Ears Wide Open: Sun Spin

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Sun Spin

Michael Rosenbaum is an actor (best known for playing Lex Luthor on “Smallville”), podcast host (“Inside of You”) and singer-songwriter. Rob Danson is a musician whose indie-rock band Death to Anders was a staple of the Silver Lake scene between 2006 and 2012 (or so).

The pair met at a Hollywood party called Sunset Sundays about a decade ago, with Danson eventually composing music for a couple of Rosenbaum’s short films and the duo then playing in the band Left on Laurel. After releasing an album in 2019, Rosenbaum and Danson started anew under the name Sun Spin.

Working in earnest as the pandemic set in, they wrote the songs on their album, “Best Days,” recording much if it during a quick couple of sessions last October at Capitol Records Studios. (Some parts, though, were done very DIY– Danson recorded Rosenbaum’s vocals in his bedroom closet, for instance.) The album — produced by Zackary Darling and so far, just released on Amazon and iTunes — mixes bright Americana with flannel-shirted ’70s AM radio rock. It’s notable for Rosenbaum’s evocative lyrics and its sublime harmonies, and in the latter department the duo got an assist. Elliott Yamin and Blake Lewis, each a veteran of “American Idol,” are among the harmonizers, and Nashville country singer Emma Fitzpatrick, who in addition duets with Rosenbaum on album closer, “The Letter.”

The harmonies, along with contributors such as Ty Bailie (Katy Perry’s keyboardist), trumpeter Dayna Richards and ubiquitous L.A. string player/arranger Kaitlin Wolfberg, give the songs on “Best Days” a full-band weight that amplifies whatever is on Rosenbaum’s mind.

“Summertime Neighbor” is simply a feel-gooder, exemplifying the vibe the duo has achieved on its series of StageIt shows during the lockdown. Roll the good times.

||| Watch: The video for “Summertime Neighbor”