Inspector Owl Finally Swoops In With Their Debut LP

By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 5, 2012 7:20PM

Local indie sextet Inspector Owl are finally releasing their official debut full-length after a stream of EPs over the past decade. Stream the self-titled record, and watch a video from the group, who will be celebrating the vinyl release of Inspector Owl at Beat Kitchen Friday below.

After splintering off to form other groups like Chicagoist favorites Kid, You’ll Move Mountains, Inspector Owl hunkered down to record Owl in singer Corey Wills’s basement for sessions between January of 2009 and May of 2011. Though some of their vocal melodies feel formulaic, the sharp songwriting and strong sense of craft makes the wait worth it. Dual guitar harmonies with lush harmonies and electronic textures in waltz time makes the closing moments of album opener “Game Time” sound like a jam between Grandaddy and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Elsewhere, anthems “We Are An Ocean” and “Makeshift Spaceship” drift into generic college rock-isms during their verses, but fortunately are promptly snapped out of cliché through taut, rhythmic breakdowns and smartly crafted bridges. While it isn’t a masterpiece, Inspector Owl shows listeners that melodic, eclectically spirited indie-rock will never go out of style, and that listeners should never tire of it. (Provided it’s done like this). Watch the creepy, humorous video for record closer “Mousey” below, especially if you’re hungry-hungry for cleaver murders and Milton Bradley games.

And here's the album: