Sonny and the Sunsets

With all the pies Sonny Smith has his fingers in ― his 100 Records project alone would overwhelm most songwriters ― it's a wonder the San Francisco, CA-based singer-songwriter had the time to make a follow-up to 2009's terrific Tomorrow is Alright with his band, the Sunsets. But anyone thinking Smith's creative lights might be dimming from overuse can rest easy. Hit After Hit matches its predecessor in quality while pushing the band's sound forward. That momentum can be attributed to the Sunsets, which include fellow '60s pop rock acolyte Kelley Stoltz. As a group, they sound more confident and willing to put their presence front and centre, no doubt the result of some serious touring over the last year. Their contributions shine through on the backing vocals and stop-start rhythms of "Girl Beware," while "The Bad Energy from L.A. is Killing Me" gives them a full-blown instrumental jam to showcase their skills. Of course, Smith's affinity for the sweet sounds of '60s rock and pop remains the focus. And as the album's title implies, the record is stacked with should-be-hits-in-a-past-decade aplenty.