On 18 February 2008 Amber Smith's Introspective was released by MP3 International Records in Lithuania. The album was recorded at Podium Studios in Budapest, Hungary in 2007 and it was mixed by Chris Brown at the Foon Mastering Studios in Belgium. The line-up included Imre Poniklo (vocals and guitars), Zoltán Kőváry (guitars), Oszkár Ács (bass), and Bence Bátor (drums).
The first track, the eponymous Introspective, is a nice start since it is a complex track which offers something new every time you listen to it. However, there is a nice chorus which helps to digest the complexity of Introspective. 1980, the second song, has a medium tempo and the lyrics are probably Imre Poniklo's retrospection. The third track, Coded, is a fast and melodic song which probably becomes the hit song. If you had thought that Coded was the best song from the album, you had probably mistaken. The fourth track, Select All, Delete All, has an even catchier chorus than Coded. However, there are several similarities with the previous song, Coded. The two hit songs are followed by Brazil, Hectic, and Treading Water which are less melodic therefore it takes more time to digest. The eighth track, Welcome to CIA, is written and sung by bass player, Oszkár Ács. Although the song reminds me of Interpol's, it is an enchanting moment on the entire album. The ninth track, Simon Says, is another complex song as far as the drums are concerned. The lyrics probably refer to Imre Poniklo's friend Tibor Simon who is credited as the cover artist for the band.The penultimate song, Father, is probably about Imre Poniklo's fatherhood. The final song, My Final Plea, is a nice closing for a precious album.
All in all, Introspective is an incredibly well-written composition. It shows Imre Poniklo's geniality and creativity. Introspective is both complex and melodic at the same time which is quite unique. Whether Amber Smith can break through with Introspective is a matter of question. However, Introspective is a remarkable continuation of the previous record, Reprint.
Tracks:
1. Introspective
2. 1980
3. Coded
4. Select All, Delete All
5. Brazil
6. Hectic
7. Trading Water
8. Welcome to CIA
9. Simon Says
10. Father
11. My Final Plea
Amber Smith:
Imre Piniklo - vocals and guitars
Zoltán Kőváry - guitars
Oszkár Ács - bass
Bence Bátor - drums
The Junkie Monkey score:
Composition: 5/5
Musicianship: 5/5
Originality: 4/5
Recording: 4/5
Overall: 4.5