Let me be the first to say that Lit is not that bad. They're a good punk-pop band, lacking the emotional pull of Weezer, but also lacking the frat-boy hijinks of Blink 182, so it all kind of balances out in the end. Like most punk-pop bands, they survive on a blend of energy, attitude, and craft, not innovation, which isn't a bad thing if all you're looking for is a good little rock & roll record, like their third album, Atomic. Yes, it's not as pure as a Weezer record (which seems to be the template for most of this album) nor is it as wildly imaginative as a Supergrass album or as solid as a Green Day platter, but the band rocks pretty hard throughout the album and they have pretty catchy hooks. It's not something that will convert doubters, even with lyrics as clever as "I'm so addicted to you/And you're such a dick to me" (Beavis and Butt-Head couldn't have topped that), but it's done well and performed with conviction. Essentially, Lit is a journeyman punk-pop band, lacking any real distinctions, but they do their job well, without much muss or fuss, and without innovating. That's not a problem, really, since if you want just a good, solid modern punk-pop platter, Atomic fits the bill.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo