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Bad Religion - New Maps of Hell (Deluxe)

Ah. The Apple iTunes Music Store releases an exclusive EP that I want. Bastards. My love/hate relationship with Apple grows everyday, and this just adds to the love. Less Than Jake has been a perennial favorite of mine for going on 8 years now. Through the good times and bad, they have consistently put out quality releases (although Anthem...) and are still one of my favorite shows to see. So getting a chance to hear Roger and Chris dualing guitars unplugged was a chance that I was willing to pay for.

Since there are only four tracks, I figured I'd do it track-by-track to make things easier:

  1. Suburban Myth - Dual guitars sound good, really good honestly. Chris's voice is more on than it is normally. The upbeat rhythm sounds really good on acoustic. Roger carries his parts really well.
  2. The Ghosts of You and Me - The best track on here. Not only is it probably the best track off of Anthem, but they really nail it here. A little bit of echo on the mic helps this I think. Roger actually sounds better on this recording, because his voice is tweaked several steps higher by pro-tools this time around. Although his voice does crack at one point, it only adds to what is one of their more "emotive" songs. The breakdowns that are in the song just prior to the chorus are lessened in this recording, due to the obvious limitations of acoustic guitars, but it comes out really well, a softer recording with very nice pickwork in the bridge. Right after the bridge, when the song almost becomes repetitive, they change it up, getting a little more intense, and it ends really well.
  3. History of a Boring Town - Seminal track off of Hello Rockview. I wasn't that suprised to hear it on here. Missing are the "whooo ooooh's", which I was afraid the crowd would add in. Well, actually I think that they are trying to add them in, however the mics weren't sensitive enough, which is only a good thing in my opinion. This is a Chris heavy song, and I am really suprised how well he carries it. The harmonies on this are the best of the four tracks. Roger adds in the "whooo oooooh's" towards the end which adds to the build up that an acoustic track needs to keep your interest at times.
  4. Welcome to the New South - Just not a song I like on Anthem. Say what you will, but this song never appealed to me. However, acoustic, this song actually shines. It sounds like it was originally a folk song! Very flowy strumming and sing-songy lyrics may have you swaying a bit by the end. The solo in the middle is soft, reserved and goes amazingly under Chris's bridge lyrics.
Overall, these are four tracks that any Less Than Jake fan should have. Are they tracks that everyone should run to their computers and buy from the iTunes Music Store? Probably not. However, for four bucks, you are definitely getting your money's worth.



People who liked this also liked:
One Reason - All Rivers Run South, All Roads Lead HomeMinutemen - We Jam Econo DVDWorld/Inferno Friendship Society - Red-Eyed SoulAvoid One Thing - Avoid One ThingThe Stereo - No TrafficSlowreader - SlowreaderRx Bandits - ...And the Battle BegunGreen Day - WarningEmbrace - EmbraceLife at These Speeds - Life at These Speeds [reissue]



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    Posted by red_eyed420 on 2007-01-02 00:10:58

    I cant buy the songs becuase im apart of the canadian itunes store :( this sucks!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 20, 2003 at 9:44 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "actually sounds better on this recording, because his voice is tweaked several steps higher by pro-tools this time around"

    thats lame

    Posted by 501 on 2003-11-20 17:13:23
    My Score:

    Ide sell out.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 20, 2003 at 11:00 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Vandal gotta go with you on that one...his comments, as I've been saying the past couple days, are awesome. They seem stupid, but in fact are brilliant. Ah, the mind of the genius...
    Amazingly, some people don't get them and/or hate them. One guy seems like he would rip superdude's head off if he met him in an alley. It's pretty funny how hot and bothered these people are by FUNNY comments.
    -Janelle

    Posted by Greenvandal on 2003-11-20 08:38:02
    My Score:

    " "This review was good, but here's how I'd make it better:"

    Not a show. An EP released only through the iTMS. Read the review next time."

    Congratulations, a low flying joke somehow managed to get over your head.

    The internet brings out the best of everybody, doesnt it?

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 at 11:41 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    What's next LTJ Live at Starbucks?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 at 2:36 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    FUCK corporate cock smokers!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 at 2:01 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "This review was good, but here's how I'd make it better:"
    Not a show. An EP released only through the iTMS. Read the review next time.

    Posted by Greenvandal on 2003-11-18 08:21:36
    My Score:

    Gimmicks gimicks everywhere, but not a useful comment to make you think.

    Haha, im so awesome.

    Keep the good questions comin buddy.

    Posted by insinceredave on 2003-11-18 06:39:16
    My Score:

    They are all great questions!

    insincere dave

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 17, 2003 at 9:48 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This review was good, but here's how I'd make it better:

    1. Where is the Apple Store?

    2. How much were tickets to the Apple Store? Was it all ages?

    3. Or was it 19/21 ?

    4. Is there smoking in the Apple Store?

    5. Is it inside an apple, or an Apple?

    6. How come there's no pictures from the show?

    7. Come on, no encore? I would be pissed off if I saw a band play such a short set.

    8. Can I come over?

    Posted by rxbandito24 on 2003-11-17 19:29:00
    My Score:

    when is the new tour gonna be reviewed? i wanna hear all about "bang tango"

    Posted by Fuzzy on 2003-11-17 16:26:12
    My Score:

    No shit talking about my review style? Dammit. I guess I should write more of them.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 17, 2003 at 11:53 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    good review fuzzy... kind of wish i had my own computer to be able to get this. did make me want to listen to these versions of some of my favorite songs.

    i

    Posted by Greenvandal on 2003-11-17 08:19:42
    My Score:

    LTJ is great...but its true. All there songs are about hating there hometown and wanting to leave, or meeting a chick that left and came back. I know where they are coming from though :(

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 16, 2003 at 11:18 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    less than jake is an amazing band that doesnt deserve anyones shit, so fuck off

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 16, 2003 at 7:18 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    love me destroyer's new record black heart affair fucking rules. go get it

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 16, 2003 at 7:13 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    yeah... thats like half the songs from their 4 albums..

    i always thought i'd leave..
    and now im still here.. lets take the freeway and leave.. gainesville sucks.. rock city.. take the freeway.. we should have left.. we are losers

    Posted by maverick on 2003-11-16 06:26:07
    My Score:

    "you know what kind of song less than jake should write? one about the struggles of living in your hometown and wanting to leave but never being able to."

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA that kicked so much ass. Unofficial comment of the day award. This score is for you.

    -Scott

    Posted by GregSka on 2003-11-16 02:49:35
    My Score:

    Less Than Jake is like the Ludacris of the punk rock scene.. their music is great but you can obviously see where their motivation comes from (money)

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 11:44 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Fuck ltj & steve job's apple empire!

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 10:59 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    how the hell do you get "4 and a half songs"?

    Posted by rightcliqificus on 2003-11-15 22:42:41
    My Score:

    if you go back to itunes, you can get the second half, which features 4 and a half more songs...

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 7:51 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    bwahahahaa

    Posted by jwinter on 2003-11-15 17:21:06
    My Score:

    you know what kind of song less than jake should write? one about the struggles of living in your hometown and wanting to leave but never being able to.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 4:38 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I don't really think that Apple dominates the computer market...

    Posted by Jesse on 2003-11-15 15:55:49
    My Score:

    Less Than Jake sucks. Apple dominates every field of electronics that it participates in.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 10:12 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    What a retarded thing to do.

    Posted by krowdsurf on 2003-11-15 04:51:45
    My Score:

    I didn't even know this existed until I saw the review. Now I'm gonna have to get all up ons it. Thanks Fuzzy.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 3:12 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Death to corporate punk rock!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 14, 2003 at 10:42 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "Hell Looks alot like La"

    Yes maam

    Barkley'

    P.S

    "So when ambition gets replaced by repetition, y'know I'll be the better man"

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 14, 2003 at 8:02 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    'Fraid I'm not buying into this corporate scheme. Let's go, Soulseek! I won't even feel guilty

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 14, 2003 at 5:26 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i'll just wait for it to show up on kazaa...

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 14, 2003 at 5:11 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    no it only an ep not an album.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 14, 2003 at 4:55 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I feel all warm and fuzzy inside when I listen to LTJ.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 14, 2003 at 4:45 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    they should have put the whole show on there. They played like 8 songs, including Throw the brick!

    -irish_joo-

    Posted by GregSka on 2003-11-14 16:34:28
    My Score:

    I'll have to download this entire album.

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