Tripping the Light Fantastic (album)

Tripping the Light Fantastic is the debut studio album by the American rock band Lit. It was released on April 1, 1997, on Malicious Vinyl Records. The band eventually left the record label owning the rights to Tripping The Light Fantastic, and it was reissued on the band's own label, Dirty Martini, with distribution through their then label RCA Records.

Style
Tripping the Light Fantastic is a heavy and aggressive album that incorporates elements of heavy metal, punk rock, power pop, folk and grunge.

Critical reception
The Los Angeles Times called the album a "skillful but uninspired grunge rehash." The Grand Rapids Press noted that "the sublime melodies that permeate Tripping the Light Fantastic, along with the instrumental surprises that dot its sonic landscape, hint at the band's broader musical influences." The Encyclopedia of Popular Music wrote that it "dynamically fused alternative rock and power pop styles to great effect."

Personnel
Lit
 * A. Jay Popoff - lead vocals
 * Jeremy Popoff - guitar, backing vocals
 * Kevin Baldes - bass
 * Allen Shellenberger - drums

Additional musicians
 * Derek Dee – cello (6, 9)
 * Niels "Bye" Nielsen – orchestra (9)
 * Satnam Singh Ramgotra – tabla (5)
 * A.J. Martin – DJ (11)

Production

 * Produced by Lit and Matt Gruber
 * Recorded and mixed by Matt Gruber
 * Recorded in Los Angeles at Grand Master Hollywood Sound
 * Mixed at Scream and Hollywood Sound
 * 2nd engineers: Todd Burke, Bryan Davis, Josh Turner and Ralph Cacciutti
 * 2nd mix engineers: Ryan Boesch and Doug Trantow
 * Mastered by Eddy Schreyer at Oasis
 * Art design and layout: Ng Smimizu for Grip Grafix
 * Tray card collage: Priscila Bara
 * Photography: Jeff Bender
 * All concepts: Lit
 * A&R: Craig McDonald
 * Additional musicians: Satnam Singh Ramgotra (tabla on "Habib"), Derek Dee (cello on "Explode" and "Dozer"), Niels Bye Nielsen (orchestra on "Dozer"), A.J. Martin (D.J. on "Cadillac")