From the cutout bin - Less than Jake - Hello Rockview

Welcome to From the Cutout Bin, where we dig up old CDs that have been forgotten for whatever reason and can now be found in the dollar (or quarter) bin at your local used CD store (if your community still has a used CD store). This installment features Less than Jake's entrant in the great ska-punk explosion of 1998, Hello Rockview.

To be honest, I'm a little surprised this week's entrant was available for only $1 (a new, sealed copy at that, though the liner notes were missing due to some sort of manufacturer's defect). I've never been much of a fan of Less than Jake, but I'm aware of the band, occasionally see kids wearing their t-shirts, etc. They've had a lengthy career, encompassing stints on two different major labels, a music video starring the chick from Gilmore Girls, spots on various Tony Hawk game soundtracks, and a 2000 national tour opening up for Bon Jovi (?!? Is Richie Sambora a fan?). A couple of the guys in the band are owners of the Fueled by Ramen label, which has released Paramore's albums.

Pretty good: "All My Best Friends are Metalheads," "History of a Boring Town," and "Scott Farcas takes it on the Chin." Boring ska-punk without any hooks: everything else. This just wasn't my cup of tea, and I can only recommend it to people who have attended more than one Warped Tour (the majority of whom probably already own it).

Hello Rockview hit #80 on the charts, then quickly dropped off. The really notable thing historically about the album is that it marks producer Howard Benson's crossover into alt-rock At the time he did this album, he was known for production work on late-period hair metal bands, but following Hello Rockview he transitioned to producing POD, Crazytown, Hoobastank, My Chemical Romance, Daughtry, and the All-American Rejects.

The one hit off the album was "History of a Boring Town," which squeaked in at #39 in 1998:


Fun tidbit for the comment section: where would you rank Less than Jake in terms of the ska revival of '97-'98? I'd say behind No Doubt, Mighty Mighty Bosstones and probably Reel Big Fish, so fourth. Definitely ahead of Buck-o-Nine, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Aquabats, and Save Ferris. Actually, Reel Big Fish, Goldfinger, and Less than Jake are probably all in a solid second tier of ska-punk bands. Post your thoughts below.

Lots of '90s acts on tour this fall

I've been out of town, and my inbox has filled up with lots of tourdates. So here's a round-up:

* Alanis Morrisette (still not fat), September-November, US and Canada
* Less than Jake w/Rancid and Reel Big Fish, September, Pacific Northwest and Canada
* Nine Inch Nails, now through October, US and Mexico
* Cake, September and October, Canada and the Northeast
* Counting Crows, on tour through October with Maroon 5, US (plus Toronto)
* Jackopierce, September-November, US
* Beck, August 21-October 3, US
* Everlast, August 15 - October 29, US
* Juliana Hatfield, September, major US cities
* Smashing Pumpkins' "20th anniversary tour," August 8-20, Midwest and Southeast
* Liz Phair, performing Exile to Guyville in its entirety, August 27-29, Philadelphia, Washington, Boston
* Everclear, August and September, Midwest and Northeast