I don't know, guys. On track number three, I think something burst in my head and forced my arm to spasm towards the eject button. I put it on my shelf for a while, and now it's been a few months, and I listened to it again. I still think it's their worst album yet. I don't hate them for wanting to change their sound, but they didn't have to go to this extreme. Read on, though, I promise to not totally snub the album. There are a few decent songs on here. I'm not giving up on them yet, but I am a little annoyed with LTJ right now.

See, I'm 23 years old (as of September 2006). Ever since it started being cool to be "punk" (a.k.a. what MTV and Hot Topic want kids to think punk is), and Good Charlotte came around, I just had to cringe at the merger of the pop and punk genres. It's closer than ever before now, and it's really pretty sickening to listen to it. Back when I started listening to ska and punk in 2000, when the whole ska/swing craze was starting to go away for the most part, the whole pop-punk and emo scene didn't seem quite as prevalent. But now it's just out of control when it starts to invade my favorite bands. I know that's a bit selfish to say, but it's just how I feel.

It seems Warner Brothers has its tentacles around their testicles, getting them to sing things like "na-na na-na, na-na na-na" over and over again. I know Less Than Jake didn't choose to do this to us consciously. Additionally, I respect their decision to go in a different direction musically, but, Less Than Jake, come on, guys... make sure to look around yourself before you go in the WRONG direction next time, okay? No more hanging out with Good Charlotte, Fall Out Boy, Augustana, Coheed, and all those other wussy bands, okay?? No more hanging "out with the pop crowd." Got it? Good. The tours you did with Dropkick Murphys, however, may help your sound. I hope their sound rubbed off on you for the next album. Then I'll throw a party. Try hanging out with the Casualties as well, and the Unseen. I think I'd like Less Than Jake as a ska/street punk band. That'd be really cool to see.

That being said, I'll review each track right now for you and give it my personal rating as I listen to the CD. Your mileage may vary.

Soundtrack of my Life - 5/10 - This is a decent opener, but the "woah-ohhhhhhhhhh" things are REALLY annoying. Insert just about anything else and this song gets a 6/10. I like it a little bit. Nothing like what I expected, though. I really didn't expect this level of bubblegum pop to find its way into the band.

A Still Life Franchise - 7/10 - This sounds like it really could have been on Anthem. I wouldn't have complained too much. It's a decent song, with ska guitar. Could use some more verses instead of the choruses in the lyrics (this nets at least a -2 from me, it's SO repetitive), but the "woah-ohs" don't sound as forced as on the first track; they sound good like the old ones.

Overrated - 1/10 - This automatically gets an automatic skip in my CD player. If you ever hear it, you'll know why. It sounds like some horrible Good Charlotte song or something you can find on MTV. It gets a 1 because it's not actual pop.. or is it? Damn, I can't tell now.

Fall Apart - 3/10 - This one isn't much better as an antidote to Overrated. I almost want to skip it. It kind of sounds like whiny emo music until the bridge to the chorus and the quasi-guitar-solo kinda thing. Sounds a bit too clunky and slow for my liking. I just don't like this kind of pop/indie/emo/rock/whatever vocals. I don't even know what that singing style is supposed to be called anymore, and I don't think this song will grow on me in the least.

In-Dependence Day - 5/10 - At least this one is pretty fast, but the lyrics are just too "la-la-la" for me. At this point in the album, I really start to get annoyed at the background vocals sounding so polished and childlike. I'd prefer no background vocals at all, and just horn lines written over them.

Don't Fall Asleep on the Subway - 5/10 - I really want to like this song, because at least it has horns in it, and a nice catchy guitar riff, save for the "Dun dun, da-dun, da dun dun, da-dun" over and over, a.k.a. the pop-punk band guitar riff in a lot of these songs. You know which one it is... The one that plays when the filtered background vocals are saying "Hey! Hey! Hey! (which sucks by the way, bad place for it.)" Anyway, that guitar riff needs to not be on the next album. At all. I've noticed it in three songs so far. At least. And I know Anthem never had it, because I would have been pissed off had it been there.

Landmines and Landslides - 5/10 - I gave this an extra point for being truthful. They're destined for disaster if they keep putting songs out like this, non-energetic tunes that use a whimpy "Woah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh" as a verse in between the last two choruses. Be ska/punk or be pop. Choose one or the other. A lot of the songs on this album so far have sounded like something 14-year-old kids would listen to. My brother said that the first time he heard this album after I bought it, and I really couldn't agree more.

Rest of My Life - 7/10 - I kind of like this track. I think if I had to listen to another pop-punk song in this song's place, I'd have thrown the CD out the window. In all seriousness, though, this is a nice-sounding song. The instrumentation is nice (is this the only acoustic LTJ song besides "The Brightest Bulb Has Burned Out", not counting the Screws Fall Out part?).

As for the lyrics, they seem to work here somehow. This song sounds like they're lamenting joining up with a major label and doing this to themselves and their fans. ("Doing this", meaning, slowing down their songs, turning them into polished MTV pop-punk, and therefore, by and large, alienating their 20+ age fans at the expense of gaining younger fans and getting their parents to buy lots of LTJ merchandise for them.) Seriously... this song may be in the place it's in on the CD kind of like how an "aside" works in a play. It's like LTJ is turning to us and saying "Oh my God, I'm sorry for doing this. Our record label is making us do this." Just as an apology to the older group of fans.

Mostly Memories - 5/10 - If they wrote a new chorus, I'd like this song. But the whimpy little kid sound isn't working. How many times do I have to say it? Where's the screaming and straining of voices I know and love? Not in this song. I love the horn lines in this song though, so it gets +2 just for that. Still horrible though. I can't, in good conscience, give it more than a 5. They should have deleted this song, Overrated, and Fall Apart, and put in the two songs from the "Absolutions for Idiots and Addicts" EP, and that rockin' bonus track that's floating around, the Trophy Boys and Girls song or whatever. Then I'd like this CD.

Let Her Go - 9/10 - This loses a point for the obligatory pop-punk "na-na na-na, na-na na-na". Other than that, perfect song. Fast, energetic, ska-punk. Maybe I've "overrated" this song, because it doesn't have too much in the way of verses either, but at least it has a great beat and it seems to fit in with the rest of their older songs.

Hopeless Case - 9/10 - This is probably one of my favorite "new LTJ" songs. It's not too bubblegum poppy; it's kind of like a mix of old and new. This is one of the only times Roger screams in the album. Still too slow for my liking, but I guess I'd better get used to it for the next album, if there is a next one.

P.S. Shock the World - 9.5/10 - I really like this song. Much use of the horns, which I favor greatly, and -- holy crap on a stick -- a TROMBONE SOLO! God knows we need more of those in music these days. It's like everyone used horns for a couple albums in the 90s and now no one wants to use them for some reason. They're awesome! Throw 'em in! :-D Also, this gives great insight to what the band might be feeling. The song has a nice feel to it, and it doesn't get annoyingly repetitive until the very end. I had to give this a 9.5 because it was better than anything else on this album. Just in comparison, though. A 9.5 here is about a 7 on Hello, Borders or even Anthem.

And that's it. I wrote this while I listened to the whole thing. Take it for what it's worth. Probably nothing, but maybe you'll share my views, who knows?

this album is terrible. theres only maybe one good song on the whole thing. its very disappointing because i have been a huge LTJ fan for a long long time (since "Losing Streak"), and i have recognized a steady decline in the quality of their music since they released "anthem" in 2003.

"In With The Out Crowd" is poppy neo-trash which will fit in well with New Found Glory and the new generation of Green Day fans.

"Borders and Boundaries" was the last GREAT Less Than Jake album. its sad.

I believe the thing that hurt this album from the start was the hype that surrounded it for the last year. As a Less Than Jake fan I witnessed the excitement and hopes of a "rebirth" of the old Less Than Jake. This was a false hope, and honetly a waste of time. You can't expect a band to keep releasing the same songs over and over. That would just be boring for us, and for them as well.

Now that the initial hype of over a new LTJ album is over, I feel that I can give it a fair review...so here it goes.

Soundtrack of My Life: 7/10

At first I did not like this song too much, to me it didn't have much to it. Now after a month of listening I find that this song has the meaningful lyrics on the entire album. As far as openers go this was a bad choice. I also like the Gainesville Rock City "Easter Egg" hidden in there.

A Still Life Franchise: 9/10

Probably the strongest song on the entire album. It has great lyrics, an awesome horn part, and it is just there musically. It is one of the best ska songs LTJ has written in a long time. There has been better ska from them, but this really is not bad at all, and a definite standout track.

Overrated: 7/10

This song, as many know, is the first single off IWTOC. It was obviously written to be a radio hit, and it does serve its purpose. The lyrics and the music is simplistic, even by LTJ standards. However, it is with great humility that I admit that I like this song. It is the perfect song to just throw on in the car and sing along to.

Fall Apart: 7/10

For some reason, this was one of my initial favorites. This song is total power pop-punk. It takes a somewhat depressing subject and presents it in a much more happy, sing-songy kind of way.

In-Dependence Day: 6/10

The lyrics aren't that bad and there is some energy, but it it really isn't a standout track for me. However, Roger's voice sounds really good on this track, expecially in their first lines of it.

Don't Fall Asleep on the Subway: 9/10

Lately this one has been getting a lot of play on my iPod. It has energy and a powerful horn part. This song are the best vocals we here from Chris on the entire album. This song became a graduation song for me, as I was one of those who felt lucky to be getting out of my school. This song is much like the material we heard on B is for B Sides.

Landmines and Landslides: 4/10

This is my least favorite song on the entire album. It seems to blend in with everything else and there isn't much to make it stand out. This song should have been replaced by either We, the Uninspired or Negative Sides of Optimistic Eyes from the Absolution for Idiots and Addicts EP.

Rest of My Life: 8/10

I was a huge Blink 182 fan and I like Mark Hoppus' work. While this is a great departure from the usual LTJ sound, I actually like it. I never thought that a LTJ would give me goosebumps, but this one did. Lyrically and musically it is much more mature. The organ in the background has a very haunting sound, as well as the sax.

Mostly Memories: 8/10

This song has a strong opener and I like the keyboard behind the horns...really different sounding. This is another song that is more in the direction of Anthem and B is for B Sides. This is one of the fastest songs on the album and a nice contrast with the slow, haunting, Rest of My Life.

Let Her Go: 8/10

All fans of the old LTJ love this song, as it is the closest thing to a song off Losing Streak that we have heard in a long time. Finally a fast, repetitive ska song from LTJ. This is the LTJ we're all used to. I like the lyrics and gang vocals in the background. This is another standout track. Let Her Go mixes the fast paced ska of old LTJ with their new pop/punk style.

Hopeless Case: 8/10

This song didn't really impress me at first, however it has begun to grow on me. The chorus is really mature sounding and really shows you where LTJ is at. In a way this song says to me musically, "you've heard what we can do before, but look at us now!" This song trully shows how musically talented LTJ is.

P.S. Shock the World: 10/10

This is my favorite song for this album. Roger's vocals are great, probably the best his voice has ever sounded. This song also has the strongest horns. This song is much like The Science of Selling Yourself Short, however I feel it is much better as it has more energy and a better horn part. For the first time in I don't know how long Buddy actually has a trombone solo. I have had the final horn part stuck in my head for the last month. This is a great finale for IWTOC.

The PROS of In With the Out Crowd:

-Some of the most mature lyrics that Vinnie has written to date.

-There is a better balance between the horns and the guitar. They were drowned out too much on Anthem.

-There are some real standout tracks on this album.

-It is a move in a new direction and it seems Less Than Jake is pulling it off.

-It mixes some of the sounds from older albums with much newer sounds.

CONS of the In With the Out Crowd:

-Some time sit seems this album is too short.

-This album had a lot of hype surrounding it, a lot of hype that it could never live up to.

-Less Than Jake rocked harder and louder on Anthem, this is much more mellow.

If you have yet to buy this CD I suggest you do. Also, buy it off iTunes as you get a bonus track, Even Trophy Boys and Girls Sing the Blues. This song is incredibly catchy and is the definition of pop/punk/ska.

Overall In With the Out Crowd isn't a disaster, as some would make it out to be. There is some really great stuff on this album. The big downside for me is that the album is so short.

I suggest you give this album a listen and form your own opinion. The days of Pezcore and Losing Streak are over. You can't keep living in the Less Than Jake Glory Days. There are many who have to come to grips with that they've grown up and they have changed their style a bit. Think back where you were 10 years ago, do you have the same mindset, the same interests, the same clothing style that you do now? Why do you think Less Than Jake is any different?

The only thing more tiring than seeing people get down on a band's new album for changing their sound, is when people defend a legitimately mediocre album by putting down such people. Just like it is not fair to say a band is no longer good for changing their sound, it is not fair to simply say that a change in a band's sound is a "maturing" of their sound. In With The Out Crowd sounds much different than anything LTJ has put out, unfortuantely, however, it is not the case that this new sound is a matured one.

I am one of those people who does not want every release a band puts out to sound exactly the same, and although sometimes it can be hard to get used to, I usually like when a band changes their sound, as long as they've matured that sound.

I've tried to give this album a bunch of chances to impress me, but a year and a half removed from its release it just doesn't. With the exception of a few tracks, there just doesn't seem to be anything special about this album. The songs come and go, leaving no lasting impression. Don't get me wrong, the abscence of horns on a lot of tracks is something I could definitely get past if there were other redeeming qualities present--however there aren't. I read an interview where Vinnie (the drummer, and main lyric writer for LTJ) stated that they would rather add really good horn parts to a few of their songs, as opposed to adding mediocre horn parts to all of their songs. This makes no sense to me--why can't all of their songs that have horns in them, regardless of the number of songs that may be, have really great horn parts? Not to mention, all the songs on IWTOC with horns do not necessarily have "great" horn parts.

I'm not asking for a bunch of sequels to Johnny Quest, but the majority of the songs on this album are just plain bland. Unlike many LTJ fans, I loved Anthem, which was a different sound than what we were used to in a LTJ album. Although that cd wasn't chock-full of ska numbers, it had a lot of energy and heart. IWTOC just falls flat in delivering that energy. That being said, the album isn't awful--it's just extremely mediocre, especially considering it's coming from LTJ.

The stand-out tracks on this album are A Still Life Franchise and P.S. Shock the World. Hopefully I'm not being too optimistic in thinking that LTJ will redeem themselves with future releases. They still rock a crazy live show that anyone would be lucky to see, and I don't think they've lost their edge, just stumbled a bit on this release. I definitely feel like this album falls short of any of their previous work--and I'm not just saying that because it doesn't have enough horn parts or because it sounds different.

(Note: If I could have given a 2 1/2 star rating, I would have.)

It may seem a little pricey at first for this special edition. But it comes in a special edition packaging and includes 3-Discs. The main album, a very insightful DVD on making the album and a data disc that has 75 mp3s of remix songs, live performances and screensavers and pictures. If you're a big enough fan I would suggest getting it. You'll feel pretty special.