Album Review: Less Than Jake – Silver Linings

The ever present kings of ska punk Less Thank Jake are set to return with their new album, the hopefully titled “Silver Linings“. It’s been seven years since “See The Light” and a few things have changed, original drummer Vinnie Fiorello has departed the drum stool with Matt Yonker (Teen Idols, The Queers) stepping up to the plate, this has also been the first year when Less Than Jake haven’t been on the road, normally playing over 150 dates a year the five piece have been at home trying to make the best of things in lockdown, and finally, although this isn’t as much of surprise given they’ve issued over 300 releases on a bewildering array of labels, the band are releasing “Silver Linings” on yet another new label, Pure Noise Records,

Less Than Jake possess the kind of chemistry and enthusiasm that is borne of friendship and countless miles on the road, despite the fact they are fast approaching their thirtieth anniversary the energy levels have remained a constant, both live and in the studio, and even though the band is now finds themselves reduced to just one original member, with guitarist and vocalist Chris DeMakes being the last man standing, the core of their classic line up remains in place. From the first chords of ‘The High Cost Of Low Living‘ to the closing strains of ‘So Much Less‘ this is an album that couldn’t have made by anyone else, any of the twelve new tracks that populate “Silver Linings” could have been singles, there is no filler, no throwaway tracks, just old school ska punk done just as it oughta be. If you’re going to find fault with with “Silver Linings“, then it must be said that this is pretty much how you would expect the new album from Less Than Jake to sound.

If you didn’t like Less Than Jake in the first place then this isn’t going to change your mind, “Silver Linings” is unmistakably Less Than Jake and is wedged firmly in the niche that they have carved for themselves, for their established fan base this will not be a problem as it introduces another batch of infectious ska punk anthems that are just waiting to be thrown into their setlist when live music returns. For Less Than Jake it would definitely seem to be a case of the more things change the more they stay the same, and love them or hate them I doubt that is ever going to change. “Silver Linings” is not going to change anything but what it will do is make a lot of people happy, and sometimes that is enough, it certainly is in 2020. 

Even though they can’t hit the road you can still catch Less Than Jake live as they will be inaugurating the release of “Silver Linings” with their first-ever livestream performance at 6pm EST on December 11th, the album’s release day, live from their home town of Gainesville, FL.  “Silver Linings” can be pre-ordered here & livestream tickets can be purchased here