Octopus
Studio album by
The Bees
Released26 March 2007
Recorded2005-2006
GenreIndie rock, ska, neo-psychedelia
Length36:24
LabelVirgin Records[1]
Astralwerks
ProducerPaul 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[2]
Drowned in Sound8/10[3]
The Guardian[4]
Pitchfork Media7.9[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]

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

  • Kris Birkin - Lead Guitar (1,7,9), Electric Guitar (2,3,5,7), Acoustic Twelve String Guitar (2), Claps (7), Vocals (8)
  • Paul Butler - Vocals (1-10), Guitar (1), Piano (1,3,6,8), Electric Guitar (2,6,10), Tambourine (2,4), Drums (3-7,9,10), Trumpet (3,4,6), Hammond Organ (4,6), Saxophone (4,6), Triangle (5), Shakers (6,7,9), Recorder (6), Claps (7), Acoustic Guitar (8,10), Bongos (8), Cello (8), Sitar (8), Bell (9), Sound FX (10)
  • Michael Clevett - Drums (1,2,8), Cowbell (1), Bass (3,4,6,7,9,10), Bongos (5,6), Vocals (7,8), Claps (7), Vocals (8)
  • Aaron Fletcher - Vocals (1,7-9), Bass (2,5), Electric Guitar (4,7,9), Percussion (7), Claps (7,10), Acoustic Guitar (10), Sound FX (10)
  • Warren Hampshire - Hammond Organ (1-3,5,7-9), Piano (3), Tambourine (5), Vocals (7,8), Claps (7), Jew's Harp (8)
  • Carly Lacey - Claps (10)
  • Heather McCallum - Flute (6), Claps (10)
  • Andy Parkin - Saxophone (3)
  • Itchy Parkin - Saxophone (3)
  • Tim Parkin - Bass (1), Vocals (1,7-9), Harmonica (2), Trumpet (3-6), Trombone (3,10), Rhodes (4,7), Claps (7), Acoustic Guitar (8), Piano (9)

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.
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