Less Than Jake

Less Than Jake: The People's History of Less Than JakeThe People's History of Less Than Jake (2004)
Fueled By Ramen Records

Reviewer Rating: 4

Contributed by: FatTonyFatTony
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on August 10th 2004"We're not a one-hit wonder, we're a ten-year failure." This is Less Than Jake's first venture into the world of DVD. This release compiles lots of live performances over the history of the band. While this particular DVD is certainly flawed in some respects, it is still one of the better mus.

"We're not a one-hit wonder, we're a ten-year failure."

This is Less Than Jake's first venture into the world of DVD. This release compiles lots of live performances over the history of the band. While this particular DVD is certainly flawed in some respects, it is still one of the better music DVDs I've had the pleasure of watching.

The disc itself is split into five different sections as follows: The Here and Now, The History, Avante Tarde, The Photos, and Extras. Most of the material on the disc is from Borders and Boundaries or earlier. There is a little bit of Anthem represented here as well, but it's easily avoided for all the haters out there as the DVD thankfully includes chapter stops (something sorely lacking in a lot of band's DVDs).

The Here and Now: Here you will find a live show from London. The audio/video quality on this show is incredible, but unfortunately it's not the full show. And to pour salt on that wound, they split up all the songs from this show with a mock interview done by Chris in costume. It's not as funny as the band would like it to be, but it's easily skipped by just going to the next chapter.

There's also a live show from Rhode Island that runs about 35 minutes. The video quality on this isn't quite as good as the London show, but at least it's the full show (and not interrupted by the mock interview).

Finally, there's "A Year in the Life of...". This section is a little weird. It's comrpised of live performances set to demo versions of "Plastic Cup Politics" and "Short Fuse Burning" and a live version of "All My Best Friends Are Metalheads." While it's interesting to hear these versions, the videos are just a little weird and makes me wonder why they didn't just include some more live performances in their place. Also, these videos are mixed with more of the mock interview footage.

The History:Here you will find many performances from over the years of varying audio/video quality. Almost all of the videos are single camera static shots from pretty far away, which can get a little on the boring side. But there are a LOT of performances here, many of which are songs they don't play often anymore, such as "Big," "Time And A Half/Econolodged," and "Dopeman."

Avant Tarde: This section is really just pointless. It's about 20 minutes of home videos featuring Chris and JR screwing around in costume. It's nowhere near as funny as the band would like it to be, but it got a couple laughs out of me.

On a personal note, this section also includes a bit with Chris coming on stage and doing a song with Zebrahead (though the song is unfortunately not included). It was cool to see because that was actually my first Less Than Jake show. Go me!

The Photos: This is a 3-minute slide show set to some classic Less Than Jake. Pretty straightforward and nothing too special to be honest.

Extras: The only thing of substance here is the "Gainesville Rock City" video. It would have been nice if some of their other videos had been included, but I can only assume there's rights issues involved. At any rate, you'll also find plugs for several of Fueled By Ramen's bands as well as Vinnie shamelessly plugging his new toy company, Monkey Vs. Robot.

Also included on the disc are band commentaries with Roger, Vinnie, and Buddy, and a "momentary" featuring JR and his mom. Both are included on The Here And Now and Avant Tarde. Neither are all that interesting and largely consist of the participants watching the video and laughing. Occasionally something of interest is said, but no one was really prepared to do these. I applaud the intentions here, but not the effort.

So there you have it. This is one of the better music DVDs I've watched, but the mock interview stuff should have been put in its own section with the Avant Tarde, in my opinion. I also would have liked to see the full London show. But overall, there's over 2 hours of live footage here to satisfy even the most hardened Less Than Jake fan, and I can only hope there will be more DVDs from these guys in the future.

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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.

Anonymous (December 30, 2005)

less than jake is awesome i woulnt call them EMO!!!!!

Anonymous (December 30, 2005)

i luv this picture u did a kick-ass job thanks for putting it up on the web

Anonymous (January 26, 2005)

first of all, if you don't like ltj, or any band for that matter, why would you even read a review about them? and i still don't understand how you could call them emo. emo is depressing, plain and simple. i couldn't call less than jake depressing in the slightest. by the way, the part where chris is dancing on the street in pink shorts has to be the funniest part of this whole dvd.

Anonymous (September 11, 2004)

LTJ is the best band ever, and they rnt fricken emo, they're just rad. Who the hell would think they are emo...seriously thats just stupid..stupid,supid.

tommy_jarvis (August 19, 2004)

It could have been an awful lot better...

For one, the video labeled A.S.A.O.K is just them feeding a kid on stage. They could have done like on the Bouncing Souls DVD and included a live version of every song the band had ever performed and told us when it was from and from where. You know they could have included all of their music videos, it should have nothing to do with licensing or permission because they had a live video for Automatic (from Capitol)c on Cinema Beer Nuts on Hopeless whenever that came out. The bad thing about the Bouncing Souls DVD is that with it being so great, I can't help but compare every band dvd that I ever see with Do You Remember?.
I am dissappointed to say the least.

Anonymous (August 17, 2004)

Its just fucking ugly fat guys who sing like a ugly fat guy with stupid poppy background music. Smash mouth, Less than Jake, Barenaked ladies, just FAT UGLY GUYS WHOSE MUSIC SUCKS ASS.

wearingawire (August 17, 2004)

The Dismemberment Plan called. They said "poopy", giggled, and hung up. Then they called again and asked for their album title back.

fattony (August 16, 2004)

Sorry the review doesn't seem to match the score. I guess it was a little late when I wrote it and I may have put a little too much emphasis on the negative aspects. My bad. It really does deserve an 8/10.

And to the dude a couple posts down, I did not say the commentaries were pointless. I just felt they could and SHOULD have been better. I really just can't stand it when a commentary consists of either a lot of dead-air or a lot of people describing/laughing at what's happening on screen.

Anonymous (August 15, 2004)

Smash mouth is amazing, fush yu mang. so suck it.

sprainedsoul (August 13, 2004)

that was me below ... didn't realize i wasn't logged in.

Anonymous (August 13, 2004)

I agree, it doesn't seem like the review matches the score. I've been watching this in sections for the past week or so ... any serious LTJ fan would eat this up. I'd like to see a full live show, as well. However, there is almost 3 shows worth of live footage. While the reviewer finds the commentary "pointless", what DVD commentary (on a band DVD -- we're not talking The Godfather here) is actually earth-shattering? I like hearing the interaction between Buddy, Vinnie and Rog, and the momentary definitely has its moments. I mean, where else will you find out that JR's mom thinks Vinnie's hot?

BTW, just to expose my bias, I was at one of the shows in the "History" section. Yay me.

Oh, and "Bridge and Tunnel Authority" is a rockin' song, to whoever started that farther down.

Anonymous (August 12, 2004)

The Avant Tarde is great if you like that kinda stuff. I bought the actual VHS they had called Avant Tarde and the whole thing is Live footage, TV interviews, with those crazy skits thrown in. It is great. Only VHS I have ever bought infact. And the comentary is good too,

Anonymous (August 12, 2004)

The reviewer sure gave it high marks for sounding like it is SO lacking...

Anonymous (August 12, 2004)

This band wants to be popular so bad. They would sell their souls to be #1 on TRL and perform at the Super Bowl. These guys are pathetic and their music sucks.

Anonymous (August 12, 2004)

Who cares how long you've been a fan? No one, you either like them or you don't. Years liking them shouldn't matter.

Anonymous (August 12, 2004)

"to be honest, you're not alone, the majority of their fans has been fans for a longer term than you and seen them more times, 97? wasn't that the ska explosion, i bet you like smash mouth."

hahahaha that was really funny. yea it was the ska explosion. I was listening to the bosstones since 94 but didnt know it was called 'ska'. then RBF and Bosstones hit and I was like 'ohh so this is ska'. I was 17 in 97. I went to the warped tour that summer to see RBF and Bosstones and also Pennywise and sick of it all. I got into LTJ at that warped tour. i'm not ashamed of this.

I doubt most of their fans have been around longer. When I went to the anthem tour last summer i did NOT think the average fan age was 25...more like 18-20. To have been down longer than I have been, you'd have to be pretty old, mid to late 20's.

I know they have a lot of fans who've been down as long as me, i was just saying, i think i can have an opinion that is valid. i'm not some dork who just got into ltj when 'seh's gonna break soon' hit the radio briefly or somethign. i'm 24.

I didn't like smash mouth, but my two closest friends LOVED them. hahahaha. its pretty awful stuff, but i'll admit...ive listened to it more than i'd like to admit.

Anonymous (August 12, 2004)

""Bridge and tunnel authority > she's gonna break soon"

What? How do you figure that? This score's for the obvious stupidity of that person.
"

I posted that dork. Maybe She's gonna break soon does it for you, but honestly, that is one of their worst songs ever. no ska, nearly no horns, and the most repetitive non-catchy chourus they've ever written. i think the words 'she's gonna break soon' is said 100 times in that song. ugh. so annoying.

bridge and tunnel authority is great, great riff, horns, ska, better lyrics. how my opinion makes me obviously stupid is beyond me, since almost everyone hated 'she's gonna break soon'.

whatever. i've been listening to ltj since 97 and have seen them live about 12 times, i'd say i can have an opinion on their songs being a pretty long term fan. sorry to have offended you 'op ivy kid'..

to be honest, you're not alone, the majority of their fans has been fans for a longer term than you and seen them more times, 97? wasn't that the ska explosion, i bet you like smash mouth.