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[Full Album] LESS THAN JAKE | "Hello Rockview" (Patreon)

Published:
2025-06-01 15:00:10
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2026-06
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Okay, now I can begin the rest of my life. I said the same thing after recently hearing The Clash’s London Calling (because I now know it's an album everyone must hear) but I’m saying it again after hearing Less Than Jake’s Hello Rockview for an entirely different reason: the album's front cover has been an iconic image to me for almost 20 years now, but Windows Media Player on the ol' family computer betrayed me as a teenager. Story time included within, free of charge.

This 38-minute dosage of high-octane ska punk was brilliantly paced, and has some of the most relatable lyrics. Like, these lyrics told my own life story many times over. And—not only did this album floor me in terms of its thunderously-ballsy bass playing and some serious powerhouse vocals, but it also triggered a bittersweet, deep-rooted nostalgia that made this episode extra special. Chris DeMakes' voice STILL teleports me right back to junior high.

I literally had to massage my cheeks after filming this one. It’s nearly impossible to listen to this band without being stuck in a fixated smile.

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
6:17 - "Last One Out of Liberty City"
12:02 - "Help Save the Youth of America from Exploding"
20:34 - "All My Best Friends Are Metalheads"
30:53 - "Five State Drive"
39:16 - "Nervous in the Alley"
45:56 - "Motto"
48:16 - "History of a Boring Town"
1:04:36 - "Great American Sharpshooter"
1:07:33 - "Danny Says"
1:12:02 - "Big Crash"
1:17:10 - "Theme Song for H Street"
1:23:05 - "Richard Allen George... No, It's Just Cheez"
1:26:03 - "Scott Farcas Takes It on the Chin"
1:31:34 - "Al's War"
1:37:48 - Final Thoughts

Files

Previews only

Comments

Mariana

Just started watching but had to comment that A - I loved the story time B - Angra??? I have questions… lol

Mariana
>>175832775

I’m guessing this was for your student, but it was funny to see it on the list.

Bad Movie Night

Back in the file sharing days labels would put out bogus albums to try to stop piracy. It didn't really work.

Dan Kronenberg

This is my favorite Less Than Jake album. I met Roger outside their tour bus for the album after this, he was the nicest guy and hung out for like 20 minutes talking with us about music. He's one of my favorite bass players and made me want to take it up too.

Travis Dickens

Drove from Indiana to Fort Lauderdale to see LTJ shortly after covid. Love those dudes. Would do it all over again. That was my Five State Drive!!

Chad Smoliak

Your story time was fun. Also a full album Pietasters - Willis would be awesome. As for Less Than Jake … I don’t know what to say. All of their albums, but especially this one is wrapped in so many amazing memories for me. I took my kids to a LTJ show about 13 years or so ago. My youngest of the three was about 5 at the time. She spent the whole LTJ set right near the front of the stage on my shoulders. She knew all the words to all the songs and the band all high fived her and Roger gave her a bass pick. She still talks about it now and then to this day.

... and the Virtually Experienced

Ough. OK gonna jump on som toes here. But bands like LTJ is exactly why people got sick of skapunk... skreaching . Yelling . and just sound like soundtracks to shows at Disney Channel... 😅

Mike

Glad you got to finally get to Less Than Jake, who I love, but a little disappointed that RBF didn’t win the poll. Maybe next time. Also, it would be cool if you did a poll where you pick an artist and the members vote on a song by that artist only….i think you could cover a lot more ground that way in your punk rawk quest.

Mathias F.

Hell yes! Been waiting for a full LTJ album reaction for a while🔥

PizzaTrav

This album rules so hard. And it just sticks with you. What you said about the lyrics are relatable even now really holds true. Scott farcas used to be a skip song for me. But as an adult that song hits so hard and I love it so much now. Thanks again for doing what you do mark.

ryan mcgrath

I like the part when Less Than Jake started playing three card Monty with the cord change (?) with Mark when he was listening to theme song for H St.

agrajag311

Was Big Crash I Against I - Stumble and Stare?

CM

- I find your awe with this album quite humorous in a very good way. Probably most of us discovered the fun of punk music in our teens, and our awe was the same as yours when we heard albums like Hello Rockview for the first time. However, as teens we had no experience and no context other than "this is amazing". It's interesting to watch someone go through this live, but then to also have wisdom and experience to contextualize it. As Richard Dreyfuss said in Mr. Holland's Opus, "Because playing music is supposed to be fun." - That's very interesting about the auto-tune. I had no idea about this, but I have always thought that the horns on Hello Rockview sounded weird for some reason. I guess it never bothered me, but now I wish I could hear what it would have sounded like without it. - Five State Drive lives for me as a song that I most wanted to learn to play, but I never got good enough to keep up with Lima. That applies to basically every song on this album. Lima's on another plane. - I grew up in a very small town, and there was a small group of us that listened to punk or pop-punk music. I was the most invested in punk, and I knew quite a few bands, so I would burn punk sampler CDs for my friends. However, a lot of non-punk kids would end up hearing the songs too. I put "History of a Boring Town" on one of the samplers, because it was absolutely about that town, those people, and myself. I went to college, and then my parents moved. I think I've been back to that town less than 10 times since I went to university.

Ceej Luige

I've loved this album from the moment it came out. Al's War and Five State Drive are STILL two of my all time favorite songs. I also thoroughly enjoyed your reaction/review of it. Honestly, when I think of Ska music, I don't think of LTJ. I know they have some ska parts/songs and they feature a horn section, but to me they're just feel good pop punk. If I haven't mentioned this before in the chat threads, LTJ is the only band that has this really weird hold on me. Most of their best songs are about nostalgia and reminiscing and their songs ARE nostalgia to me and make me reminisce. In fact, a couple weeks ago I heard Johnny Quest Thinks Were Sell Outs for the first time in a handful of years and it actually brought tears to my eyes. I had to switch the track to keep from bawling. And I love that about them. They've never been my favorite band, but they're still the only band that can bring me to tears.

Ceej Luige

One more quick thing. Every time Roger was singing lead I found myself rooting you on to notice it. I wonder if I'm the only one who was doing that?

Gamer's Tavern

Worked with a guy on a podcast for about a year before I found out he's also a big Less Than Jake fan. He asked me what my favorite song was. I said "It's a toss up between the one about how growing up in a dead-end town is boring and sucks, or about some weird super-specific fucked-up thing that happened while they were on tour." They have spread out from that over the years, but like 90% of their songs up until probably Anthem are about one of those two subjects.

Gamer's Tavern

Holy crap, I didn't realize you lived that close to me. I'm used to everyone I follow being on the West Coast or PNW. I'm just on the other side of the TX/LA border down on the Gulf Coast in that Beaumont-Orange-Port Arthur area. Speaking a boring town...

Gamer's Tavern
>>175841018

Funny, Scott Farkus was probably the stand-out track with the only competition being "Boring Life in a Boring Town" for me when I first heard it. But I was also closer to like 19-20 or so when I heard it. And I was hitting that age where I was starting to be the "old dude" at the punk shows full of teenagers. So the "Am I aging out of the scene?" questions started to hit me as I transitioned from student with tons of free time to adult with a job and responsiblities so I couldn't go to a Wednesday night show and stay until last call when I had to work Thursday morning. Of course, now I'm in my 40s and screw that. If your back and knees can hold out, who cares how old you are or how young everyone else is?

Todd Strapac

The verses of 'Richard Allen George...No, It's Just Cheez' really sound like 'Gilligan Twist' by The Bruce Lee Band.

CJ LoBaido

I don’t know about 2 trombones, but I know they have a Barry Sax and it’s very saxy lol.

Drums McGee

Fun fact about that Pietasters song, Out all night.... it was actually co-written by Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion. It's one of the two ska songs that I know of his. The other was with a supergroup called The Silencers. A true all star with Mr.Brett, Tim Armstrong, Lars Frederickson, Vic Ruggiero and no other than Josh Freese on drums. Epic tracks, both of them making you wonder if we missed out on some ska version of Bad Religion...

Daemon 13

A really really fun Pietasters song is Maggie Mae. It's a song about drinking beer, a theme of Ska songs you've done reviews on.

Dave Cassells

Only on the first track so far but man those lyrics are really innacurate, auto detected or something

PRDinPDX

That's funny you mention Trivium in this review. My dad gave Matt Heafy an Uber ride once, haha.

Trevor Kelly

Pete Anna…you have to do Slapstick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trevor Kelly

I’ll Venmo you $100 if you do slapstick’s green album!

Paydrough

Wait till he hears Pilfers’ first album.

Quote Unquote Sir

I've always loved Mark's way of making reaction videos, but in my early days of watching them on YouTube and this Patreon, I was disappointed that he declared himself "not a lyrics guy" and sadly assumed it meant we'd never get much lyrics discussion in them, which feels like a shame and missed opportunity when you're dealing with ska and punk rock. I'm happy to see Mark soften his stance on lyrics over time and it seems fitting that he's done this more than usual for "Hello Rockview" - a top ten favourite album of someone who is a 'lyrics guy' (me). I saw Less Than Jake perform in 2001. Right before they started their set, someone in the crowd asked me if I'd ever seen them live. I said no, and the guy was like, "They're AMAZING live." He wasn't wrong. Part of what made that such a powerful and memorable experience was the crowd being so in unison singing the lyrics together. I've been going to concerts for around 25 years and have never seen a crowd so passionately singing in harmony like they did for Less Than Jake that day (especially during "All My Best Friends Are Metalheads"). It was a beautiful, moving thing to witness / participate in and proof of how much their lyrics mean to so many people (including me).

Aukai Ligairi

Awesome backstory. Would love to see you do a full album review of that video game soundtrack and see who actually wrote all those songs! 😆

Aukai Ligairi
>>175853273

💯 I’ve never heard anyone else ever talk about I Against I. So underrated for an Epitaph band. I discovered their album Headcleaner when I was living in Holland for a couple of years and got to see them play live in a local record store when F’ed Up Dancer was released.

Gav Chap
>>175837530

Interesting, I listen to very little ska-punk, But LTJ are one of the few bands I actually like because they really nail the punk side. I find most bands in the genre too poppy and don't really have much actual punk rock in there.

Kirbie B

I'm planning on seeing Less Than Jake here in Durango in September. There's a brewery called Ska Brewing, which is very ska-inspired. They're having a 30 year celebration and LTJ are the headliners, with The Pietasters on the line-up. I've been meaning to dive back into LTJ's catalog and this video is a great way to kick that off.

Howard P

The song you have listed as big crash is Ordinary Fight by I against I

Jean-Sébastien Cyr

Everyone who hasn’t yet should listen to the Chris DeMakes a Podcast episode with Howard Benson. It’s labeled as a discussion about Boring Town, but it’s mostly about the recording process of the album. He mentions that this is most likely the first Rock album recorded in Pro Tools, which is just astonishing. He received the plugin Autotune 1 on a floppy disk in an envelope during the session because some guy wanted him to try it. He ended up overusing it on the record, which he regrets. It’s just crazy to learn the producer had never used Pro Tools and Autotune before and the final product ended up to be the band’s fan favorite album.

Kris Ferrell

This is one of the albums I'm always interested in hearing people's opinions about. Mostly because I'm shocked when they discover it. This and "..And Out Come The Wolves". It's my favorite LTJ album. And yes, so much of it is relatable. The last song reminds me of when I went off for Boot Camp. I'd never lived anywhere but at my parent's house and the town was full of dead-end jobs, so getting my own place was a pipe dream. I knew I needed to get out, so signed up for the military. I discovered this album in '99 when I had first started hanging with the two people who'd change my life, by starting a band together. This album is ranked among some of my most cherished memories of that time, as we were all discovering who we were at the same time. It was cool reading along with the lyrics because I've never actually looked at them before. I loved singing along to it, but reading lyrics was never an interest of mine. I'd pick up words here and there and eventually I'd have most of the song memorized, just from repeat listens. I realized I was getting quite a bit wrong lol. The band has a lot of songs about being an outcast and the struggles that happen when you are, which I was my entire school career. Even though I had a group of friends, finally, we were still all outcasts. I'm glad you finally got to listen to it and enjoyed it. Yes, Roger is a beast. He, Matt Freeman and The Specials are the top three inspirations to my bass playing. I love the speed, accuracy and the crazy lines he comes up with, all while still singing. Dude's so underrated. Great video!

Chad Smoliak
>>175902514

Definitely agree on crowds singing lyrics , especially at a LTJ show. One of kids was about 5 when we saw them and she knew words to a ton of the songs. At one point between songs Chris came over and was like ‘holy I’ve seen you singing along to all the words that’s amazing , and a sign of bad parenting because your parents have exposed you to us’ lol. Then him and Roger gave her a high five ( she was on my shoulders off to the side at the front ).

Chad Smoliak
>>175879127

Once a week I drive 2.5hr to go skydiving then drive 2.5hr back home. I listened to Oolooloo yesterday on the drive home.

Mads Kindberg Nielsen

I have seen Less Than Jake live five times or more, and you should DEFNITELY look forward to Dallas. It’s a blast every single time! Thanks so much for deling this review.

Jake

Less Than Jake are one of those bands that tour their asses off. I must have seen them 5 or 6 times and I'm all the way over here in the UK

Jake

You saying you love the woah oh ohs lol made me think of their song Jen Doesn't Like Me Anymore "And Jen doesn't like to come to my shows She don't like my whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-hoes"

Chris P

Can't wait for you to hear some of their later stuff. Obviously not as influential as this era was, but similar to Lagwagon, they found a more "mature" sound as the years went on that really fit them

epi.

Definitely one of my first favorite ska albums. I'm so glad you got to hear the ACTUAL tracks 😅

Stfn Gtmnn

Hey Mark, again a perfect album reaction. Nice Story with the Wrong Songs. Have a similar Story. When I bought the Satanic Surfers Album "666 Motor Inn" I get a Wrong Pressed CD. There was a Burning Heart Records Sampler on it.And I thoght a long time that all Songs are from the Surfers.That was crazy too,now i have both cds since round about 20 Years... best wishes fro Germany !!

Mark C

This record is so good front to back that it felt like that went by so quickly. Glad you got to experience this. Losing Streak was my entry point so I’ll always be a bit partial to it but this really stands the test of time as well

Trevor Kelly

Just finally finishing this sweet video. I’m on “Scott Farcas…” and it made me think of the fastest horns (that I can remember) - “smother me” from Blue Meanies. I first heard it on a cool picture disc and I thought I had it on the wrong RPM at first, then I realized it was that fast!

Mauricio Martinez

Exactly as described. You don't need a cup of coffee in the morning if you wake up to this. I truly recommend you see these guys live anytime you get a chance. They put a hell of a party. Out of the best shows i've ever been. Pure joy.

Jon Person

When I hear this I think Screeching Weasel has a lot to answer for. In a good way. One of the the most important bands for pop punk leading into the 1990s (given Blink 182, borrowed a lot from them). I heard LTJ first in the Pezcore years, just before Losing Streak dropped, and had already listened to SW for years. So it all fit in. Especially the vocals: that whining tone and the whoa oh ohs that Jen doesn't like.

Jacob Glover

Fun fact: Roger recorded the metal tapping guitar on Help save the Youth. Roger def has is style/tendencies for the bass lines. Vinnie, the OG drummer, was the main lyric writer for the band before he left in 2018/19. My fav LTJ albums are Borders and Boundaries, B is for B Sides, and GNVFLA.

Craigarius

Went to see the hello rockview tour in Montreal couple months ago ! They played the whole album ! My favorite less than jake album ! Was a sick show 🤟🏽

Matt Payne

Long-time drummer Vinnie (left the band a few years back) was the primary lyricist, so you can thank him for anything you connected with! And I can’t fault you for not being able to discern who’s singing at any given time—I can tell now, but it took a long time (and a lot of listens) to realize how much Chris and Roger switch back and forth on Losing Streak (and even more so on the earlier records).

Jacob Glover

In the day and age of singles(songs) being released, purpose made songs to be on the radio while the rest of the album is meh, why I love LTJ is they’re all front to back albums for me. Like if a song comes up on shuffle, I gotta pause, go to the album and start from the beginning. And that’s with a lot of other bands that I love too. They’re a book, movie, etc, where you can’t just jump in at the middle. Like everyone can crank out a good song, but can you give me a whole banger of an album.

Aaron M

I have confession. I am at best indifferent about key changes. I'm sure there's one someone that I'll actually, or one that I do but don't realize it. Maybe one day

Hans
>>176446309

He said he's listened to losing streak though, so it wouldnt be anything new to him.

Nina Daggett
>>176023283

I agree definitely go see them especially if you are seeing suicide machines and wishbone too! I don’t know if catbite or bite me Bambi are playing in Dallas but they are both great bands!

Nina Daggett

I love five state drive and I knew you would too so I was so happy at your reaction to that song!

Nina Daggett

Also I thought one of the tracks was titled Richard Allan George cheese. And since Dick is a nickname of Richard I always think of Dick Cheese haha

Agrapeana

Got tinnitus in the year of our lord 2023 and rolled my ankle dancing to GASS despite being in a happy and committed relationship at the 25 year tour for this, 10/10

ross franklin

This comment will probably get buried but l truly believe you will love The Skolars - 10 songs the band was also named Telegraph. The drummer is Derrick from suicide machines. The album is available on bandcamp under Telegraph - 10 Songs

Ricky Fowler

Excited to watch this! I always thought I'd sign up if you ever reviewed this album, one of my all time favourites ... and here we are 😀

Matt

Neat to see even if you didn't realise it, you appreciated karl alvarez from the beginning.

Matt

I love the guitar distortion tone one this album

Matt
>>176464716

Yea I think I mostly don't notice them. I'm not well versed in music theory outside of drumming which I don't ever have to think about silly things like key signatures. Sometimes they make a part hit really hard but I don't really care about them for their own sake

Kyle Anderson

This album was basically the soundtrack to my senior year of high school, it brings back so many memories even now *cough* 22 years later *cough*. I'm glad you enjoyed "Five State Drive" and "Scott Farcas" as much as I do, those are easily my two faves on the album. Great reminiscence and superb analysis. Cheers!