Less Than Jake
“Borders and Boundaries”
Fat Wreck Chords
Released: 2000

Borders and Boundaries, Less Than Jake’s much waited for album to follow-up their previous album Hello Rockview. However, if you have been a fan of LTJ for awhile, you might not be so pleased with this album. Their pop-punk/ska has not changed at all, no doubt about it. This is a good thing, cause their upbeat rhythms and catchy tunes are not as pop as past records. I like it, really, but it isn't loaded with too many great songs you could listen to forever. It does although, make a valuable addition to your LTJ collection.

The album starts out with “Magnetic North”, a really good song. This song is probably one of the best songs on this album. It is the first upbeat song on this album and one of the only tracks like that. “Everyone here hates everyone here for doing the same thing that they do, all those people, they keep watching me, all those people, they hate me, all those people, they watch me, all those people, just like me.” Great song for jumping around and a good track to life and great for making your foot numb, if you know what I mean. The next track “Kehoe”, has a great catchy melodic tune, even though a little slow at times. “There's an anthem in us that fits the flag we’ve flown for years.” Kehoe? I wonder what that means. I live in Hawaii and it kinda sounds Hawaiian. Maybe I’ll go look it up...... Ok, I did and I found nothing at all. Maybe it is a place, though it shouldve showed up. I will mail LTJ and ask. Anyway back to the album, the 3rd song is alright, “Suburban Myth”. It is a little fun song but not real catchy. The fourth song “Look What Happened”, however, is one of the best songs on this album. Slow but holds much meaning. I love this song for what it is. A catchy, slow, pop-punk track. Next, track 5, “Hell Looks Alot Like L.A.”, is a pretty good song. Great horn solos and a pretty catchy tune. Track 6 “Mr.Chevy Celebrity”, great song! One of the best. Yeah, by this time I have said alot of, “One of the best”’s but this song is really good. “I thought all my friends were the same, then I met this kid in fourth grade, ‘lets go throw rocks through our neighbors window’” Track 7, “Gainesville Rock City” is a pretty good song. Starts out with a guitar and horn solo. Slow solos, but picks it self up after awhile. Then the song gets louder but same speed. If you want a fast song to listen to while driving or getting hyped up for some big meet, this is NOT the song to listen to. I repeat, don’t even look at track 7. It is a good song, but too slow for much liking. Track 8, “Malt Liquor Tastes Better When You’ve Got Problems”, is alright. Not too fast and not too slow. Good catchy tunes and a great end of the track horn lead in with a whistle. Track 9, “Bad Scene and A Basement Show”, gotta love this song. Not too fast, but great lyrics, and the best vocalist talents shown out loud. “It gets worst before its all over, I’ll get thought this some how, it gets worst before it gets better, nothings just gonna change her mind for now”. A couple lines later, a great vocal solo: “After all the bad endings and misunderstandings, and all of the late nights last night and last time, and all that she left for me was only a memory, and all I can say is she don't understand me.” Great song! Track 10, “Is This Thing On?” starts off slow and poppy, then out of nowhere a great lead in to the song. gets much harder, then slow, then loud and fast. Keeps going like this for the rest of the song, but still great song. “You’re on your own, can make it through this world all alone, Is This Thing One?”Another great LTJ song to listen to! Track 10 could easily be made a mainstream song. Track 11, “Pete Jackson Is Getting Married”, pretty good. Funny lyrics and great catchy lyrics and ‘na na na na, na na na na’s. Track 12, “1989”, is alright. Not their best on the album, but good lyrics. Track 13, “Last Hour of The Last Day of Work” is a great song. The beginning is a little draggy but the rest of the song makes it up. A slow ska song. “Bigger Picture”, track 14, is a good song. Good lyrics but not to good rhythms. Track 15, “Faction”, great song to end the album with! “Sometime you just want to belong, at any loss or any cost”. Great song!

This album is, with out a doubt, worth the 13.99 I paid for it. If you like LTJ, I recommend buying this album quick. As much as I think it won’t be selling out, it’s better to merge into LTJ’s lane, because so much is going on, and you couldn't be more pleased with them. Less Than Jake has been around for awhile and have always lived up to their expectations and even exceeded them in many occasions, such as “Hello Rockview”. This can also be said to be an little example of what they can do. I give this album 4 out of 5!

Note: Obviously, this is just the way I feel. Check the band out for yourself before you buy the album. Maybe take a look at their web site for a start.
Less Than Jake (www.lessthanjake.com)

Track listings:
1.Magnetic North
2.Kehoe
3.Suburban Myth
4.Look What Happened (The Last Time)
5.Hell Looks A Lot Like Like LA
6.Mr. Chevy Celebrity
7.Gainesville Rock City
8.Malt Liquor Tastes Better
9.Bad Scene At A Basement
10.Is This Thing On
11.Pete Jackson Is Getting...
12.1989
13.Last Hour Of The Last Day
14.Bigger Picture
15.Faction