Andrej Cuturic used to be a member of the Revelers. I've never had the pleasure of hearing their work, but according to this press release sitting in front of me, they were on SpinArt Records. I urge you to shuffle through your mind and envision the artists of that particular label: The Apples In Stereo, Echo and the Bunnymen, Elf Power, the Lilys, Jason Falkner... each of them influenced by a brand of sunny-yet-cerebral pop with lovely melodies and touchable hearts. This should give you a good idea of what to expect from Cuturic, now rechristened on his own as Sleepykid; the enchantment of it makes me want to dig backwards through his catalog.

Monday Morning Smile is just as it sounds - a warm and shining greeting on a day when you really need it. It is a lush, poppy record with a healthy appreciation for all things Beatlesque. As such, it comes off as truly inspired.

The album has a nicely grounded feel, even in the face of thickly poured harmonic layering and brief twinges of psychedelica. It doesn't steer clear of modern pop revision, as heard in "Ashes," nor does it keep a grin perma-glued to its face, as we find on the darkly tinged Neil Young-styled title track. However, it knows the importance of brevity, simplicity and wide-eyed enthusiasm. The album remains open, even childlike, in its wonder and innocence. Many moments of Monday Morning Smile feel like a grateful pop awakening, yet are always comfortable settling into their respective, humbled places. Sleepykid isn't ready to outshine the masters, nor does he want to - he's just happy to be next to them in someone's collection. With his eye on beauty and his feet firmly planted in rich ground, we can be grateful too.