By Susan Park
There are a variety of scenes and emotions that can be conjured in 55 minutes listening to songs from Monster. Chris Gheran has a deep and husky voice which effectively conveys the contrast between strong and sweet aspects. The lyrics are slightly wordy in some songs, but overall are clear, down-to-earth and even inspiring. There are decent dynamics between Gheran and the rest of the band as their instruments create rustic and serene sounds as well as powerful and military-like tunes. But surprising elements like xylophone do not fit well with any of the songs, including some of the softer offerings.
Not only do the tracks call up the feeling of a busy, rustic ’70s bar, they almost echo the Beatles and other beloved pop bands of the past.