Ska-punk veterans Less Than Jake are back with a new EP, Uncharted, out today via Pure Noise. It’s got seven songs, five of which they released as singles throughout the year. The band explains how it all came together: “When started writing this EP, there was no intent for these songs to live together as a collection. As each song took life, we realized that the songs were more in tune with each other than we had originally thought. Six songs became seven and we were recording them with our one of our musical heroes (Bill Stevenson). It felt different – a feeling we hadn’t felt about a recording for some time. This EP represents a new chapter in the story of Less Than Jake. Forward we go into the Uncharted…”
The EP sounds like classic LTJ and serves as a great reminder that these guys are lifers who still have plenty to say. For more on the EP, the members commented on all five of the songs that were released as singles, and you can read on to see what they had to say.
Stream Uncharted below, and pick up our exclusive “electric blue glitter w/ screen print B-side vinyl variant” in the BV shop. It’s limited to 250. Here’s a mock-up:
Chris DeMakes and Roger Lima on “Sunny Side”
Chris: Man, the main riff in drop D has been around forever. I wrote that back when we were demoing for the Anthem record. It just never felt right, and was shelved. I never forgot about the idea. This time, Roger wrote the choruses, and I came up with the U2 stadium rock guitar bridge. Matt found the drum feel and groove that I was searching for all those years earlier, and the brass added a horn hook over the big guitar riff – one that rivals any of their catchiest parts. I can’t wait to play this one live.
Roger: LTJ has messed with the slow and heavy vibe on a few songs, but I feel like we finally got it right with “Sunny Side.” Between the grooves, the changes, the horns and the lyrics, we are pumping this one on all cylinders. “Sunny Side” is like a reminder to actively make an effort to live in the present. Move past your old haunts and be the absolute best version of you that you can.
Roger Lima on “Broken Words”
Hey guys! 2024 brings us some new LTJ songs, and this is a fun one! “Broken Words” has the ska, the pop-punk, and the horn lines that feel like a party and I can’t wait to belt this one out on stage! It happens to me, too. I’ll try to say something, (maybe I didn’t choose the best words, but I tried), they get misinterpreted and I end up unintentionally communicating something I didn’t mean at all. Know that feeling? Yeah, words are totally broken sometimes.
JR Wasilewski on “Walking Pipebomb”
The world has been contentious as of late. Many voices battling for who can scream the loudest about whatever the talking point of the moment is. For myself, I focus on being kind to everyone and staying out of the fray. But, from time to time, people do their best to drag me down to them – and are successful. These are the moments when I want to explode. I can’t contain my rage. This song is representative of how I feel at those moments.
Chris DeMakes on “Not My Problem”
This song came about in the 11th hour. I was messing around with a synthesizer loop one night, which became the part you hear for the intro of the song. The whole song was built from that, and it came together super fast. The main guitar riff is quirky and fun. The lyric is classic LTJ. A really fun song mixed with a sad lyric. As for the meaning, that’s for the listener to figure out.
Matt Yonker on “Brand New Day”
Looking back, it always feels like things were less hectic “back in the day”, right? Sometimes it feels like we need a positive catalyst to kick start a less stressful life experience; something that will bring us all closer together, and spread the unity we all felt when we were kids.
