Less Than Jake

Less Than Jake: Live at the Apple StoreLive at the Apple Store (2003)
Warner Music Group

Reviewer Rating: 4

User Rating:

Contributed by: FuzzyFuzzy
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on November 14th 2003Ah. 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 consiste.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

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red_eyed420 (January 2, 2007)

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

Anonymous (November 20, 2003)

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

thats lame

501 (November 20, 2003)

Ide sell out.

Anonymous (November 20, 2003)

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

Greenvandal (November 20, 2003)

" "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?

Anonymous (November 19, 2003)

What's next LTJ Live at Starbucks?

Anonymous (November 18, 2003)

FUCK corporate cock smokers!

Anonymous (November 18, 2003)

"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.

Greenvandal (November 18, 2003)

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

Haha, im so awesome.

Keep the good questions comin buddy.

insinceredave (November 18, 2003)

They are all great questions!

insincere dave

Anonymous (November 17, 2003)

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?

rxbandito24 (November 17, 2003)

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

Fuzzy (November 17, 2003)

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

Anonymous (November 17, 2003)

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

Greenvandal (November 17, 2003)

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 :(

Anonymous (November 16, 2003)

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

Anonymous (November 16, 2003)

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

Anonymous (November 16, 2003)

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

maverick (November 16, 2003)

"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

GregSka (November 16, 2003)

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)