Sh! The Octopus (1937) was one of the most obscure movies ever released by Hollywood. It mixed odd parody with mystery and intrigue, and it's one of those forgotten movies from a lost era. Of course, the title has been there for years waiting for a band to take it as their own, and a band has finally done just that.
Detroit, MI based Sh! The Octopus' debut CD The Carrot Chase is a nice blend of Americana and indie rock that's a lot of fun, with that pissed off Midwestern edge so common from bands like this. The album has that garage band feel, like you're borrowing the album your friend recorded in his basement, but the album is full of multi-layered guitars and clever lyrics that give it much broader appeal.
The Carrot Chase kicks off with "Anybody Seen My Tuner?," a collection of random noises and guitar riffs recorded in the studio with backmasking and a voices in the background (very Beatles-esque). After that, the band jumps right in with songs like "Flaking Friends" and "Last Great Massacre," the latter being the band's first music video (Youtube clip). The songs have some fun guitar riffs on top of tight rhythms, and punk guitar (but not quite) riffs. "Last Great Massacre" tells a story about a teen who gets a guitar and wants to start a band, and follows all of the clichés on his way to the top. Singer Randy Bishop sings: "Moving around town, convinced he was the best / Thought he was John Lennon before he had hair," suggesting the downfall of rock music lies with the poser attitudes of many musicians.
Fortunately, Sh! The Octopus has a mature sound that shows this band won't succumb to cliché. As the album continues, songs like "If You Please" bring in a folk rock style with intelligent lyrics: "Expecting your argument to stop at your debate / worried for your petty material, while the obvious suffering occurs." Other songs, like "Peaking From the Brim," show the band is willing to mix musical genres, adding harmonica and a distorted slide guitar that's reminiscent of another Detroit band, The White Stripes.
The last song, "Come On Down," rounds out the album with a '70's rock feel, telling a tale of lost love out on the road. The song finishes the musical progression from previous tracks like "The Crack of His Door" and "Red State Soil," that tell narratives about modern America. "Come On Down" is a beautiful mix of acoustic guitar, harmonica, and harmonized vocals.
On The Carrot Chase, Sh! The Octopus shows that Detroit still has some great music coming from its weary streets. At the same time, Sh! The Octopus has appeal beyond Detroit, and they mix elements that are popular in modern indie rock. I have a feeling we might see more of this band as the decade progresses.
You can purchase The Carrot Chase directly from the band's Web site.
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