After Less Than Jake left the majors and returned to its minor-label roots with Fat Wreck Chords, a funny thing happened. Rather than produce a more back-to-the-basics album, the veteran skasters did just the opposite. Borders and Boundaries borders on being overproduced, and the lyrics trend more toward the trite and trivial. It's the band's slickest, most polished effort yet, and offers more of the same party music. A slight change can be heard in the horns, which sound tighter. Fans won't be disappointed, but purists might -- its safe sound reeks of a major-label record incognito. ~ Ron DePasquale, All Music Guide
Well maybe the reviewer just didn't know but this album was recorded for and originally slated to be released on Capitol Records(thus the major label slickness). Less Than Jake fearing to have another album released on Capitol and not getting much support decided to buy out their own contract. They had already agreed to release a live album with Fat and in it place Borders and Boundries was issued.