From 7ball Magazine On-Line

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, is about as far from any variety of "punk" or "noise" or "british acid house techno" as you can get.

With its catchy funk/blues rhythms crossed with edgy rock lead guitar, and spunky female pop vocals, this is closer to FM rock radio than most 7ball subjects. But, for you underground purists out there recoiling in horror, SDR more than compensates in competent performances and solid songwriting. Any perceived slight in alternative credibility is easily forgivable.

Rest assured, Sunny Day Rose's 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 of 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 Chaney on the acoustic blues stomp of "Dig." And the Aunt Bettys' guitarist Andrew Carter lays down a couple of passionate solos on "Cross" and "Call."

- Brad Caviness