Hello Rockview
Encyclopedia
Hello Rockview is the third major album written by ska punk
band Less Than Jake
. It was released on October 6, 1998, and is their second and final album on Capitol Records
. The album was recorded at Mirror Image Studios in Gainesville, Florida
, once again with producer Howard Benson. This is the first album to feature new trombonist Pete Anna, who joined the band during recording. The album is dedicated in memory of "Niki Wood". Hello Rockview was re-released with Losing Streak
as a double album in 2000. The lyrics of Hello Rockview follow four years of drummer and lyricist Vinnie Fiorello's life when arranged in a non-studio order and is named after one of Vinnie's oldest friends who was imprisoned at Rockview State Correctional Institution.
The album produced two singles "History of a Boring Town
"
and "All My Best Friends Are Metalheads
". Though never made into a music video, the album's song "History of a Boring Town" made its way to #39 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Chart.
The CD booklet had the unorthodox format of a comic book. It was illustrated by Steve Vance, who would later illustrate the song artwork for "The Ghosts of Me and You" on Anthem. Stylistically, it is similar to Dick Tracy
. Each page is a separate song, with all dialog, thoughts, and captions being the lyrics to each song. The lyrics themselves all appear in proper order, but the order of the individual songs is different from that of the track list.
The album reached #80 on the Billboard charts.
Additional
Ska punk
Ska punk is a fusion music genre that combines ska and punk rock. It achieved its highest level of commercial success in the United States in the late 1990s. Ska-core is a subgenre of ska punk, blending ska with hardcore punk.The characteristics of ska punk vary, due to the fusion of contrasting...
band Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida. Originally formed in 1992 as a power pop trio, the band evolved into a hybrid of ska punk. Less Than Jake have also been cited as showing influences from a wide variety of genres including post-grunge, heavy metal, alternative...
. It was released on October 6, 1998, and is their second and final album on Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. The album was recorded at Mirror Image Studios in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, once again with producer Howard Benson. This is the first album to feature new trombonist Pete Anna, who joined the band during recording. The album is dedicated in memory of "Niki Wood". Hello Rockview was re-released with Losing Streak
Losing Streak
Losing Streak is the third album by ska punk band Less Than Jake and the band's first album with Capitol Records. The album was recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida and Mirror Image Studios in Gainesville, Florida, both with producer Michael Rosen. Drums and bass were recorded at the...
as a double album in 2000. The lyrics of Hello Rockview follow four years of drummer and lyricist Vinnie Fiorello's life when arranged in a non-studio order and is named after one of Vinnie's oldest friends who was imprisoned at Rockview State Correctional Institution.
The album produced two singles "History of a Boring Town
History of a Boring Town
"History of a Boring Town" is a single by Less Than Jake. It is the seventh track on the band's third studio album Hello Rockview and was released as a single. The song reached number 39 on the Modern Rock Tracks....
"
and "All My Best Friends Are Metalheads
All My Best Friends Are Metalheads
"All My Best Friends Are Metalheads" is a single by Florida-based punk band Less Than Jake. The two live tracks on the single are taken from a 7" track that the band did in 2000....
". Though never made into a music video, the album's song "History of a Boring Town" made its way to #39 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Chart.
The CD booklet had the unorthodox format of a comic book. It was illustrated by Steve Vance, who would later illustrate the song artwork for "The Ghosts of Me and You" on Anthem. Stylistically, it is similar to Dick Tracy
Dick Tracy
Dick Tracy is a comic strip featuring Dick Tracy, a hard-hitting, fast-shooting and intelligent police detective. Created by Chester Gould, the strip made its debut on October 4, 1931, in the Detroit Mirror. It was distributed by the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate...
. Each page is a separate song, with all dialog, thoughts, and captions being the lyrics to each song. The lyrics themselves all appear in proper order, but the order of the individual songs is different from that of the track list.
The album reached #80 on the Billboard charts.
Track listing
- "Last One out of Liberty City" – 2:01
- "Help Save the Youth of America from Exploding" – 2:53
- "All My Best Friends Are MetalheadsAll My Best Friends Are Metalheads"All My Best Friends Are Metalheads" is a single by Florida-based punk band Less Than Jake. The two live tracks on the single are taken from a 7" track that the band did in 2000....
" – 3:31 - "Five State Drive" – 2:48
- "Nervous in the Alley" – 2:54
- "Motto" – 3:14
- "History of a Boring TownHistory of a Boring Town"History of a Boring Town" is a single by Less Than Jake. It is the seventh track on the band's third studio album Hello Rockview and was released as a single. The song reached number 39 on the Modern Rock Tracks....
" – 3:22 - "Great American Sharpshooter" – 1:28
- "Danny Says" – 2:51
- "Big Crash" – 2:43
- "Theme Song for H Street" – 2:43
- "Richard Allen George... No, It's Just Cheez" – 1:46
- "Scott Farcas Takes It on the Chin" – 2:34
- "Al's War" – 3:04
- "I Think I Love You" (Japan bonus track) - 2:05
Personnel
Band- Chris Demakes - guitar, vocals
- Roger ManganelliRoger ManganelliRoger Manganelli is the bassist and one of the two lead vocalists for ska-punk band Less Than Jake. He is also the lead vocalist and guitarist for Rehasher, and drummer for Greenhorn...
- bass guitar, vocals - Vinnie FiorelloVinnie FiorelloVinnie Fiorello is an American drummer, lyricist and founding member of the ska punk band Less Than Jake. As a child, Vinnie's family owned a dog named Jake who was "treated like a king" according to the band's website FAQ page. As a result, everything in the house became "Less Than Jake",...
- drums, lyrics - Buddy Schaub - trombone
- Pete Anna - trombone
- Derron Nuhfer - bari saxophone
Additional
- Howard Benson - additional keyboards