Joey Ryan and the Inks

Well, Here We Are Then

Record Review by Amber Henson

Crud. Summer’s over.  Or, well, sort of.  Living in Los Angeles, the land of perpetual sun and youth, means I can break out the BBQ at any given moment.  And thank goodness, because it seems Well, Here We Are Then is the perfect album for such an occasion.  The fun chords, upbeat melodies and sweet lyrics make for wonderful relaxing background music when just sitting around with your best friends. 

Joey Ryan and The Inks hail from the Twin Cities, a place I have a soft spot in my heart for because of [native son] Jeremy Messersmith. Ryan actually has some comparable vocal chords, especially on the second to last track, “By the Wayside,” where his voice is more spotlit than on other songs.  It’s soft, full of emotion, and when necessary, he can hit those high notes.

Here’s a question: What is it about the name Caroline that inspires so many songs? Well, Here We Are Then adds one more, called “Oh, Caroline,” to the long list that includes Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” and The Beach Boys’ “Caroline, No” (although the latter was actually penned as “Carol, I Know”).

And another thing we’re all going to have to face: the banjo is back.  I know it’s been making appearances for the better part of this decade, but I think this year shows that it’s reached popularity levels that rival the time it was partners with Steve Martin.  I’m not saying this is a bad thing, but we should all be prepared. 

The last track of the album clocks in at over six minutes long.  I’m not fond of super long songs, but I’ll allow it, because it not only contains beautiful musical interludes, but plucked strings, which are my kryptonite, even more than strong beats.  During this song, “The Part Taken,” I was finally able to figure out who this band reminded me of: The Thrills.  That beachy-Irish band is one of my favorites, and although they haven’t produced anything since 2007, it’s good to know that that sound is still around.

So even if you don’t live in a warm climate, go ahead and get yourself Well, Here We Are Then now.  That way you can know all the lyrics to the songs, and sing them softly to yourself while manning the grill on Memorial Day Weekend.