The band's name derives from a bird Vinnie had while growing up, which was treated better than the rest of the family. It's also a reference to the phrase "everything is jake," which is an old phrase meaning everything is cool.
Less Than Jake released their debut album, Pezcore, in 1995, following a series of independent seven-inch single releases. The band's subsequent two studio albums, Losing Streak (1996) and Hello Rockview (1998), were released on major label, Capitol Records, leading to increased exposure. The band's fifth studio album Anthem (2003) was their most commercially successful to date, featuring the singles, "She's Gonna Break Soon" and "The Science of Selling Yourself Short".
In 2008 the band founded its own label, Sleep It Off Records, and released its seventh full-length album, GNV FLA. The band has recently stated its preference for EP releases, and independently issued Greetings from Less Than Jake (2011) and its counterpart, Seasons Greetings from Less Than Jake (2012). In late 2012, the band combined the two to create the compilation album, Greetings and Salutations (2012) Their eighth studio album, See the Light, was released on November 12, 2013.
Miscellaneous Info:
Vinnie was previously the owner of the independent record label Fueled by Ramen, as well as a toy company called Wünderland War (formerly Monkey Vs. Robot). This label has signed bands such as Fall Out Boy, Punchline, The AKAs, Gym Class Heroes, Panic! At The Disco and Days Away. Roger, meanwhile, is in a second band, called Rehasher, for whom he composes lyrics and plays guitar. JR played sax on the last track of Off Key Melodies. JR works with a promoting company called the CT Mafia, as well as composing solo music. He contributed one track to the Drive-Thru compilation tribute to Bob Dylan, using the band name The Stay At Home Joneses (Roger sang backup for this track).
Roger and Vinnie have an unexplained fetish for Pez candy and they reportedly have sizeable dispenser collections. This love for Pez goes so far as to name one of their albums, Pezcore (parodying of the way in which many bands are described as [something]-core, starting with hardcore) and Pez dispenser motifs are a common feature of their merchandise.
Roger's employment history includes a smoke shop in the band's hometown Gainesville, Florida known as Knuckleheads which has since been transformed into a similar establishment named Smoke. Band member haunts have included Eddie C's, the Hardback (which was transformed into the Lyric), and Insomnia (which used to be the Covered Dish, and is now the new location of Common Grounds).
The members of Less Than Jake also served as backup musicians for Asian Man Records owner Mike Park in the B.Lee Band (once called "the Bruce Lee Band", changed for legal reasons).
The track "Look What Happened" appeared on two of their albums, "Borders & Boundaries" (2000) and "Anthem." (2003) The "Anthem" version is completely re-recorded, and has eschewed the brass at the beginning of the song that was featured in the previous recording. The re-recording features guest vocals from Teen Idols/Bullets To Broadway's Heather.
They have also re-recorded many other songs, including "Johnny Quest Thinks We're Sellouts," "Jen Doesn't Like Me Anymore" and "Shotgun".
They recorded the main theme song "We're all Dudes" for the 1997 film "Goodburger" based on the sketch from the Nikelodeon TV show "All That." The song features Kel Mitchell (main character, Ed, in the movie). The song is based off of the jingle "Ed" would always sing while waiting for the next situation to come up in the Goodburger sketches. At the end of the song Mitchell says "Ah, Ed and Less than Jake, oh, uh... no?"
In 2004, Less Than Jake appeared on the Projekt Revolution Tour, joining such artists as The Used, Snoop Dogg, Korn, and the headlining band: Linkin Park.
Lineups:
Chris DeMakes - vocals and guitar (1992–present)
Roger Lima - vocals and bass (1993–present)
Buddy ''Goldfinger'' Schaub - tenor trombone and backing vocals (1993–present)
Peter ''JR'' Wasilewski - tenor saxophone and backing vocals (2000–present)
Matt Yonker - Drums (2018–present)
Past members:
Jessica Mills - alto saxophone (1993–1998)
Derron Nuhfer - tenor and baritone saxophone (1995–2000)
Pete Anna - tenor and alto trombone (1998–2001)
Vinnie Fiorello - drums (1992–2018)
Website: http://www.lessthanjake.com/
Sleep It Off
Less Than Jake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wishful thinking's got my wires crossed woah oh oh
When I'm desperate and alone
I know I know I know how low I'd go
So I'll just drive and disappear
And maybe if I'm lucky then by this time next year
No one will know my name
I'll leave a note on my machine
Unplug the phone and finish packing all of my things
I found a photograph of me
It's been such a slow decay, day to day
I don't even recognize my own face
I had another breakdown
And I'm floating face down
I might as well just sleep it off
Wishful thinking's got my wires crossed woah oh oh
When I'm desperate and alone
I know I know I know how low I'd go
I had to sleep it off
The sinking feeling of always feeling lost
Has it been that long?
Six years' worth of always being wrong
I met an old friend out on the street
Traded stories and out of date memories
And she has a photograph of me
It has been such a slow decay, day to day
Did we seem much happier in those days?
It has been such a slow decay, day to day
I don't even recognize my face
I know, I know, I know how low I'd go
I know, I know, I know how low I'd go
I know, I know, I know how low I'd go
I know, I know, I know how low I'd go
The song "Sleep It Off" by Less Than Jake opens with the singer contemplating on his desires and feelings when he is at his lowest. He is going through an emotional turmoil which has kept his mind wired and his thoughts scattered, and he wishes to just sleep it off, hoping that things will get better with time. Despite his wishful thinking, he admits to the fact that he knows how low he would go when he is desperate and alone which implies his self-awareness of his mental state. He feels that he needs to make a change or else he would explode today. He decides to drive and disappear, hoping that by next year, no one would remember his name. He is willing to leave everything behind and start anew.
The song continues with the singer talking about his plans to leave everything behind. He would leave a note on his answering machine, unplug his phone and pack his bags. He finds a photograph of himself and realizes that he has decayed slowly over time, and he doesn't even recognize his own face anymore. He then reflects on his past and how he met an old friend on the street who traded stories and memories. She had a photograph of him, and he realizes that he and the people around him were much happier in those days. He acknowledges that he had to sleep it off, as the sinking feeling of always being lost had taken a toll on him.
Overall, "Sleep It Off" is a reflective song that dives into the depths of the singer's emotional turmoil and his inability to cope with it. He wishes to escape everything and start anew, hoping that things will get better with time but acknowledging the fact that it is easier said than done.
Line by Line Meaning
I might as well just sleep it off
I will attempt to ignore my problems and hope they go away.
Wishful thinking's got my wires crossed woah oh oh
My unrealistic expectations are clouding my judgement.
When I'm desperate and alone
In moments of weakness and isolation,
I know I know I know how low I'd go
I am aware of how far down I could spiral.
So I'll just drive and disappear
I will attempt to outrun my problems by leaving them behind.
And maybe if I'm lucky then by this time next year
It's possible that by a year from now,
No one will know my name
I could be forgotten and anonymous.
It's either change or go or I'll explode today
I must make changes or risk having a mental breakdown today.
I'll leave a note on my machine
I will communicate my plan through a message left on my answering machine.
Unplug the phone and finish packing all of my things
I will disconnect from the world and prepare to leave.
I found a photograph of me
I came across a picture of myself.
It's been such a slow decay, day to day
My decline has been gradual, happening day by day.
I don't even recognize my own face
I am so far removed from who I am that I don't recognize myself.
I had another breakdown
I experienced another mental breakdown.
And I'm floating face down
I am overwhelmed and helpless.
I had to sleep it off
I couldn't handle the emotions and had to shut them down.
The sinking feeling of always feeling lost
The constant sensation of being directionless and confused.
Has it been that long?
I am surprised by how much time has passed.
Six years' worth of always being wrong
Six years' worth of making mistakes and feeling inadequate.
I met an old friend out on the street
I ran into someone I used to know.
Traded stories and out of date memories
We reminisced about the past and shared outdated memories.
And she has a photograph of me
She possesses a picture of me.
Did we seem much happier in those days?
Were we more content and carefree back then?
I know, I know, I know how low I'd go
I am fully aware of the depths to which I could descend.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind