OCTOPUS

well, I had written a long and descriptive review of this album, but in my idiocy, I clicked to a different page and it was erased! damn it all! well, that's okay, but i'll have to shorten my review. sorry. Advent of panurge is a solid opener. A highlight of the album. Raconteur troubadour is awesomely medieval. One of my gentle giant favourites! A cry for everyone is a weak point in my opinion, I dont feel it's up to par with the rest of the album. It's okay at best. Knot's is one of the greatest gentle giant songs of all time. Perhaps the greatest example of their sound, and certainly the best example of their unique vocal arrangements. the boys in the band is an instrumental reminiscent of cogs in cogs from the power and the glory. It's a highlight for this album, a real good track. Dog's life is full of character with a real catchy guitar part. This song has dual meanings between a dog's life and that of gg's roadies. It's a real playful song, very gentle giant. Think of me with kindness ins reminiscent of a reunion from in a glass house. It's an excellent ballad to balance out the other 'colorful' textures in the album. River for me is another weak point, though not as weak as a cry for everyone. The intro to me sounds a bit sloppy, not as tight as it could be. This displeases my ears. This song does however have a very catchy melody once you get past the mediocre intro. It's slightly sub par compared to the rest of the good songs here. All in all, this is probably gentle giant's best album. If not this, then glass house. If a cry for everyone wasn't here and the sloppy intro from river wasn't there, I would give this one a 5, but in all good prog reviewing consciensce, I can't. This is an essential album though. this is the best of gentle giant and it is awesome indeed. Besides a couple of minor blemishes, it really is practically a perfect gentle giant album! Do yourself a favor and buy this one! 4.5/5.