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CRITIC REVIEWS
No where near my favorite Gentle Giant release, and the weird goofy soundscape can be a bit too much sometimes but Octopus is nevertheless still a great piece of progressive rock and showed that Gentel Giant were not only willing to experiment with their sound and put themselves out their that they were also ahead of the curve
Track Review
The Advent of Panurge 9/10
Raconteur Troubadour 8.5/10.
A Cry for Everyone 9.5/10
Knots 7.5/10.
The Boys in the Band 8/10
Dog's Life 7.5/10.
Think of Me ... read more
while this album can be exceptionally goofy at times, especially with the vocals on tracks like Knots and Dog's Life, there's some super solid and enjoyable early Prog Rock here. it's all clouded in a weird like medieval and fantasy veneer which can be a bit offputting at times, but tracks like A Cry For Everyone and The Boys In the Band shine through as well written and groovy Prog bangers. a bit of a mixed bag, but with more hits than duds.
FAVORITE: The Boys In The Band, A Cry For Everyone, ... read more
This is the first (of hopefully many) albums in the Madvillainy vs Pinata album of the week! It was a tough vote between this album and another, coming down to the exact wire, but ultimately Octopus won out by two votes!
I can best describe Gentle Giant as "The Who meets the Cardiacs with a touch of Can." This leads to this very wonky sound that can leave this feel of fun mixed with fear. Like a carnival with just a BIT to many clowns. This leaves a very interesting experience ... read more
Pure and unfiltered prog-rock goodness from start to end. I think the goofy moments add a lot of charm, and still sound really good and fit into their respective songs. Super fun and captivating album that deserves some more appreciation.
I don't think there are enough positives to say about this album. It's truly extraordinary and it's impossible for me to imagine how it must've been to experience this album for the first time in 1972. The quality of production and the techniques on display are so far ahead of their time, it's crazy.
Musically, Octopus has elements of classic rock but is mainly a baroque-inspired prog rock affair. It's incredibly unique to Gentle Giant and it's a vibe that I'm all here for. It's not a very ... read more
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Track List
| 1 | The Advent of Panurge 4:41 | 91 |
| 2 | Raconteur Troubadour 4:01 | 85 |
| 3 | A Cry for Everyone 4:03 | 84 |
| 4 | Knots 4:11 | 85 |
| 5 | The Boys in the Band 4:32 | 88 |
| 6 | Dog's Life 3:11 | 74 |
| 7 | Think of Me With Kindness 3:34 | 90 |
| 8 | River 5:52 | 86 |
Total Length: 34 minutes
Added on: April 2, 2016