OCTOPUS

The first time you hear this album, you will hate it. That is a fact. Is that because it's a one star album? Of course not! Gentle Giant is a band that grows on you and Octopus is the perfect place to jump in.

A wild, complex ride, Octopus is a succinct album, packing in as much punch as it can in its short 34 minute duration. The album is a great starting point for those new to Gentle Giant as it marks a turning point between the band's two stylistic eras. Each track bears elements of both the bluesier, soulful early days of the band as well as their jarringly complex later albums. Not a single one of the album's eight tracks is weak, each one is well composed and offers something unique. The only drawback to the album is that while its songs are consistent in their inconsistency and controlled in their chaos, nothing really stands out and makes me say "wow!" (though some of them get really close to it).

Hence Octopus is a four star release, an excellent gem that every prog fan should try out, and I thoroughly recommend that everybody should.