This is kind of a surprise entry for a publication dedicated to modern rock and alternative music. Though the cover painting by hot California artist Doug TenNapel could pass as the sleeve for a German doom-core industrial act, Bloomshine, the debut cd by SoCal band Sunny Day Roses, with its catchy funk/blues rhythms crossed with edgy rock lead guitar, and spunky female pop vocals, is about as far from any variety of "punk" or "noise" or "british acid house techno" as you can get. But, for you underground purists out there recoiling in horror, SDR more than compensates in competent performances and solid songwriting for any perceived slight in alternative credibility.
Rest assured, Sunny Day Roses' mix'n'match influences are hardly Top 40. More like "modern contemporary" or "adult alternative" or whatever label marketers are slapping on intelligent pop music these days. From the rolling funk/pop of "Want" to the country/surf shuffle of the closing track "Pop!", and on all the nearly one dozen instrumental solos fitted between songs, SDR proves that not all popular music must pander to the lowest common denominator. Guitarist/producer/songwriter Jeff Elbel gets a couple of his friends to help out on the disc as well. Precious Death/Blackball vocalist Chris Scott provides great counterpoint to lead vocalist Suki on the acoustic blues stomp of "Dig." And the Aunt Betty's Andrew Carter lays down a couple of passionate guitar solos on "Cross" and "Call."
