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/
The Science Of Selling Yoursel
Less Than Jake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I've become senseless
I could give you lessons on how to ruin your friendships
Every last conviction, I smoked them all away
I drank my frustrations down the drain, out of the way
So I sit and wait and wonder
Does anyone else feel like me?
Someone so tired of their routines and disappearing self-esteems
I'll sing along
Yeah with every emergency
Just sing along
I'm the king of catastrophes
I'm so far gone
That deep down inside I think it's fine by me
I'm my own worst enemy
I could be an expert on co-dependency
I could write the best book on underage tragedy
I've been spending my time at the local liquor store
I've been sleeping nightly on my best friends kitchen floor
So I sit and wait and wonder
Does anyone else feel like me?
I'm so overdosed on apathy and put down on sympathy
I'll sing along
Yeah with every emergency
Just sing along
I'm the king of catastrophes
I'm so far gone
That deep down inside I think it's fine by me
I'm my own worst enemy
Let the meaning slip away
Lost my faith in another day
Self deprecation seems okay
I never thought I'd make it anyway
I'll sing along
Yeah with every emergency
Just sing along
I'm the king of catastrophes
I'm so far gone
That deep down inside I think it's fine by me
I'm my own worst enemy
That I'm my own worst enemy
I'm my own worst enemy
And I'm my own worst enemy
'Cause I'm my own worst enemy
And I'm my own worst enemy
The Science of Selling Yourself Short by Less Than Jake is a song about self-destruction and the feeling of being lost. The opening lines of the song suggest that the singer has come to their senses, realizing that they have become senseless. They acknowledge that they could give lessons on how to ruin friendships and have smoked all their convictions away. The sense of defeat is clear as they express how they sit and wait and wonder if anyone else feels like them. They are tired of their routines and their disappearing self-esteem.
In the chorus, they admit that they are their own worst enemy. They can be an expert on co-dependency and write the best book on underage tragedy. They spend their time at the liquor store and sleep on their friend's kitchen floor. They are so overdosed on apathy and put down on sympathy that they have lost faith in another day. They have accepted self-deprecation and never thought they'd make it anyway.
The song's message is that the person is aware of their destructive behaviors but has resigned themselves to that fate. They have given up on themselves and do not believe that they can turn their life around. The chorus shows how they sing along with every emergency because they are the king of catastrophes. The song ends by reiterating the message that they are their own worst enemy.
Line by Line Meaning
I've come to my senses
I've realized the error of my ways
That I've become senseless
I've lost myself in unhealthy behaviors
I could give you lessons on how to ruin your friendships
I have experience in damaging relationships
Every last conviction, I smoked them all away
I lost faith in all my beliefs and values
I drank my frustrations down the drain, out of the way
I drowned my problems with alcohol
So I sit and wait and wonder
I'm questioning my existence and seeking answers
Does anyone else feel like me?
Do others share my struggles?
Someone so tired of their routines and disappearing self-esteems
I'm exhausted from my monotonous life and dwindling confidence
I'll sing along
I'll cope by expressing myself through music
Yeah with every emergency
With each crisis and hardship
Just sing along
I'll keep going despite the struggles
I'm the king of catastrophes
I'm an expert in dealing with disasters
I'm so far gone
I'm deeply lost in my struggles
That deep down inside I think it's fine by me
I'm accepting of my issues on some level
I'm my own worst enemy
I'm the source of my problems
I could be an expert on co-dependency
I know a lot about relying too much on others
I could write the best book on underage tragedy
I've experienced a lot of hardship at a young age
I've been spending my time at the local liquor store
I've been heavily relying on alcohol to cope
I've been sleeping nightly on my best friends kitchen floor
I've hit rock bottom and don't have a stable home
So I sit and wait and wonder
I'm still searching for answers
I'm so overdosed on apathy and put down on sympathy
I'm numb to emotions and feel let down by others' attempts to help
Let the meaning slip away
I'm losing the purpose and significance of my life
Lost my faith in another day
I don't have hope for the future
Self deprecation seems okay
I'm okay with making fun of myself
I never thought I'd make it anyway
I don't see a positive outcome for myself
And I'm my own worst enemy
I'm fully responsible for my struggles
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER DEMAKES, LOUIS JAMES SCHAUB, PETER JOHN WASILEWSKI, ROGERIO LIMA MANGANELLI, VINCENT PHILLIP FIORELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ramirez Afonso
The Science Of Selling Yourself Short
I've come to my senses
That I've become senseless
I could give you lessons on how to ruin your friendships
Every last conviction, I smoked them all away
I drank my frustrations down the drain, out of the way
So I sit and wait and wonder
"Does anyone else feel like me?"
Someone so tired of their routines and disappearing self-esteems
I'll sing along
Yeah with every emergency
Just sing along
I'm the king of catastrophies
I'm so far gone
That deep down inside I think it's fine by me
I'm my own worst enemy
I could be an expert on co-dependency
I could write the best book on underage tragedy
I've been spending my time at the local liquor store
I've been sleeping nightly on my best friends kitchen floor
So I sit and wait and wonder
"Does anyone else feel like me?"
I'm so overdosed on apathy and put down on sympathy
I'll sing along
Yeah with every emergency
Just sing along
I'm the king of catastrophies
I'm so far gone
That deep down inside I think it's fine by me
I'm my own worst enemy
Let the meaning slip away
Lost my faith in another day
Self deprication seems okay
I never thought I'd make it anyway
I'll sing along
Yeah with every emergency
Just sing along
I'm the king of catastrophies
I'm so far gone
That deep down inside I think it's fine by me
I'm my own worst enemy
I'm my own worst enemy
I'm my own worst enemy
I'm my own worst enemy
I'm my own worst enemy
fallenhero0067
it's impossible to count the times these guys have pulled me from the edge. every new album they release seems to be exactly where i am in my life, so thank you less than jake. I owe you guys my life
That one dude
A band that evolves with its listeners is the best kind of band
onequestiononly
Couldn't say it better myself. Every time I needed something relatable in all the chaos, they released something bang on time. "Look What Happened".... holy sh*t, that should be a national anthem
Cat Astrophe
AGREED! So many of "my theme songs" are Less than Jake, and theyre never not applicable.
Chappers
This song is a perfect example of ska. Catchy, upbeat rhythm, downbeat lyrics! Fantastic!
Mitchell Otero
Hit the nail on the head
Ryan Pearson
Often find it hard to describe ska punk. From now on, it'll be easy
Matthew Paz
@Ian Higgins ok
Brandon
@Ian Higgins um how...
Mason Graye
in the early 2000s, cartoon network commissioned a bunch of songs and music videos for new and old cartoons.
one of them was for Jabberjaw, an old Scooby-Doo clone about a shark in a band in an underwater city.
it’s one of my favorite ska songs, despite the band who made it (Pain) insisting they hate ska.
some combination of “cartoon groovies” “jabberjaw” and “running underwater” should bring up the video