Where catchy, melodic songs like "My Own Worst Enemy," "Ziplock," and "Lipstick & Bruises" carried a more party-boy approach (and if you could put Pamela Anderson in your video, you'd probably do it too), Lit [ tickets ]'s self-titled fourth release is a much darker affair.

And, in a real sense, the major-label party is over for Lit, or at least at something of a pause. Perhaps the band's split with RCA led to some soul-searching, but, whatever the reason, the music has sharper teeth this time around.

"Hard to Find" and the opener, "Too Fast For A U-Turn," are straight-ahead, mid-tempo rockers--the thick guitars and harmonies ready-made for MTV airplay--and the chunky chords of "Looks Like They Were Right" smack of Green Day's breakthrough hit, "Longview."

Self-production proved helpful with "Throwaway," which starts off with a very cool, vintage-sounding drumbeat, and the bouncy "Forever Begins Right Now" channels early Elvis Costello.

If you dismissed Lit as a pop-punk knockoff earlier, this will surprise you.