9:40a.m. 3rd July 2008

| By Mark Chapman

Album: GNV FLA

Artist: Less Than Jake

Release: Sleep it Off/Shock

Rating: 2.5/5

It takes guts to go out on your own, and Florida ska heroes Less Than Jake have taken that leap of faith by releasing their latest offering on their self-owned record label, Sleep It off.

GNV FLA is a collection of new tunes from the cheerful gents - cheerful sounding that is, while dealing with more serious social issues like single parenting, drugs and the like in their hometown of Gainesville.

If you're familiar with LTJ, you'll know what to expect - happy, energetic, singalong pop-punk with dollops of bouncy ska and yes, more horns than the front row at a Judas Priest concert.

It's upbeat, catchy and definitely lifts the mood, with tracks like Does Lion City Still Roar guaranteed to get you up and skanking about.

Too many albums to count later, LTJ is still doing what they do well and all in all, GNV FLA is a nice collection of positive ditties that you don't have to concentrate to hard on to enjoy.

Fans will love it, but with this brand of ska not being particularly being in vogue, I don't know how many new ones they'll win over right now.

> For a sample, check out www.lessthanjake.com