Grade: B+ | DeKalb indie-dance troupe Inspector Owl has a way with songs that are at once new and exciting and comforting and familiar. Their latest offering, “Life Finds A Way,” is no exception, bursting with dancey rhythms, hooky keyboards and epic, soaring choruses.

Wearing their influences on their sleeve – Modest Mouse, Cursive, Oingo Boingo, et al – the band hammers through the five songs here, leaving listeners anxious for more.

Although an excellent disc, “Life Finds A Way” nevertheless leaves a bit to be desired. While the production is better than on past IO releases, at times the instruments seem more stacked on top of each other than integrated. And while “The Gentleman’s Duel” is a good song, it seems sorely out of place with the rest of the collection.

At this point, Inspector Owl seem poised on the brink of something huge. Any of these songs would fit in on the radio, the recently-expanded five-piece seems capable of filling even the largest of stages and at this point it should just be a matter of time until the band follows through on its potential.