Like a warm blanket, Sol Y Sombra is comforting and Rose City Band are always welcome with open arms whenever you're in need of their music.
Helmed by Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo's Ripley Johnson, California's Rose City Band are one of the most consistent groups when it comes to psychedelic country rock and Americana in recent years. Their sound is blissful, containing sunny rays of guitar, pedal steel, keys, grooves and a carefree, laidback sounding lead vocals from Johnson. Back in 2023 they released Garden Party, which illuminates in the vibes that a fun, Spring/Summer sunburnt lawn party would have. Their sound hasn't exactly morphed into anything insanely different over time but rather continue as a strong force of folk, rock, Americana and psych country.
They're now back with a new album, titled Sol Y Sombra. Translating from Spanish meaning "sun and shade," Sol Y Sombra is exactly that: an album that seamlessly includes peppy rockers to warm you up while offering chilled out ones to cool you down. Picture yourself driving through the desert on a long distance road trip. That's the vibe you're getting here. If you've heard any of Rose City Band's material before, you shouldn't exactly be surprised with this new collection of tracks. At ten songs, forty-two minutes, and full of pure jams, it's for sure going to be a joy when listening with further repeated listens no matter where you are or what time it is. Opener "Lights on the Way," is one of their best songs yet. It took me a bit of listens to fully experience its excellence, but once the twangy guitars and grooves begin to wash over you like a warm current of ocean water, it hits hard. "Open Roads" has the similar twang and peaceful pacing to that of Garden Party opener "Chasing Rainbows". "Rolling Gold" is sleepy with its relaxed Johnson on vocals and its trippy guitars scream Grateful Dead (I mean... everything the band does basically evokes Grateful Dead as a massive influence but I digress). "Evergreen" pushes the sleepy territory even further into a lullaby like delivery and shows that the band are just as good at making slow jams as they are faster ones. It also has the best harmonies on the record, hands down.
"Radio Song" does its job at successfully being a sunny, golden tune perfect for old 60's/70's FM radio on the California coast. It could also easily fit onto Real Estate's latest record. "Sunlit Daze" is another stunner with some of the better psych guitars that drip out of your headphones like morning dew. "Seeds of Light" is a brighter, lighter and more acoustic tune that would be the perfect soundtrack to a sunrise on your early drive. "La Mesa" is an unexpected yet fantastic detour into more deep grooves, elevated percussion with bongos, synths, and even more psychedelic guitars. My only complaint is that I wish it was longer, since two minutes doesn't do it enough justice. "Wheels" has one of the better guitar solos on the record, while closer "The Walls" satisfyingly ends with a sleep slumber into bright, blissful dreams.
The release date for Sol Y Sombra is a bit perplexing at first. Why would this summery, warm, sunshiny type of music be released in the cold, dark brink of Winter? But Rose City Band's music is pretty darn timeless with its soundscapes that they consistently create. Like a warm blanket, Sol Y Sombra is comforting and Rose City Band are always welcome with open arms whenever you're in need of their music. In a time of despair, darkness, danger, isolation, and horror, I think we need this type of positive, bright, and fun music now more than ever. There's a lot of uncertainty and terror right now which each passing day in the year 2025 (I don't think you need me to remind you this) but there's much hope, bliss, and optimism to be found on Sol Y Sombra and Rose City Band themselves. Maybe this type of music isn't for you, maybe it's too blindly sunny, or maybe Johnson's vocals are a bit too nondescript or sleepy, or you may just not like pretty stuff (your words, not mine!) but you should at least give this a visit and escape to a pretty rad place for forty or so minutes, right?
My Rating: 7 / 10
Favorite Songs: "Lights on the Way", "Sunlit Daze", "La Mesa", "Evergreen", "Seeds of Light"
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