Silver Linings is the ninth studio album by American ska punk band Less Than Jake, released on December 11, 2020.[4] It is their first studio album in little more than seven years (their longest time between albums), their first full-length release on Pure Noise Records and their first with new drummer Matt Yonker, who joined the band following founding member Vinnie Fiorello's departure in October 2018.[6][5][2]
| Silver Linings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 11, 2020 | |||
| Recorded | November–December 2019 | |||
| Studio | The Moat House (Gainesville) | |||
| Genre | Ska punk[1][2] | |||
| Length | 36:42[3] | |||
| Label | Pure Noise[4] | |||
| Producer |
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| Less Than Jake chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Silver Linings | ||||
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Recorded in November and December 2019 and mixed in February 2020,[7] the record was delayed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the music industry.[6] The title and cover art were announced on October 1, 2020, along with the release of the first single "Lie to Me".[5][8][7]
Writing and production
editThe band members began to share demos between January and February 2019 and to discuss ideas mid-tour. By June and July, vocalists Chris DeMakes (also guitarist), Roger Lima (also bassist) and new drummer Matt Yonker began rehearsals. After they finished touring in October, they started to record the songs.[6]
Following Fiorello's departure, lyrics were handled by DeMakes and Lima;[6][4] the songs deal with more mature topics of the adult life.[4] About the album's sound, DeMakes said: "If you love Less Than Jake, you're going to love the record. If you didn't like us before, it's not going to change your mind".[6]
The album was recorded at Lima's The Moat House in Gainesville, Florida and was mixed and mastered by Jason Livermore at Blasting Room.[7] Originally slated for an April release, Silver Linings suffered successive delays until the band pressured the label for a December release.[6]
The track "Bill" is a tribute to drummer Bill Stevenson of Descendents and Black Flag fame.[7]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Kerrang! |   [1] |
| Distorted Sound Mag |   [2] |
Kerrang!'s Jake Richardson gave the album a 3/5 score and said "it's nothing big or clever", but that it "is still a welcome dose of positivity, and the kind of silver lining to our troubled times which offers hope that the good times will eventually return".[1]
Writing for Distorted Sound Mag, Jack Fermor-Worrell said that "whilst in many cases you'd think the relative repetitiveness could end up fatigue-inducing, the relative brevity of the album [...] ensures that things never reach anything approaching boring. [...] Put simply, Silver Linings is on the whole yet another highly enjoyable LESS THAN JAKE record. [...] While those totally new to the band are perhaps still best off reaching for one of the classics, if you've ever liked anything LESS THAN JAKE have done before now, odds are you'll find Silver Linings an enjoyable time."[2]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The High Cost of Low Living" | DeMakes | 2:39 |
| 2. | "Lie to Me" |
| 3:38 |
| 3. | "Keep on Chasing" | DeMakes | 3:03 |
| 4. | "Anytime and Anywhere" |
| 2:30 |
| 5. | "The Test" | DeMakes | 2:54 |
| 6. | "Dear Me" | DeMakes | 3:17 |
| 7. | "Monkey Wrench Myself" |
| 2:58 |
| 8. | "King of the Downside" | Lima | 2:38 |
| 9. | "Lost at Home" | DeMakes | 3:20 |
| 10. | "Move" | DeMakes | 3:24 |
| 11. | "Bill" | DeMakes | 3:03 |
| 12. | "So Much Less" | Lima | 3:17 |
| Total length: | 36:42[3] | ||
| No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "No One to Judge Me" |
| 2:41 |
| 14. | "Empty Lines" |
| 3:20 |
| 15. | "Anytime and Anywhere - Acoustic" | 2:41 | |
| 16. | "Dear Me - Acoustic" | 3:10 | |
| 17. | "The High Cost of Low Living - Acoustic" | 2:41 | |
| 18. | "Move - Acoustic" | 3:16 | |
| Total length: | 54:38 | ||
Personnel
editLess Than Jake
- Chris DeMakes – guitar, vocals, production
- Roger Lima – bass, guitar, vocals, production
- Buddy Schaub – trombone, production
- JR Wasilewski – tenor saxophone, production
- Matt Yonker – drums, production
Additional contributors
- Jason Livermore – mastering, mixing
- Michael "Mo" LaPierre – engineering assistance
- Peter Wonsowski – art
- Paris Visone – photo
References
edit- ^ a b c Richardson, Jake (December 9, 2020). "Album review: Less Than Jake – Silver Linings". Kerrang!. Wasted Talent Ltd. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Fermor-Worrell, Jack (December 11, 2020). "ALBUM REVIEW: Silver Linings – Less Than Jake". Distorted Sound Mag. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ a b "Silver Linings". Bandcamp. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Chesler, Josh (December 10, 2020). "Less Than Jake Blend Energy and Maturity on Silver Linings". Spin. Next Management Partners. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c Lavin, Will (October 3, 2020). "Less Than Jake announce new album 'Silver Linings', share first song in three years". NME. BandLab Technologies. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Goeman, Collin (October 20, 2020). "Less Than Jake promise you'll love their new record if you're already a fan". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Maranhas, Joshua (December 10, 2020). "Interview: Less Than Jake Provide a Silver Lining to 2020 with New Album". New Noise Magazine. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ Rogers, Jack (October 1, 2020). "Less Than Jake Have Announced The Details Of Their New Album 'Silver Linings'". Rock Sound Magazine. Freeway Press Inc. Retrieved December 20, 2020.