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Less Than Jake

Goodbye Blue & White (1999)
Self-Released

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Contributed by: Adam
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on May 11th 2001

This review covers the initial release of Goodbye Blue and White, which has since been re-released with a slightly different track listing on Fueled By Ramen

Only available through mail order or at shows, this is an interesting collection of songs previously released on out of print and limited edition vinyl. Less Than Jake has proved to be one of the ska-punk bands with the most longevity, making this is an interesting, if not entirely satisfying, chronicle of their history and influences.

Most of these B-Sides are from the “Pezcore” and “Losing Streak” sessions and therefore reflecting the songs on those albums. The sound quality varies, with the album will moving between professionally produced studio tracks to poorly mastered studio outtakes never meant to be anything more than collectors items. This is a common problem with these collections and is difficult to correct. “Losing Streak” and “Mixology of Tom Collins” are great rocking songs that have made their way into Jake’s live shows. “Modern World”, “I Think I Love You,” and “The Reflex” are some of the better covers (there are several on this album). “Goodbye” ends with four energetic live tracks and is capped off with a short acoustic radio promo.

A few of the album’s songs have been re-recorded by the band and ended up on their LPs. “Scott Farcas Takes It On The Chin,” “Cheese” and “Rock And Roll Pizzeria” are here in earlier forms. The musical and lyrical differences of these should prove interesting to fans.

The problem with “Goodbye” is the lack of coherency between the songs. They are collected from different periods of recording and have vastly different production from one song to the next. Several of the songs do not entirely fit, such as the band’s Slayer covers or the joke songs which cater to the band’s in-jokes (not making them of much interest to the casual fan). However, as a low-priced CD put together for collectors, these faults are forgivable. Taken as an album or compared to their full lengths, “Goodbye Blue and White” doesn’t hold together well at all. However when taken as individual tracks, Less Than Jake fans and collectors should by quite pleased.

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Anonymous (April 20, 2004)

this album is good not as good as there other works but not too bad for the real LTJ fans my album doesn't have any live versions on it though i only got 20 tracks instead of 23 tracks witch the cover says it has but o well i guess still a good album

Anonymous (February 28, 2003)

when is 'anthem' coming out? and why are they touring with a bunch of pop punk fuckers

sXe_nick (November 16, 2001)

it includes slayer covers METAL!! This cd is really good. some good live songs at the end. I love the johnny quest live version b/c of the HEY! when it stops. it is more fun to listen to. LTJ All the Way... I'm lame.

Anonymous (November 15, 2001)

HI got this cd and it is great. What is up with all the threats and stuff. Every one is alowed to say their views.

sorry i cant spell, you guys at punk news need a spell checker.

Anonymous (July 10, 2001)

you my friend, are stupid.this is far from their best cd, but i venture to say that LTJ can kill anything your little mind could come up with(unless you're in the slackers or johnny socko, which i highly doubt).to wrap things up, the person who said that LTJ is mall ska for little girls is a piece of shit, with no friends, and no real reason for living. he should do us all a favor and decapitate himself, that way, the oxygen he breathes wont be wasted any longer.- fathead

Anonymous (July 9, 2001)

3 stars is being nice. Mall ska punk for little girls. The horn players have about as much talent as a 7th grader.

Anonymous (June 1, 2001)

While this isn't the best representation of LTJ's music, it is still a cool album. Great tunes like "Losing Streak" and "I Think I Love You" are really fun to listen to and the mocking attempts at metal are funny. If you are a big LTJ fan, it's definitely worth the cheap price.

layawayplan (May 22, 2001)

Not out of print. It's only available by mailorder directly from Less Than Jake and sometimes they bring it along on tour. This was never released on a record label of any kind, it's a purely independant and DIY cd. It bears the Fueled by Ramen logo on the back, so was probably manufactured and produced through them (FBR is owned by Vinnie, LTJ's drummer).

Anonymous (May 22, 2001)

This is a great cd for those LTJ fans that want some of thier favorite B-sides and such all on one cd. Its nice to have alot of these songs on CD to listen when away from the turntable. This is a must for any LTJ fan, except I think its out of print now.

Anonymous (May 13, 2001)

Agreed.
This isn't the place to start your Less Than Jake CD collection, but it's a great way to complete it. It's the easiest way to get all their earlier out-of-print vinyl in one convenient package. The liner notes are amusing too, giving the story of the band's first tour van, named the Blue & White (hence the name of the cd).