Octoberon

%%header%%

%%message%%

With Wolstenholme's keyboards pushed back in the mix, and strangely missing the harmonies that enriched their earlier work, Octoberon is something of a departure for the band. While Wolstenholme's stately Ra shows a dabbling in mysticism and the soaring sound of their previous work, most of the album is a strangely glum affair. John Lees adopts a pub rock sound in his compositions, although May Day manages to veer unexpectedly into a glorious choral and organ arrangement. Polk Street Rag, despite its name, is a slick rocker about a sordid X-rated movie house in San Francisco. There's a black humor throughout, as in this brutally funny line from Suicide?: Heard a voice shouting 'Don't jump, please for God's sake let me move my car.' Not up to the level of their best work, but worth a listen for fans. [Octoberon was reissued in 2003 with five additional bonus cuts.] ~ Paul Collins, Rovi