In 2000, a
Less Than Jake
press release proudly noted that the band had 76 releases to its credit; presumably that number was accurate, for even hardcore fans had trouble keeping track of all the band's music. From the get-go,
LTJ
had peppered the scene with releases, appearing on dozens of compilations and unleashing singles with abandon -- so many of both that their second full-length, 1996's
Losers, Kings, and Things We Don't Understand
, bundled 20 such offerings onto one CD. That same year,
signed to
Capitol Records
, but that didn't change their modus operandi, as they celebrated their good fortune by swiftly handing their next three singles to a trio of indie labels, while gleefully continuing to record a plethora of tracks for compilations. Which brings listeners to
Goodbye Blue & White
, an album originally released in 1999, and dedicated exclusively to the band's ever harder to locate vinyl excursions. It's a wild ride, one that cries out for annotation or at least release dates, but neither are provided, shoving younger fans straight onto the roller-coaster ride that careens wildly across the years. Are
getting tighter with time; is their sound subtly changing as the '90s progress; is their songwriting shifting? You won't answer any of those questions by listening to this set -- you'll be too busy just trying to keep up as
slam their way through original numbers and a slew of cover songs, the latter of which give some clue and a lot of red herrings to their own influences. As you'd expect, not everything within is of top quality, but there are good times galore regardless, and for fans a kaleidoscopic reminder of all that made the band so revered. Highlights include
"Losing Streak,"
"Yo-Yo Ninja Boy,"
"Son of Dick,"
and
"Descant,"
as well as a clutch of exuberant covers. ~ Jo-Ann Greene