Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 07/13/2004
This summation of
Lit's tenure at
RCA completely ignores their first effort for the label, rightly preferring to hit the ground running with stuff from
Place in the Sun and
Atomic. Admit it -- this is what you always wanted, it's what you asked for. Go ahead, it's OK -- the hipsters aren't around. Released in early 1999,
"My Own Worst Enemy" was everyone's favorite
Sugar Ray antidote. It was as sunny California as
Mark McGrath and company, but informed with a pogoing, drunken swagger perfect for chest bumps and wet T-shirt contests.
Lit might even admit that their albums weren't necessarily solid -- it was the singles that mattered, and the Orange County residents delivered.
Platinum & Gold Collection's liners correctly point out mall
rock combo
Simple Plan's later co-opting of
"Addicted"'s cheeky lyrics, and
"Quicksand" is a valiant attempt at injecting
Elvis Costello into
pop-
punk. Though
"Miserable" was more memorable for the
Pam Anderson cameo in its video, it stood out from the late-'90s modern
rock blahs because
Lit was jocular where its competition was sweet. Some might recognize the acoustic
ballad "Happy in the Meantime" from halfhearted viewings of the
Adam Sandler vehicle
Mr. Deeds; it appears here in a not-that-different remix form.
"Over My Head" is taken from the
soundtrack to
Titan A.E., while longtime
Lit freaks will dig an acoustic version of
"Down" and the one new song, the decent
"Party's Over." The '90s are the new 2000s!
~Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
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