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Lit
Lit
(DRT)
So you would think that when a band ends their relationship
with their major label, starts over musically with a clean slate
that the listener would finally get the true vision and essence
of said band. Well, for the California boys of Lit and their
new album, it seems that they have lost their identity and spend
all thirteen songs aimlessly looking for it.
Gone are the days of the hit radio singles and videos featuring
silicone queen Pamela Anderson eating people. They may have
not been anything unique, but in the past they were enjoyable
for what they were. They played a little harder and a little
quicker and they fell into perfect timing. Lit were different
in the best way possible during that point in time. They were
a change of pace and definitely knew how to have fun and most
people embraced that.
On their self-titled fourth album, Lit have apparently lost
sight. This album has no clear objective and a limited sense
of direction while the songs seem to venture into everywhere
but quality terrain. Lit opens the album with a song full of
cheap metal hooks that leaves you wondering if this is the real
face of the band that has been hiding for years. The rest of
the album goes back and forth trying to figure out if they are
a pop rock band, a metal band, an alternative band, or a band
that should have ended their success a few years ago.
What the heck did the band do with their lead singer? His vocals
sound completely unlike their previous material and this is
not for the better. I honestly have never heard a vocalist sound
this unusual from one album to the next. You have to wonder
now how much did the major label’s studio team enhance
his vocals on their previous albums.
I also think they owe Robert Smith and The Cure a titanic apology
for their blasphemous cover of “Pictures of You.”
I don’t think anyone could have butchered this song anymore
than Lit managed to.
I am left to wonder if the band actually listened to this album
after they finished recording it. Maybe it would have helped
to have a major label representative tell them this album was
crap. The band explains that they wanted this album to represent
their live show, but I pity those who hear this stuff live.
One can ask whether their previous success was the work of the
label or the band themselves. With Lit flying solo on their
latest release and churning out a recipe for disaster, it leaves
one to debate that maybe they were just like every alternative,
record label built machine- because when they try to stand on
their own, they fall flat on their faces.
Reviewed by
David Walter
June 28th, 2004 |
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