Inkwell’s “These Stars Are Monsters” is most certainly original. From highly inventive song titles that are often irrelevant to the actual song and are almost childish to lyrics that are equally outrageous. Inkwell brings a creative new face to the Alt-Rock genre. For the most part, the album follows a typical pattern, with songs that make you want to dance first, followed by the slower ones you could fall asleep to. Even in that, there is some inconsistency, with the breakout periods in a few songs where it drastically changes tempo.
Though the actual music behind the song could easily fit into mainstream, they are unlike any other band in the genre. They have the same basic sound as many popular bands, but the vocals set them apart as something not heard on everyday radio. If they had to be placed in a group of bands with a similar sound, I
think that they would go well with Boys Like Girls. Dashboard Confessional, and Motion City Soundtrack.
My favorite songs off this album are The First Track, Just Take the Monkey and Leave, and The Tragedy of David Gribble. I like the first one simply because it has a great deal of energy and gets your attention. The Tragedy of David Gribble stands out because of it’s basic sound and story line. The song basically says the same thing as many of the other songs about get a ways with a love, but in an interesting manner. “You bring the cigarettes and I’ll bring the conversation…The leaves are turning a nicer shade as they hit the ground…We’re trying to understand what we love the most”. They focus on the odd things going on around them, and not so much them. It makes the song interesting and worth listening to.
This album definitely leaves the listener satisfied through their variety and word choice in their music. This band proves that throwing a keyboard into the mix creates a whole new sound that is completely desirable now a days. I would recommend this as another road trip CD, as it keeps your ears busy wondering what will come next.
Brianna Buchanan
