The Californian (Polyvinyl)
by Tim Den
Making a break for pop territory like many of their (former) emo peers, Sunday’s Best reach their destination unlike the rest of the herd. Though opener “The Try” might fool you into thinking that The Californian‘s just yet another guitar rock album, the title track quickly shows the classic West Coast traits in these boys by spreading out a beautiful vocal melody over rolling rhythms. And as “If We Had it Made” floats into view, visions of sun-baked Orange County suburbs prove that there’s something to be said about the magical West Coast pop tradition. A maturation indeed, The Californian sees Sunday’s Best coming into their own.
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