Leaving Mojave 3 behind to record with some other friends isn't solely why Neil Halstead's debut album radiates more sunshine in the songs than his prior somber compositions. Halstead's friendship with Los Angeles band the Tyde may have rubbed off a bit, and his overall embracing of rootsy surf culture helps "Seasons" and "See You On Rooftops" mirror the meditative optimism of songs found on the soundtracks to underground surf films of yore like Morning Of the Earth. But fans of his beautifully moody musings need not worry as "Hi-Lo and Inbetween" somehow makes a topic as funny as the Darwin Awards nominee who tied weather balloons to his lawn chair come off like a rainy day Nick Drake ditty. "Two Stones In My Pocket" is a charming little song that seems tailor-made for those carefully packaged mixed CDs used to court new love interests. Delicately picked arpeggios on old acoustic guitars and tastefully layered horn arrangements help give Sleeping On Roads a lush and rounded sound.