Less Than Jake have been around for over 30 years. Their brand of ska-punk has kept them popular, especially on the live circuit and at various festivals around the globe. They have a healthy back catalogue of studio and live albums and numerous EP releases. If my sums are correct, Uncharted will be the Florida-based band’s tenth extended-play release.
Packing seven songs over twenty-two minutes, I would class this more of a mini-LP than an EP, but who am I to argue with these veterans of the US music scene? So, has Less Than Jake softened their musical approach with time? Or have they hardened their approach further, adding more flame to their already impressive fire?
Well, it is a little of both, as it turns out. Take the EP’s first track, ‘Broken Words’. It is full of beans and makes you dance whether you want to. It leans towards a skaterock style, which works well. A song about overthinking speaks of planning what to say to people, but the words still come out wrong. “I’m standing way too close to the edge of embarrassing myself again”, confesses singer Chris DeMakes, painfully aware of where he’s heading.
Increasing the tempo even further, ‘Walking Pipebomb’ sits squarely at the punk end of the ska-punk spectrum. Buddy Schaub’s trademark punchy staccato trombone lets you know there’s ska firmly included in the mix. A track examining the effects of storing up issues and worries until you explode, I think this will be very warmly received when played live.
With the opening bars sounding like an 80s theme tune for a TV science show, ‘Not My Problem’ is a slower track (by Less Than Jake standards) and reminds me a little of the more recent Stiff Little Fingers output. In what seems to be a take on a riches-to-rags story, DeMakes sings, “You had it all, you were standing on top of the world/You took the fall now you’re face down kissing the dirt/You had it all, but your lies became your truth/You lost it all, you threw it all away”. The song is boosted by excellent contributions from Schaub on trombone and Peter Wasilewski on saxophone.
So, just who is ‘Not My Problem’ about? DeMakes states, “That’s for the listener to figure out”. Some folk frequenting the bottom half of the internet feel this could be aimed at Vinnie Fiorello, co-founder, drummer and lyricist with Less Than Jake until he left the band in 2018. However, bassist and vocalist Roger Lima’s comments in October 2020 seem to scotch that thought. “Vinnie was becoming tired of life on the road and wanted to spend more time with his daughter. No bad feelings.”, he proclaimed.
If you like to venture simultaneously into the dark and the light, ‘Brand New Day’ may float your boat. Dealing with the shitstorm that is the world in 2024 whilst keeping the rage trapped inside, a heavy subject is sung about whilst melodically the song bounces along like a kangaroo on a pogo stick. “No one wants to work out issues/When no one wants to be wrong/Is anyone paying any attention/Can’t you see what we’re headed for?”, sums it up perfectly. Arguably, this song has taken on an even greater significance after recent events in the US.
‘Sunny Side’ sees Less Than Jake take on a slower, heavier feel. Reminding us to make a concerted effort to live actively in the now, the song has a more radio-friendly vibe with Schaub and Wasilewski in fine form. As Roger Lima said, “Move past your old haunts and be the absolute best version of you that you can.” Wise words, indeed.
“I get caught in cycles/Of some self-help deprivation/And I keep reliving dead days/Over and over again”, decrees DeMakes in a song that resonates intensely with me. ‘Dead Days (Over and Over) looks at trying to break free from the torture of your mind, attempting to break the cycle of reliving difficult or uncomfortable moments in your life. It feels as if it was written for me. Oh, the pleasures of being neurodivergent. I’m sure many others will connect to this great track. I love the addition of the Hammond organ, which purrs away throughout, adding an interesting texture and dimension.
The EP concludes with ‘Shake Loose The Truth’, a perfect example of a Less Than Jake song that belts along at top speed, barely pausing for breath. Following the example of the Japanese proverb “Nana Korobi Ya Oki,” which translates to “Fall down seven times, stand up eight,” it focuses on resilience and the desire to keep fighting. Crunching guitars, rapid-fire drums, and an unrelenting bass line send the listener away energised and ready to take on the world again.
Less Than Jake may not have reinvented the wheel with their Uncharted EP. However, they have put together seven solid tracks that are recognisably theirs while still offering a few new aspects to keep things fresh. It is hard to listen to this band without feeling somewhat uplifted. Even if they tackle less-than-joyous themes lyrically, their music still mainlines into your veins like an industrial dose of Serotonin.
If you fancy seeing them live, they will be headlining at the Slam Dunk festival in May 2025. Just remember to bring your skanking shoes and plenty of energy!
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