The old saying, "the more things change, the more they stay the same" seems to apply particularly well to Less Than Jake. The album's theme is clearly the change from carefree youth to adulthood. The theme would work, I suppose, if it hadn't been the theme of the last few albums.
But the record isn't completely devoid of variation and even shows something of a constantly evolving musical style. Through the last few albums, LTJ has been quietly moving away from ska/punk stylings and towards the pop-punk-with-horns niche. This album is no exception. Their only glance backward is the mellow reggae number "The Science of Selling Yourself Short." Ironically, the band's sound on the song is more reminiscent of Sublime than the energetic breakneck ska that made them famous.
However, Less Than Jake deserves credit for continuing to evolve their sound. Chris and Roger's vocals are unmistakable and the band retains their knack for writing catchy hooks and energetic songs.
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