Beach Boy-like pop sunshine

While most of their peers have drenched themselves in neons and synths, Sherwood’s Southern California-Beach Boys-esque pop sheen has put them on a whole new level since 2005’s “Sing, But Keep Going.” And with their latest, “QU,” the band only improves that sound, resulting in one of 2009’s better pure pop releases.

The album’s highlight, “Ground Beneath My Feet,” opens with ridiculously infectious piano-twinkling before kicking into a high-energy explosion that dares you not to dance while vocalist Nate Henry croons deceptively poignant lyrics like “And I look around to see the ground beneath my feet / The final thrill, the quiet spill, the vile retreat / Do you see the waves running away from me?”

Other efforts like “Worn” and “No Better” see Sherwood take things in a more sincere, slightly darker direction, but the results are the same.

The former is a simple acoustic duet with guest Molly Johnson while the latter is a surprisingly deep look at divorce.

More mature and sophisticated than their still-solid previous albums, “QU” is a must-listen for anyone who loves sunshine-soaked pop.