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The young Los Angeles band Rooney draws on some obvious influences--the Beach Boys, Weezer--to craft its own promising sound. This catchy debut makes a strong case for the group's smarts by updating its tales of teen life with knowing details (side-by-side references to cell phones and Shirley Temples, for instance, in "Sorry, Sorry"). "Daisy Duke" mirrors a night-before/morning-after scenario with its Rivers Cuomo-esque structure of vulnerable verse/mock-tough chorus, while "I’m Shakin'" almost matches the Dandy Warhols' obsession with the Cars as a next-big-source of retro sound. But singer-guitarist Robert Carmine protests readymade Britney and Justin types too much on the overdramatic change of pace "Popstars." After all, can there really "killers of rock & roll" as long as unassuming bands like Rooney are around? --Rickey Wright