The 88

MOST LIKELY TO BE ASKED TO THE PROM
Reinterpreting lush & lovely limey soundscapes with a modern twist, The 88’s debut, Kind of Light, was so blissfully catchy and nuanced, it even caught the attention of national press and TV (Jimmy Kimmel). Where to go from there? Well, two years later, their follow-up Over and Over offered more of what we’d come to expect from these suit-clad Valley boys: delightful choruses showcasing singer Keith Stettedahl’s crisp vox and Brandon Jay’s rhythmic riffs and production sense — a combo that recalls the Beatles and Kinks, but never outright copies them. Their creamy pop cool won ’em a coveted spot on MySpace.com’s music front page even before the sophomore’s disc’s release, and a featured song spot (the introspective “Hide Another Mistake”) on the season premiere of The O.C. And if you’re thinking, “what’s next — MTV?” you’re too late: “Mistake” was just heard on Laguna Beach. See them at the Troubadour, Fri., Dec. 2.