 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Yeah, I agree.



It really is still a good CD in some areas, but it really is lacking that energy.

Neoteric
July 20th 2006


3243 Comments



Derek: :-*
Sup babe?

Great short review.

Chilly-Bean-Bop
July 21st 2006


344 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Nothin' really, you?



Thx, I appreciate it.

Goku
August 8th 2007


253 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I think this is where LTJ started to lose their charm. I love Gainesville Rock City.

njdfan1241
April 27th 2008


1 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

"They call themselves not a one-hit wonder, but a ten-year failure. "



You got the quote wrong brotha. He says "we're not a one-wonder nor a ten-year failure"



I highly doubt they would call themselves ten year failures.

dormisher
January 20th 2017


9 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I love this album, it truly was a seminal record for me as a teenager. Totally changed my life.

PunkerBlast
March 29th 2023


431 Comments


They oddly signed back to a non major and got a bit slower, but I really did like this one a ton. I think it's a more cohesive album than Hello Rockview. "All my Best friends are metalheads", is really a major standout.

"Look What Happened" is as good as that song, and there are so many more hits here.

PunkerBlast
March 29th 2023


431 Comments


This review though, I just read it. Reviewer said it was a boring cd and still gave it a 3.5 and that formatting mess. I thought they liked it? Sorry I double posted but I was thinking I need some B&B.



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