Less Than Jake – American Idle (Fat Wreck)
Less Than Jake have been plying their trade for a long time. Formed well over 20 years ago, they have somehow never really been on my radar. I always thought of your typical LTJ fan as sporting a collection of bright purple, green, yellow and pink t-shirts, cargo shorts, a backpack and a smile on their faces. My friends of the time wore black, with an expression on their faces just as dark. But now with a heavy global political agenda once again (still) casting a shadow over our lives, maybe it\’s the ideal time for bands such as Less Than Jake to spread their sound and message. Well this short EP manages exactly that. The title song is a three and a half minute pop-punk gem that I\’ve already listened to a load of times. Over on the flipside \”Late Night Petroleum\” is a textbook ska-punk tune that delivers exactly what you need it to. Upbeat tunes for these downbeat times and sometimes you need a little bit of this to keep things cheerful. Tom Chapman