After leaving the comfy confines of major label-land and returning to the indie world, Less Than Jake have something to prove. Or at least they play like they do on the high-energy Borders & Boundaries, their seventh release. Turning down the frat-boy high jinks of their previous releases, the Gainesville, Fla., band takes a more focused approach on these 15 tracks, fastening ridiculously catchy hooks on to popcore and ska-punk numbers whose smart craftsmanship rejuvenates both those tired genres. At other times, especially on the confessional Last Hour of the Last Day of Work, the band comes within a hair of replicating the working-class post-grunge power and passion of Everclear. Plus you've just gotta love any group that can write a song called Hell Looks a Lot Like L.A. -- and still land the opening slot on the last Bon Jovi tour. Whatever Less Than Jake set out to prove, we think they've done it.

Track Listing 1.Magnetic North
  02.Kehoe
  03.Suburban Myth
  04.Look What Happened
  05.Hell Looks A Lot Like L.A.
  06.Mr. Chevy Celebrity
  07.Gainesville Rock City
  08.Malt Liquor Tastes Better When You've Got Problems
  09.Bad Scene And A Basement Show
  10.Is This Thing On?
  11.Pete Jackson Is Getting Married
  12.1989
  13.Last Hour Of The Last Day Of Work
  14.Bigger Picture
  15.Faction