John Conley of HOLIDAY FLYER and Verna Brock of HOLIDAY FLYER, BEANPOLE, ROCKETSHIP team up with Ross Levine of THE TANK, SMARTBOMB CA. These Sacramento superstars have whipped up a citrusy 10 song, hook filled, power pop treat drawing from influences such as Buddy Holly, Joe Jackson, The Cars, Weezer, That Dog and The Smoking Popes. It’s a straight up classic power pop trio lp; guitar, bass & drums, with two singer/songwriters, John and Verna, showcasing their individual talents. The two sing both solo and so sweetly together in harmony. Ross plays drums like a pro, showing familiarity of and versatility between pop, rock and latin styles. Cover design by Mark Robinson, TeenBeat Graphica. John and Verna are very proud of this record calling it their best work. The trio is already working on the second California Oranges record.

When the California Oranges' self-titled debut opens, we find vocalist/guitarist John Conley at home by himself, lonely, seeking comfort with his "favorite crutch": the films of John Hughes. That might sound like the set-up for a pop song soaked in either cheese or irony, but it's neither. Conley sounds as sincerely melancholic and emotional here as he and vocalist/bassist Verna Brock sound on the rest of the album. The most significant part of the lyrics to "John Hughes" isn't Hughes himself, but the general feeling the vocalist gets across, the idea that movies are a surrogate friend when life's letting you down. And the most significant thing about the song is that it rocks like few pop songs you'll hear, and is as catchy as the catchiest rock song ever sung. California Oranges succeed with flying colors due to exactly those facts; they wed the deepest emotions with the most sugar-sweet pop melodies and upbeat, energetic rock. All in all, it's a perfect combination.

The two singing/songwriting members of California Oranges, Conley and Brock, were previously Holiday Flyer, a mellow pop outfit I always wanted to like but never managed to fall in love with. As California Oranges they've joined with drummer Ross Levine and pumped new life into their songs. The songs are short, snappy and 100% memorable. Throw in a healthy dose of heart and you've got the first classic summer album of 2001. - Dave Heaton, Pop Matters, January 2001.