When Adam Schlesinger passed away from COVID-19 complications in April 2020, most paid tribute to the hits: “Stacy’s Mom,” “Radiation Vibe,” “Red Dragon Tattoo,” “That Thing You Do!” Oso Oso mastermind Jade Lilitri loved those songs as well, but he found himself more inspired to create his “I Want An Alien For Christmas,” or “Peace And Love,” or “Planet Of Weed” — the “inessential” Fountains Of Wayne songs that are nonetheless essential to Schlesinger’s legend as a consummate power-pop pro. Lilitri had not yet begun working on the follow-up to 2019’s emo/indie crossover classic Basking In The Glow, which, like its equally magnificent predecessor The Yunahon Mixtape, resulted from a meticulous and isolating process of writing every single part himself. “I don’t know this for sure, but to write that many songs, [Adam] probably had to at some point do off-the-cuff type of stuff, just let it go and let the songs be written,” Lilitri speculates during our Zoom call.