Octopus (The Bees album)

Last updated

Octopus
The Bees - Octopus.jpg
Studio album by
The Bees
Released26 March 2007
Recorded2005–2006
Genre Indie rock, ska, neo-psychedelia
Length36:24
Label Virgin Records [1]
Astralwerks
Producer Paul Butler
The Bees chronology
Free The Bees
(2004)		Octopus
(2007)		 Every Step's A Yes
(2010)
Singles from Octopus
  1. "Left Foot Stepdown"
    Released: November 2006 (download-only release)
  2. "Who Cares What The Question Is?"
    Released: March 2007
  3. "Listening Man"
    Released: June 2007
  4. "(This Is For The) Better Days (Ashley Beedle Remix)"
    Released: 2008 (available as download through 'www.thebees.info')
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Drowned in Sound 8/10 [3]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Pitchfork Media 7.9 [5]

Octopus is the third album by the British band The Bees, released in 2007. [6] Octopus was self-produced in the band's own basement studio, The Steam Rooms, on the Isle of Wight. [7]

Contents

A high-rip version of Octopus was leaked in its entirety in December 2006, three months before its scheduled release. The leak also led to the album's initial release date of 19 March being moved to a week later.

The CD version of Octopus is also an enhanced disc, which enables owners of the album to join The Bees' mailing list and have access to exclusive free content, including a downloadable version of the "Who Cares What The Question Is?" music video.

Critical reception

NME wrote: "On Octopus The Bees find their groove and sound blissfully unaware whether anyone else is listening. You should, they’ve made their best album yet." [6] Clash wrote that "as multi-instrumentalists, The Bees create a magnificent, almost Spector-ish palette." [8]

Track listing

All songs written and performed by The Bees.

  1. "Who Cares What the Question Is?" – 3:35
  2. "Love in the Harbour" – 4:02
  3. "Left Foot Stepdown" – 4:05
  4. "Got to Let Go" – 5:23
  5. "Listening Man" – 4:47
  6. "Stand" – 4:13
  7. "(This Is for The) Better Days" – 4:37
  8. "The Ocularist" – 3:56
  9. "Hot One!" – 2:45
  10. "End of the Street" – 1:55

Musicians

Related Research Articles

<i>The Beach Boys</i> (album) 1985 studio album by the Beach Boys

The Beach Boys is the 25th studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys, released on June 10, 1985. Produced by Steve Levine, the album is the band's first after the drowning of founding member Dennis Wilson. It was also the band's first album to be recorded digitally and the last released by James William Guercio's Caribou Records. The record sold poorly, charting at number 52 in the U.S. and number 60 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bees (English band)</span> English band

The Bees are an English band from Ventnor on the Isle of Wight. Although their sound is generally classified as indie rock or psychedelic rock, the band have a colourful range of styles and influences, such as 1960s garage rock, country, reggae and jazz.

<i>In a Glass House</i> 1973 studio album by Gentle Giant

In a Glass House is the fifth studio album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant, released on 21 September 1973. The album is a loosely-realized concept project based on the aphorism "Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". The record begins and ends with the sound of breaking glass. It is the first album released by the band following the departure of Phil Shulman.

<i>Playing the Fool</i> 1977 live album by Gentle Giant

Playing the Fool - The Official Live is a live album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant which was released in 1977. The album contains versions of songs from all of the band's studio albums to that point except for Acquiring the Taste. The original UK LP came with a 12-page booklet that has not been reproduced in any of the CD editions.

<i>Welcome</i> (Santana album) 1973 studio album by Santana

Welcome is the fifth studio album by Santana, released in 1973. It followed the jazz-fusion formula that the preceding Caravanserai had inaugurated, but with an expanded and different lineup this time. Gregg Rolie had left the band along with Neal Schon to form Journey, and they were replaced by Tom Coster, Richard Kermode and Leon Thomas, along with guest John McLaughlin, who had collaborated with Carlos Santana on Love Devotion Surrender. Welcome also featured John Coltrane's widow, Alice, as a pianist on the album's opening track, "Going Home" and Flora Purim on vocals. This album was far more experimental than the first four albums, and Welcome did not produce any hit singles.

<i>Its a Love Cult</i> 2002 studio album by Motorpsycho

It's a Love Cult is the tenth full-length studio album by the Norwegian band Motorpsycho. The album was preceded by the EP release of "Serpentine", for which also a video was made.

<i>In Between Now and Then</i> 2003 studio album by O.A.R.

In Between Now and Then is the fourth studio album released by the rock band O.A.R. in 2003. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 54. The song, "Hey Girl", was previously featured on the albums Soul's Aflame and Risen.

<i>First Time</i> (Morning Musume album) 1998 studio album by Morning Musume

First Time (ファーストタイム) is the first album from the J-pop idol girl group Morning Musume. It was released on July 8, 1998, and sold 310,290 copies. It featured only 1st and 2nd generation members had ten of their top selling songs from the beginning of their career, including "Ai no Tane" and "Morning Coffee".

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Linda Ronstadt album) 1976 greatest hits album by Linda Ronstadt

Greatest Hits is Linda Ronstadt's first major compilation album, released at the end of 1976 for the holiday shopping season. It includes material from both her Capitol Records and Asylum Records output, and goes back to 1967 for The Stone Poneys' hit "Different Drum."

<i>Rita Coolidge</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Rita Coolidge

Rita Coolidge is the self-titled debut album by Rita Coolidge.

<i>One Hand Clapping</i> (Paul McCartney and Wings album) 2010 British film

One Hand Clapping is a live studio album by the British–American rock band Paul McCartney and Wings, due to be released on 14 June 2024, nearly fifty years after it was recorded.

<i>In the County of Kings</i> 2007 studio album by Eric Stuart Band

In The County Of Kings is the fifth album from the Eric Stuart Band, in which Eric Stuart is the songwriter and lead singer. This album was released in 2007 under Stuart's own independent label, Widow's Peak Records. The title of the album comes from Kings County, Brooklyn, where Stuart was born and raised. In addition, the front cover art depicts the Brooklyn Bridge and New York City in juxtaposition with the Great Pyramid, the Sphinx of Giza, and the Valley of the Kings, which are in Egypt. The musical style of In The County Of Kings is more country-sounding than any previous Eric Stuart Band album, and is described by Eric Stuart as "Concrete Country." With regard to this, Stuart writes,

I was trying to come up with a way to explain the type of music I play. Americana was too rootsy, Folk-Rock only touched on a part of my sound and County/Rock made it sound like I wore a cowboy hat. I am born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, but I play music with a strong lyrical, melodic, story based approach. There are many country elements as well. I thought the combination of "Concrete" to connect with the sidewalks and buildings I grew up around as well as the rock connotations that word brings plus the "Country" would show I was touching on string songwriting and storytelling that went with country music.

<i>Eleven Modern Antiquities</i> 2008 studio album by Pugwash

Eleven Modern Antiquities is the fourth studio album by Irish pop band Pugwash. It was released in Ireland by 1969 Records on 21 March 2008 and was originally scheduled for worldwide release in an expanded edition on Ape House records in May 2010, but so far this latter edition has not seen release. Two singles were released from the album in Ireland: "Take Me Away" and "At The Sea".

<i>Objects of Desire</i> 1982 studio album by Michael Franks

Objects of Desire is a jazz vocal album by Michael Franks, released in 1982 with Warner Bros. Records. It was Franks' seventh studio album.

<i>Nothings Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now</i> 2012 studio album by Justin Townes Earle

Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now is the fourth studio album by American musician Justin Townes Earle. It was released in March 2012 by Bloodshot Records.

Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys is an unreleased studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys. Planned for issue in November/December 1978, the content was a mixture of original songs penned by the group and traditional standards, similar to their 1964 release The Beach Boys' Christmas Album.

<i>A Brazilian Love Affair</i> Studio album by George Duke

A Brazilian Love Affair is the fourteenth studio album by American keyboardist and record producer George Duke. It was released in 1980 through Epic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place from March 1979 to April 1979 at Level E Hawai Recording Studio in Rio de Janeiro and at Westlake Recording Studios with additional recording at Le Gonks West Studio in West Hollywood, California. It was mastered by Brian Gardner at Allen Zentz Recording Studio in Los Angeles.

<i>On Sunset</i> 2020 studio album by Paul Weller

On Sunset is the fifteenth studio album by English singer-songwriter Paul Weller. It was originally scheduled for release on 12 June 2020, but was delayed until 3 July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

<i>The Golden Casket</i> 2021 studio album by Modest Mouse

The Golden Casket is the seventh studio album by the American alternative rock band Modest Mouse, released on June 25, 2021, on Epic Records. Produced by Dave Sardy and Jacknife Lee, the album was preceded by the singles, "We Are Between", "Leave a Light On" and "The Sun Hasn't Left".

<i>Ohio Players</i> (album) 2024 album by The Black Keys

Ohio Players is the twelfth studio album by American rock duo the Black Keys. It was released on April 5, 2024, by Easy Eye Sound and Nonesuch Records. It was preceded by lead single "Beautiful People " on January 12, 2024, and the second single "I Forgot to Be Your Lover", a cover of William Bell's 1968 song of the same title.

References

  1. ↑ "The Bees - Octopus | The Skinny". www.theskinny.co.uk.
  2. ↑ Bush, John. Octopus at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  3. ↑ Denney, Alex (22 March 2010). "The Bees - Octopus / Releases / Releases". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  4. ↑ Simpson, Dave (22 March 2007). "CD: The Bees, Octopus | Music". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  5. ↑ Tangari, Joe (5 July 2007). "A Band of Bees: Octopus | Album Reviews". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  6. 1 2 "The Bees | NME". NME . 22 March 2007.
  7. ↑ "A Band of Bees, 'Octopus' (Astralwerks)". Spin. 20 July 2007.
  8. ↑ "The Bees - Octopus". Clash Magazine. January 2007.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.