Almost as a tribute and a celebratory appreciation of their roots, ska-punk legends Less Than Jake have named their new album ‘GNV FLA’ after their hometown of Gainesville, Florida.

This release marks the debut of their first new material on the new self-owned and controlled indie label Sleep It Off Records, which is licensed to Cooking Vinyl in the UK and Ireland.

Embarking on a whole new journey as independent artists in control of their own destiny, LTJ have decided to revisit their roots not only in spirit (and the album title) but also in their music.

A return to form that could be called the ‘traditional’ Less Than Jake sound, complete with their trademark bouncy ska grooves and horns galore. Recorded at Atlas Studios in Chicago and produced by Matt Allison (Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, The Falcom), this album is a sure-fire testament that, once again, proves why LTJ have one of the most durable and faithful fanbases that stretch from the top of Canada to the bottom of South America and spans both sides of the globe.

A sobering look at the realities of Gainesville in particular but with a universal eye to the everyman living in every small city in the US in these down economic times, ‘GNV FLA’ is by no means a depressing record, but instead a hopeful and positive one.

By pointing the microscope on folks like single mothers, drug dealers and other common city characters, LTJ celebrates their lives and pays tribute to those who are forgotten.

‘The State of Florida’ explodes with insistent grit, ‘Devil In My DNA’ menaces with raw, unrelenting power, while ‘Conviction Notice’ and ‘Does the Lion City Still Roar?’ are undeniably amongst the most catchy in Less Than Jake’s catalogue thus far.

The ferocious ‘Settling Son’ is all about feeling trapped within the stifling confines of society’s traditional 40-hour work week and being told to submit to authority, while the brooding ‘Abandon Ship’ yearns for something to believe in outside of the daily grind.

Even more telling is the edgy, horn-driven ‘Summon Monsters’, which calls attention to teens’ mounting drug use and suggests a straighter path without ever coming across as preachy.

This is an ambitious and ultimately infectious album which entices you with its deft blend of alternative artfulness and accessibility.
(3/5)

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