Review Summary: Less Than Jake stays on the same track they went on with Anthem, providing an album that is just alright.
Less Than Jake’s previous album Anthem was quite a step in a different direction for the band, going into more pop-punk areas, and In with the Out Crowd continues to trek on through those same areas. A lower note is that some songs reminded me of cheap imitations of other bands, and about half of the album uses horns. The album does have its strengths, however, but I'll explain them as I go on.
For now, I want to get the lower points of the album out of the way. The main problem is the recording quality. I don't know who was directing the synthesizing, but they made some of the songs sound so horribly unlike LTJ that you wouldn't recognize the band if you didn't know anything about the song. This tragedy happened to "Overrated" and "Landmines and Landslides." Another downside of the bad recording quality on the album is how the horns are drowned out in comparison to the rest of the band. Think of it like you’ve got Less Than Jake in your living room, equipment all hooked up and ready to go, and they’re playing a song, but imagine the wind players standing in the back row, almost behind the drummer. That’s about how loud they sound on the album. However, when the horns are present and used in a song, it is always a cool little lick, even if it is drowned out. Not that all the songs that are deprived of wind instruments are bad, however.
Some of the catchier songs from In with the Out Crowd include "Soundtrack of my Life," "In-Dependence Day," and "The Rest of my Life," all of which are devoid of all the wind players. If you don't mind the band's new direction, these songs will probably be the strongest tracks on the CD.
However, if you wish Less Than Jake would ditch this mainstream bull s*** and go back to being the ska-punk band they became known for, then cheer up; there is hope! "A Still Life Franchise," "Let Her Go," "Don't Fall Asleep on the Subway," and "P.S. Shock the World" will satisfy your craving for the good ol' LTJ that you've wanted (trombonist Buddy even gets a solo^_^). “Let Her Go” is probably the most reminiscent of LTJ from their best days.
There are many different parts from different songs that are really satisfying. One is the aforementioned trombone solo that Buddy gets in P.S. Shock the World. Fall Apart opens up with a heavy, slightly metal-sounding power chord riff, something that caught my interest. Mostly Memories uses a very fun and bouncy lead by the bari sax and trombone with what sounds like a xylophone behind it. But the one thing I thought stood out most was the song “The Rest of My Life.” It’s a mellower and somber song, yet still has an upbeat drum beat. It has a very catchy chorus and is a drastic change from the other songs on the album, topped off with lyrics that really complete the mood of the song.
Overall, this album is just average. IWTOC provides something for all the fans of Less Than Jake. The standouts are kind of hard to determine; if you'd prefer the old LTJ, then all the songs mentioned in the paragraph with the ^_^ will likely be your favorites, but if you're more open-minded to the new style, then you'll love "In-Dependence Day," "Soundtrack of my Life," and "Overrated." I believe all the fans of Less Than Jake will enjoy "The Rest of My Life." In short this isn't a bad attempt at making a good album, but IWTOC is no Hello Rockview. Thus, I give the album a 3 and close my first review. Hoorah.
