Sunny Day Roses

bLOOMsHINe!

Marathon Records (Indy)

While [guitarist Jeff ] Elbel 's prog-rock influences are still evident, SDR has broken new ground for him. The female lead vocalist, Suki Chaney , brings an accessibility that often eludes art-rock bands. There's also a diverse songwriting base established throughout the disc's thirteen tunes, and there are no less than nine interludes.

The style here ranges from basic 80's-style pop to Latin instrumentals, fusion, and acoustic guitar folk rock. Although the range of styles may induce an audio version of vertigo in mod-rock fans, it will delight fans of such classic progressives as Genesis, Peter Gabriel, early Simple Minds, and Midnight Oil.

- John J. Thompson