Plastic Cup Politics (Anthem - Less Than Jake)

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	Anthem - Less Than Jake
Date:	10/01/08 (125 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some excellent 'anthems' from Gainesville's Ska Punk's

Disadvantages: Horn section is not as prevalent as with previous albums

Having formed in Gainesville, Florida in 1992 as a Power pop three piece, the music of Less Than Jake soon progressed and evolved meaning that the band now stand strong as one of the best known American Ska Punk bands of the past decade. Having now released eight albums and with another on the way; Less Than Jake are a band that are definitely still going strong. 'Anthem' was the bands seventh studio album, released in 2003 and containing the hit singles of 'She's Gonna Break Soon' and 'The Science Of Selling Yourself Short', two of the bands most commercially successful single releases to date. Although perhaps not the best album to have been released by the band, 'Anthem' is still a high quality album containing a number of excellent tracks.

Less Ska Punk based and more deeply rooted in the depths of harder hitting Punk Rock music, 'Anthem' starts strongly with the track 'Welcome To The New South' getting the ball rolling. This track kicks the proceedings off with a bite and sets up our expectations for the rest of the record, a record which continues to impress as it unfolds and develops into one hell of a Less Than Jake album. For the most part, Less Than Jake impress me massively so and 'Anthem' is clearly no exception to this rule. After this initial powerful opening, second track 'The Ghosts of Me and You' is another track which impresses, containing some trademark crushing guitar riffs and thundering drum beats. The horn section compliments the sound perfectly here and really adds an excellent atmosphere to the bands sound. 'The Ghosts of Me and You' is perhaps one of the highlights of the album, a track that lasts long in the memory and for all the right reasons.

With 'Look What Happened' the band revisit a previously released track, giving it a whole new feel and factor of power. The track was one of my favourites from 2000's 'Borders and Boundaries', an album which divided opinion amongst Less Than Jake fans yet one which I myself am a massive fan of. When I first heard the track I thought it was awful in comparison to the version that was featured on 'Borders and Boundaries'. It took me a lot of getting used to but I now feel that I probably prefer the 'Anthem' rendition of 'Look What Happened', a powerful track which packs a hefty punch. It is perhaps one of my all time favourite tracks of Less Than Jake, one which sounds even better when performed live.

The singles released from this album I feel were quite interesting choices. 'The Science of Selling Yourself Short' for instance is quite a slow paced Ska themed track which doesn't at all seem an obvious choice of single, whilst other single 'She's Gonna Break Soon' when I first heard it I hated it. I honestly felt that 'She's Gonna Break Soon' was a poor choice of single when I first heard it as I didn't feel it had any strength as a track whatsoever, I actually found it massively irritating in fact. With time however this one grew on me massively so, and I now understand why the track stands strong as the bands most commercially successful single in the UK. Whilst 'The Science of Selling Yourself Short' did well in the US hitting the chart at number 37 making it their most successful single release to date there, the track did not fair so well in the UK and this is probably due to its slower pace when compared to the majority of Less Than Jake tracks. Although both singles had varying degrees of success, I do feel that better singles could have been chosen from the album than the two that were released.

'Plastic Cup Politics' is a live favourite from the 'Anthem' album which could easily have proven a commercial success had it been marketed as such. The track has great strength and immense catchiness, characteristics which would have made it a perfect candidate for commercial release. The track comes late on in the album, yet comes firing on all cylinders with full vigour; a musical powerhouse of a track which jolts and jerks throughout its two and a half minute duration, remaining just as intense and pressing throughout every second. The track is not to be missed, and if you're not familiar with this track or in fact with the music of Less Than Jake then I thoroughly suggest that you acquaint yourself with the band pronto.

All tracks from the 'Anthem' album impress for me, and I can think of none from the fourteen tracks here present that disappointed on any level. 'Surrender' closes an impressively finely crafted album, one which has been played by me many times over the past few years. Although by no means the best track on the album, I still feel that it closes the album amicably and ties things up nicely. The album really winds down here and their cover of the American rock band Cheap Trick's 'Surrender' is a mellow yet thoroughly enjoyable track which leaves you wanting and craving for more. An album which forefronts the subject of a horribly tense home life, 'Anthem' is a thoroughly impressive record which also contains lyrical content we have come to expect from Less Than Jake over the years such as alcoholism and also apathy.

To date, the only album from Less Than Jake that I have not enjoyed is their 'In With The Out Crowd' album which was released in 2006, a weak album which warrants no place in my CD collection. Whether or not the band can come back from this with a strong follow up album this year remains to be seen, however I for one will be wholeheartedly hoping that the band can return to form. 'Anthem' is a remarkably strong album which more than proves that the band can write incredible music, something which they show throughout all of their first seven albums before their mishap in 2006. 'Anthem' is an album which I would recommend to all, an excellent album which although perhaps does not portray the band at their best, it is certainly not far from it. The popularity of Less Than Jake continues to sustain and even despite the fact that Ska Punk is no longer at all a popular genre of music, dedicated fans of the band continue to show their support by buying each and every one of the bands albums to ensure that the band do not take their leave. If 'Anthem' is an album which you missed when it was released then why not give it a listen now; you may just find that you could have missed out on an album that you'd love.

Summary: The 2003 album release from Gainesville Ska Punk's Less Than Jake.