Page 8
April 28,1999
LTT
£ l,e
Focus
finally found the people who believed
“What brought the four of us to­ Worst Enemy,” chronicles a tale about
in our music the way we do.” ”o fast,
gether in the first plate was our love of waking up one morning and realizing in fact, that Lit found themselves in
how much you screwed up the night
music,” recalls Kevin Baldes, hit’s bass­
before; “Down” explores the special re­ the studio even before the deal was
ist. “We were friends even before we
signed. The band co-produced A
lationship between a man and his
started playing together ” In addition
Cadillac (both of the Popoff brother own Place in the Sun” with Don Gilmore
to Baldes, the band features singer
restored 1960’s Cadillacs); and “Happy,” (Eve 6, Pearl Jam , The Verve Pipe),
A.Jay Popoff, his brother Jeremy Popoff
and the album was mixed by Brian
which finds the band working with a full
on guitars and d ru m m er Allen
horn
section.
“We
wanted
to
use
homs
Shellenberger. The group’s lineup has
on ‘Happy,’ but in more of a 1970’s Chi­
remained unchanged since its inception
nine years ago. Lit is a venue that has cago kind of way than the 90’s ska ap­
proach," Jeremy explained. And while
hosted innumerable shows by luminar­
Lit’s sound is grounded in a heavy vein,
ies such as No Doubt and Korn. And
their love of pop is revealed on tracks
while all four members of Lit grew up
in Orange County, they can’t be catego­ like “Quicksand” and “Four.”
The group’s debut album, “Tripping
rized with any of the area's many musi­
the
Light Fantastic,” was released in
cal movements. “We’re not really a part
April 1997 on an independent label. The
of any scene. We just play music that
album netted Lit enthusiastic reviews
we’re into, instead of worrying about
and strong college airplay #1 most add
what other bands are doing,” Allen
admitted. Added Jeremy. "We have our CMJ, #2 most added Gavin) across
America “Tripping the Light Fantastic
own warehouse in Anaheim where we
practice and write songs. We just focus will be re-released on the band’s own
label. Dirty Martini, and will contain an
on Lit.” Lit’s influences run the gamut
from Iron Maiden to Elvis Costello, enhanced portion with a full length
video and a previously unavailable track.
from 1960’s Las Vegas to 1980’s MTV.
Although it is the winning hybrid of “The first album was a lot heavier and
angrier,” Jeremy admitted “but we left
styles that marks the band’s musical
a lot of doors open. On this record,
turf, there are the incredible live per­
nobody’s gonna think we did a 180.
formances, vintage Cadillacs, late night
Lit signed with RCA in October
poker games and frequent excursions
1998.
“We didn’t want to be a buzz
to Las Vegas that combined complete
band.
We didn’t want 10 labels to like
“A Place in the Sun,” Lit’s first release
us; we just wanted one to love us,”
on RCA Records.
“A Place in the Sun” features a col­ A.Jay said. Added Jeremy: “When we
met the folks at RCA we knew we had
lection of memorable tracks: “My Own
Malouf (Everclear, The Verve Pipe).
Although Lit was happy to have the
time and resources to make an album
that represents their musical vision,
they are anxious to get back out on
the road. “Being on the road is what
this band is all about," said Kevin. Lit
sets out to make clubgoers feel like
UMieerver
they are at an arena rock concert.
“There is more to Lit than the music
alone,” said Jeremy, noting the band
has an attitude in sync with the 1960’s
Las Vegas era as personified by the Rat
Pack. “O ur sound is today, but our vibe
is a long time ago ” A .Jay adds: We
want to bring showbiz back into rock.
C H A N T A Y
T here’s something very special
about RCA recording star Chantay
Savage. Yes, she’s a pretty, sexy, intel­
ligent, extremely gifted vocalist, com­
poser, producer, musician; but there’s
more. She’s also a charismatic, tell it
like it is sister who takes her music
sible when I’m writing a song,” she reflects Chantay’s ability to boldly
seriously. Want proof? Well, Ms. Sav­ CD ’s many highlights also include:
notes. “My lyrics are rooted in reality, bridge the gap between old and new
school R&B , with jazz-inspired flavor.
age is back to turn the world on with “For Your Love,” another extremely
heartfelt ballad, wherein producer so people can identify with what I m
“I gTew up on the music of legends like
her distinctive style and dynam ic
singing about, I mean, what’s the point
voice, the mesmerizing centerpiece of Daniel Weatherspoon paints colorful
of doing what 1 do if I can t directly Sarah Vaughn, C haka K han, Patti
musical strokes, as Chantay lights up
LaBelle, M arvin Gaye and A nita
her new album THIS 1 IME.
its solid soul canvas; “Funny Ways,” a connect with my audience?”
Baker,” says Chantay, the daughter of
THIS TIME is an attractive pack
Well w orth w aiting for, T H IS
age that capitalizes on C h a n ta y ’s jazzy R&B jam, on which Chantay s TIME wastes no time getting to the a jazz musician. “My appreciation of
multi-faceted Mary J-ish lows take charge; “If You
heart of soul, opening with the K. Fin­ quality music started early in my life,
artistic skills, Like,” a beautiful love song, produced
gers produced “My Oh My,” a funky, thanks to my mother and father, she
w hich in ­ by Marc Kinchen and sung to perfec­
praised. “Everything I write, sing or
fine-tuned track, over which her pow
cludes play­ tion by Chantay; and “Pillow 1 alk, a
erful, passionate voice soars. The song play is influenced by may upbringing.”
torrid taste of romance, taken to
in g p ian o
titillating limit.
an d drum s.
Featuring the lead single
In addition
to the explo­ “Come Around," Chantay once
again rises to the true R&B oc­
sive
lead
casion, elevating its musical
s in g le
standards and creative scope.
“ C o m e
A r o u n d , ” “I’m proud of this album; it’s the
When you first heard you got it,
w hich was best one I’ve ever recorded, and
it scared you.
I
Say
that
with
humble
gratitude
produced by
You thought you would never be able todrivi
aqain And even it you could, how would you
Keith Sweat to God and everyone involved
be able to afford it? Think again Get back or
with
the
project,”
she
acknowl­
an d
on
the road to recovery with the help from your
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does back ­ says Savage, who, except for
g ro u n d vo­ “Come Around,” wrote all of her
cals, the di- album’s lyrics. “I try to be vivid,
honest, but also tasteful as pos­
v e rs ifie d
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