Lit - Lit (13 tracks) +Album Reviews

ONE OF THE MOST UNDER-RATED BANDS OF RECENT TIMES

C. Matteo | Hamden, Ct United States | 06/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As i've said in previous Lit cd reviews, "Lit is awesome!". They have continued to release high-quality, original music that is a joy to listen to from beginning to end. Each song has a unique quality and feel to it, and contains catchy guitar riffs, memorable vocals, and awesome guitar solos, which are short but VERY sweet. Lit doesn't mess around with unnecessary bells and whistles. They cut straight to the point, and get the job done in the most effective way. This cd is in league with their last two albums "A place in the sun", and "Atomic", both of which are unbelievably good (buy them now!). Lit is definitely one of the most under-rated bands of recent times, and deserve more credit and support than they get. If you already like Lit, you'll love this album, and if you haven't heard them before, you're still sure to enjoy it. People who are yet to experience the goodness of Lit, may want to start off with "A place in the sun" or "atomic", but any cd will show you what Lit has to offer. Buy it now!"

A perfect Lit

Andrew F. Miller | Cincinnati, OH United States | 09/24/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"No longer on a major label, Lit still offers similar work to their previous efforts except this time around their earnest dedication to their influences is more apparent. Dropping from RCA was the best thing Lit could have done for themselves and their fans. The limelight is gone, and the band hasn't changed much - proving their love for what they do. And this is what they have since left us with:

1. Too Fast For A U-Turn - An adequate delivery of Lit's expression of RCA's loss of grip. The song offers a vibe of 70's effects placed upon muted vocals and familiar guitar tone from Jeremy Popoff. The ever present "whooaohs" accompany AJ's vocals as they rip through a very evolved Lit peice. Not quite as catchy as, say, anything they've done - but this was a great selection for an opening track because it warns fans and listeners alike that the band has broadened their musical scope while maintaining the pop/rock fusion they have always held onto. ***

2. Looks Like They Were Right - If you have heard any song off of this album, this is the one you've heard. The opening riff has a vibe extremely similar to Queens of the Stone Age's "Know One Knows." Extremely catchy, yet still delivers a more raw sound as the rhythm bounces through distortion and mid-tempo breaks. I'm usually disappointed by singles, but the band went with a good one this time around. While it may be no "My Own Worst Enemy" to casual listeners, it adds a mainstream appeal to an otherwise fan-appreciated album. ****

3. Needle & Thread - An extremely Lit-esque song encorporates melodic guitar and vocals which break into a solo by The Matches' Jon Devoto. The chorus is nearly the most catchy offering on the entire album. This song does absolute justice to the Pop Rock genre. Needle & Thread is a perfect fusion of what Lit molds throughout an album's worth of material. ****1/2

4. Times Like This - A moody, yet infectious song. Strings accompany one of the best songs on this album. Not only is it one of the better songs on the album, but it successfully displays Lit's eclectic presentation of influence. You won't find anything like this on Lit's previous albums, and only Atomic comes closest. Dark, catchy, and entirely worthy of their greatest hits catalog. ****1/2

5. Throwaway - One of the fortunate aspects of Lit's work is Jeremy's ability to churn through riffs which dissapate any notion of album filler. Even if a song isn't well above par, the brothers Popoff have a strong talent in adding fills and hooks to implant into your mind. Throwaway is a great example of this. The song begins with power chords reminiscent of AC/DC's 'Back in Black.' Not to say that it's a clear ripoff - it's simply an effective presentation of yet another constant influence that Lit has kept close. Not quite as memorable as the album's previous tracks, but it still manages to find its place on the album collectively. ***

6. Forever Begins Right Now - A blatant Elvis Costello tribute. Hand claps make up the chorus' rhythm (think 'That Thing You Do' - if you saw that sub par peice of film). I mentioned "Needle & Thread" to be NEARLY the most catchy offering on the entire album. Well, this one takes the cake. Spin this one for your girlfriend if she refuses to go to a Lit concert with you. The song aims at catchy, yet somehow manages to steer clear of complete sap. Lit pulls off a song which will be stuck in your head for days, and you won't necessarily be pissed at them for it. ****

7. Moonshine - This song serves as an appropriate intermission for the album. Not their best, but certainly not their worst. Jeremy salvages a potential b-side with well delivered riffs and hooks. It blends in well with the album, but that could be its only flaw - it blends. It belongs, but hardly holds onto the edge of saturation within an otherwise strong offering. ***

8. Alright - Just when you think you might lose interest in 'Moonshine' Jeremy flanges his guitar into a very So-Cal punk progression. While the chorus is somewhat repetitive and predictable, the verses offer the punch of A Place In The Sun's "No Big Thing." Fortunately, the song doesn't stay beyond its welcome as it adds a pop punk flavor to a more alternative rock attempt of an album. ****

9. Lullaby - Intentionally sloppy piano work begins Lit's softest outing on their album. This acoustic song was apparently written by Jeremy for his son while he was away on tour. There are moments that make the song a little over the top on the cheese factor. The music box affect, the strings, the "la la la's" in the chorus, and the audio of Jeremy's son at the end can make make the song hard to stomach at times, but the song is called "Lullaby" for a reason. What else could someone else expect? It's a hell of a lot better than Creed's release of the same title. If you want to hear an even better acoustic track by Lit, go back to Atomic's "Happy in the Meantime." ***1/2

10. Hard to Find - "Moonshine's" more effective counterpart - "Hard to Find" is a much better song in terms of production and overall delivery. Great harmonies and churning guitar delivery redeems this song from even being at eye level with the filler category. It is an album song, however. It can't effectively stand on its own. The album contains the song, the song isn't off the album. ***1/2

11. All or Nothing - Lit's only power ballad on the album - it's a more raw version of "Slip" (off Atomic) in my opinion. "Moody" seems to be one of the better adjectives for this album, and All or Nothing is a great example of such. The chorus is catchy as hell, and make up for a teetering verse arrangement. "Completely Miserable" could fall in the same category, although the single had more memorable verses. It may sound like I'm split on my opinion on the song, but I believe it to remain one of the better songs on the album - I also should mention I'm a sucker for power ballads at times. ****

12. Pictures of You - Cure cover alert. Let's throw that out right away. The thing is, it's a very good Cure cover. I wasn't too excited about this song when I first saw the tracklist, but there was no way I could dismiss it when I heard it. A surprisingly solid effort picks up the latter portion of the album. AJ's vocals are tighter than ever as they soar, croon, and even scream at one point. This is definetely a very lavish and alluring effort which nearly - dare I say it? - outdoes the original. ****1/2

13. Bulletproof - A darker album is finally met with darker content. This song is about a friend's suicide, and its lyrics seem to blend perfectly with the album's closer. Chants of "We're all alright, We're all alright" finish up the song, and the album. And through hearing these chants as the music fades, Lit proves that their self-titled album is their best effort to date. ****"

Hats off to the Popoffs!

whitsbrain | Minneapolis, MN United States | 02/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Lit once again lights it up with another rollicking power pop success. This band just keeps delivering hook after hook saturated with guitar crunch and snarling vocals. This CD rocks hard and is their most consistently exciting release to date. This one is entirely self-produced and the mix is music to our ears. Hats off to the Popoffs!"

Lit: All Dressed Up With No Place To Go

CFal | Bellevue, WA United States | 07/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Quite possibly the most underrated band of their time, Lit has undergone several changes in the past three years since their sophomore album, "Atomic" was released. They were dropped by their label RCA, started their own record label Dirty Martini and had kids and got married. That supplies plenty of happiness and frustration for a hard-working band such as Lit. It also makes their unappreciated music sound even better.From the musical depths of Orange County, Lit's first album scored huge with college radio in 1997. Then, in 1999, their multi-platinum disc, "A Place In The Sun" put them in the forefront of rock mainstream. They had two monster hits with "My Own Worst Enemy" and "Miserable" (which had a memorable video featuring hottie Pamela Anderson). Things were going smoothly until the band released the little-known "Atomic," which hardly made a mark on the charts, mainly due to the lack of promotion from RCA. Lit parted ways with the label and began recording their fourth full-length, which has taken almost three years to arrive. It's the anxious moment Lit fans have been craving.That leaves a lot to be desired then. When bands take forever and a half to follow-up an album, most times it's disappointing. But, fortunately for Lit, that should pass them by.The album continues to stick by the sound Lit has cemented, and there's nothing extravagantly new here, but it displays a power Lit never has before. It sounds more heartfelt and edgier than "Atomic". It's almost like a greatest hits album, reaching into every album's track list and taking all the elements to combine them into one. "Too Fast For A U-Turn" is harder than most of their previous songs and "Forever Begins Right Now" is poppier than most. The latter sounds like a mix of rockabilly, new wave and Beach Boys pop harmonies all rolled into one.Ballads "Times Like This" and "Lullaby" give extra strength to the record, giving it passion and appeal for all rock music fans. Lit is easy on the sentiment and sap, but have just enough melody to be able to go crossover friendly. "Looks Like They Were Right" displays more of a ska-punk feel while "Bulletproof" (written about a friend's suicide) gives a summertime fist-pumping anthem to the fans. They even do a splendid job on covering The Cure's "Pictures of You," adding the right mix of ballad and hard rock to make it a comparable cover to the original, and still being able to call it their own. Other songs feel like speedy punk ("Alright") and punk/metal/new wave combos ("Moonshine"). Some borderline on pop territory ("Needle & Thread") and others sit right on the graceful line of trying-too-hard-or-not-enough ("All Or Nothing").Quite possibly their best disc yet, this could be (if proposed correctly) the album that sends Lit back into the spotlight they once basked in. It's a glorious record that is more complete, better sounding and overall, a great sense of accomplishment for a band who has worked so hard to get what they deserve."

Lit Returns With AMAZING Album (So Long RCA!)

Chad D. Comer | US of A | 07/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This eponymous set is Lit's fourth, and their most self-assured to date. After a three-year hiatus, during which they ended their relationship with RCA, the bandmembers are obviously raring to go; their self-confidence is evidenced by their decision to produce this album themselves, and they deftly emphasize their full-bodied styling while giving plenty of play to the strong melodies that set this set alight. They're even willing to hand over the crucial guitar solo on "Needle & Thread" to the Matches' Jon Devoto, who repays them with a searing performance. As listeners have come to expect of Lit, the album has a mighty sweep of mood and style, from the sweet acoustic jangle of "Lullaby," written by Jeremy Popoff for his son, to the storming '70s sound of "Too Fast for a U-Turn." The band continues to effortlessly meld together rock's many elements ? the speedy So-Cal punk heard on "Allright," the pop flavors of Elvis Costello (and by extension the Beatles) found in "Forever Begins Right Now," and the lush and lovely atmospheres of post-punk heroes the Cure via a cover of that band's "Pictures of You." Lit's continuing love affair with the sounds of the past make nonsense of the tag "modern rock," for it's their weaving together of a myriad of different yesterdays into a glorious sound for today that makes the band so special. This album does, however, feature some darker themes than previously heard, but even one of the blackest, "Bulletproof," written about a friend's suicide, shakes off the sorrow to end in an affirmation of life that simultaneously pays tribute to Cheap Trick. Back with a vengeance, this is Lit's best album to date.~Joanne Greene"

Search - Lit :: Lit

CD Details

Synopsis

Similarly Requested CDs

CD Reviews