Less Than Jake – Goodbye Blue And White

• 4th Apr 2008

It’s always disappointing to see a band you love sell out like Less Than Jake did on their recent album In With The Out Crowd. How refreshing, then, that the Floridian ska-punks have decided to re-release their rarities album Goodbye Blue and White. If that wasn’t enough, they have also thrown in a bonus DVD of rare live footage stretching back to 1994.

Goodbye Blue and White gives listeners a taste of the music that made LTJ semi-famous, before the commercial success of tracks like Gainesville Rock City. There is far more of a ska flavour than on the band’s recent albums, with Losing Streak and the remix of Dopeman examples of tracks you can just kick back and relax to, longing for the times when LTJ didn’t take themselves so seriously.

The latter is one of several alternate versions of classic LTJ hits, which are complemented by rarities (The Mixology of Tom Collins), covers (including a surprisingly good take on The Jam’s Modern World) and the downright random (Mississippi Mud and Hamburger Hop). All in all, the combination of songs provides a great timeline for a unique and brilliant band who have sadly gone astray.