There are few music scenes as widely derided as ska-punk. Almost 20 years on from the Mighty Mighty Bosstones gatecrashing the upper reaches of the Billboard charts with The Impression That I Get, the movement is sneered at by hipsters and dismissed by critics. But it shouldn’t be, and Less Than Jake are one reason why.
The Gainesville band’s ninth studio album, ‘See The Light’, finds them back in the arms of Fat Wreck Chords, who put out ‘Borders And Boundaries’ back in 2000. That record came at the midway point of a remarkable run of releases, a couple of which, ‘Losing Streak’ and ‘Hello Rockview’, make convincing cases to be remembered as ‘90s punk classics.
‘See The Light’ isn't all that closely related to either of them. It's a collection that draws on the sound Less Than Jake have been developing since the release of ‘Anthem’, calling heavily on the horns of Buddy and JR and also rekindling the alt-rock influences that dominated ‘In With The Out Crowd’.
It’s also less rough around the edges than ‘GNV FLA’, thanks in part to sparkling production from Roger Lima, the band’s bassist and co-vocalist, who recorded ‘See The Light’ at his own Moathouse Studio.
Having taken that element of the process in-house, Less Than Jake are left to their own devices here. It’s something of a kaleidoscopic record, one that will please fans old and new at times, but blow neither group away.
Good Enough, My Money Is On The Long Shot and The Loudest Songs successfully channel similar themes to the band’s recent ‘Greetings and Salutations’ EP collection, while Do The Math and American Idle could comfortably have worked their way on to ‘Anthem’. Their grasp on melody hasn’t slackened off, although there are a few mis-steps along the way.
John The Baptist Bones bounces along inoffensively but never gets its hooks in, while Give Me Something To Believe In suffers from a sparse arrangement during the verses and chorus and some tired lyrics. Drummer VinnieFiorello, who has handled the band’s words since their inception, is on good form elsewhere, picking on classic Less Than Jake themes - the underdog, self-acceptance, meaning in everyday life - to good effect.
Their best work? No, not quite. But a good record? Yes. Less Than Jake have seen off the trend and are still standing. Everyone to the bar.
Wed January 29 2014 - BELFAST The Limelight
Sat February 01 2014 - CARDIFF Great Hall
Sun February 02 2014 - BRISTOL O2 Academy Bristol
Mon February 03 2014 - MANCHESTER Academy
Tue February 04 2014 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE O2 Academy Newcastle
Wed February 05 2014 - GLASGOW O2 ABC
Thu February 06 2014 - LEEDS O2 Academy Leeds
Fri February 07 2014 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Sat February 08 2014 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy Birmingham
Mon February 10 2014 - NORWICH UEA
Tue February 11 2014 - OXFORD O2 Academy Oxford
Wed February 12 2014 - PORTSMOUTH Pyramids
Thu February 13 2014 - BRIGHTON Concorde 2
Fri February 14 2014 - LONDON O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
Sat February 15 2014 - LONDON O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
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