Less Than Jake

GNV FLA

[3.4/5]

From the horn blasts of “City Of Gainesville” opening Less Than Jake’s seventh proper studio album, GNV FLA, there is little doubt the band are looking to turn back the clocks to a time when they were ska-punk’s spokesmen for the young and directionless. The question remains, though: Can they do it? It would be unrealistic to expect Less Than Jake to revert to the band they were 10 years ago and rewrite Pezcore. What Less Than Jake manage to accomplish is combining their experience and production values with bouncing horn sections and the urgency their fans love. In the end, most of the songs from GNV FLA would not be out of place on Hello Rockview or Borders & Boundaries.
Even if GNV FLA doesn’t become anyone’s favorite Less Than Jake album, “The State Of Florida,” “Abandon Ship” and “Conviction Notice” should rekindle those feelings that drew fans to the band to begin with. With only a few duds (“Settling Son” and its throwback metal riffs are probably much more fun to play than they are to listen to), GNV FLA is an entirely fun album, arriving just in time for summer. (SLEEP IT OFF) Ben Conoley

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