Product Description

Ninth album and major label debut for Gainesville, FL ska-punk stalwarts. Stripping back the skanking somewhat for a more straight-ahead punk approach, and with their lyrics taking a darker tone than before, they have taken full advantage of their big production budget to beef up their sound. Includes the single 'She's Gonna Break Soon'.

Track Listing

1. Welcome to the New South
2. Ghosts of me and you
3. Look what happened (the last time)
4. Science of selling yourself short
5. Short fuse burning
6. Motown never sounded so good
7. Upwards war and downward cycle
8. Escape from the bomb house
9. Best wishes to your black lung
10. She's gonna break soon
11. That's why they call it a union
12. Plastic cup politics
13. Brightest bulb has burned out
14. Surrender

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10162 in Music
• Released on: 2003-05-19
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced

Amazon.co.uk Review
Anthem arrives at a time when Florida's gregarious and fast-but-by-no-means-furious ska-punks Less Than Jake can safely be referred to as veterans of this peculiarly American genre. Nevertheless, in defiance of their relatively advancing years, Anthem is stuffed to the gills with accelerated (albeit formulaic) punk-pop songs addressing the trials and tribulations of dull part-time jobs, girl-trouble, leaving home and walking on the cracks in the pavement; an array of uniquely adolescent concerns that ought to sound rather imbecilic when shouted from the mouths of fully-grown men. So who's kidding whom? While there's plenty of pumped-up empathising with their teen audience--"Do you know how your insecurities are the same ones that are inside of me?" enquires the dating-game analysis of "Plastic Cup Politics"--there is the lingering suspicion that, musically and thematically speaking, Less Than Jake remain stuck in a state of arrested development. Songs with titles as enticing as "Best Wishes to Your Black Lung" and "Escape from the 'A' Bomb House"--both of which illustrate Less Than Jake's atypical penchant for Grant Hart-style drum-pummelling and breakneck-paced Dexys Midnight Runners-style brass--don't quite attain the imaginativeness of their titles, and the best number here is clearly a cover of Cheap Trick's "Surrender". However, many of Less Than Jake's similarly styled subordinates have grown far richer on far less accomplished work than this. And if there is such a thing as dues-paying justice, Anthem ought to sell by the lorry load. --Kevin Maidment

Customer Reviews

Perfection
Just to give you an idea of the diversity of the material on offer here, I myself am a fan of death metal. Thing is, you just cant deny the passion and fun Less Than Jake have when performing their music.It's impossible not to smile, reach for a beverage and call up your friends to plan a party when you hear songs like "Plastic Cup Politics", "Surrender" "The Science of Selling Yourself Short" ect.
And even though didnt need to prove their worth as musicians, they do it anyway by peppering the album with a wonderful "ballad" in the form of "The Brightest Bulb Has Burned Out!.
Bands like Less Than Jake are few and far between. In this day and age in a post-grunge musical landscape, pessimistic and negative music seem to have become the norm. But even the most hardened metal fan will at some point need a little sunlight in his life...and what better way than playing some LTJ?
This album is pop-punk perfection. The ultimate party soundtrack, but at the same time the perfect and cheapest therapy available to anyone feeling down.

Get it while you can ladies and gents.

Best album I owne
Ok so there are alot of people who are saying this album is not as good as LTJ ealier stuff, I strongly disagree, yes therre are less horns, but they are still present and the band sound so mature its unbelievable, the lyrics amazing and have lots of meaning, songs such as "Escape from the bombhouse" or "the science of selling yourself" and ofcourse the amazing "Thats why they call it a union" rally highlight the bands thought provoking ideas.
As for the song "she's going to break soon" LTJ have even stopped playing it at MOST gigs because it has recieved such heavy criticsm, however I still consider it a great song which makes this an amazing album.
Deffinately worth Buying

Welcome To The New South - 9/10, not the best song on the album, but still catchy.

The Ghosts Of Me And You - 10/10, WoW, an amazing and powerfull song with a great riff,

Look What Happened (The Last Time)- 10/10, absolutely awesome, amazing live and just a great song, you can hear horns lol one of my favourite LTJ songs

The Science Of Selling Yourself Short - 10/10, another great song that has a good message, and really goes back to the reggae and ska rutes

Short Fuse Burning - 10/10, very catchy song, will have you moshing on the bus as i have done on many occasions.

Motown Never Sounded So Good - 10/10, awesome song, love it, however this is one of those songs that are very pop-punk with some reggae, im ok with that because i like that genre, but others might not like it as much.

The Upwards War & Downward Cycle - 10/10, another song with awesome lyrics and a great sound, there is deffinately a message that goes all the way through the album, something about loosing old freids or something like that, and its very present in this song.

Escape From The Bomb House - 15/10, yeah i know thats not possible, but this is my favourite LTJ song, the lyrics were awesome and i swear they helped me get through some though times, what a great song.

Best Wishes To Your Black Lung - 9/10 once again this is a great song, the only reason that this hasent got a 10 is because it seems to get a bit repetetive and sounds similar to some of their other songs, still good though.

She's Gonna Break Soon - 10/10 everyone says rubbish about this, but i love it, make your own mind up.

That's Way They Call It A Union - 10/10, This is a song has one of my favourite LTJ introes the lyrics are great all the way through, it seems to bring the pace of the album down a bit before going into ska more again, very good song.

Plastic Cup Politics - 10/10 another song that has a great intro and keeps the ska sound, its awesome and sounds amazing live.

The Brightest Bulb Has Burned Out - 10/10 a bit more of a punk rock sound rather than ska, however the lyircs and feel to this song are like WOW, so good, quite chilled out, specially the first half of the song, but its sooooo good.

Surrender - 10/10, this song makes me laugh everytime i listen to it, the lyrics are sooo clever and it has such a happy and yet serious feel to it.

Soooo yeah, get this album, it rocks my falanges.

wow what an album
I think im having a mid life crisis!wot a fantastic cd so much energy ,probably the best LTJ cd yet. play it on ur pc and get the vid.if u buy this ,stand by coz u gonna keep on buyin