Music Style Modern rock/AOR (adult-oriented rock)/Adult Alternative

Musical Influences While not derivative of other artists, influences range from Beatles to Mike Oldfield, XTC to King Crimson, Dramarama to Talk Talk

Similar Artists I couldn't possibly point to one specific artist. A highly original collection of songs.

Artist History Officially formed in August 1989, Every Part of the Animal (EPOTA) was a 3-piece band, based in the Western suburbs of Chicago, that recorded a lot of silly, quirky songs with the obligatory (for that time) grungy guitar sound. When they felt like it, they would occasionally play a live show. Inconsistent tour schedules and tension among members would eventually prove the band?s life a short one. In November 1991, EPOTA was reborn as a 2-member band comprised of co-founders Brad Allen (vocals, guitars, bass, etc.) and Mike Shanahan (vocals, drums, bass, etc.) and existing solely as a recording act. Songwriting became more serious, and several additional instruments were added to flesh out the sound. But upon the release of the band?s 1993 debut CD, ?Life Imitates Art,? the future was once again uncertain. While still managing to obtain some occasional college airplay and decent reviews, the release did little to set the world on its ear. In May 1994, EPOTA parted ways, having moved in different directions both musically and geographically. Mike moved to Tucson, Arizona and Brad to Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1997, circumstances brought about a return to the Chicagoland area and the reformation of EPOTA?and a new 12-song CD, entitled ?Civilization [Spirit],? is the result. Asked about the band?s rocky past, Brad replies, ?I think we were naive at the time and really believed the first CD was going to be our springboard to some sort of success. When nothing happened, we became frustrated and gave up.? ?Also,? adds Mike, ?what we didn?t realize then?but do now?is that those recordings were flawed and the songs really weren?t what people were looking for. We got a bit carried away with our optimism and the resulting disappointment pushed us in opposite directions.?With the new CD, EPOTA has taken a more realistic approach. ?We just wrote music that we?d want to listen to ourselves,? says Mike. ?We?re not overdoing it anymore. If it flows easily and it?s comfortable, we?ll pursue it. If it takes a lot of work to write, it will probably take a lot of work to listen to, and it?s not fun then.? So EPOTA took a relaxed approach for the new release. In the past, the band would force many recording opportunities into their schedules in their attempt to create an immediate CD release. This time around, not only were the recording sessions much more sporadic (as evident by the 20 months it took to finalize the product), but some sessions didn?t even end up involving music, with Mike and Brad opting to rent a movie or watch taped episodes of ?Whose Line is it Anyway.? This change in philosophy clearly shows in the final product. Nothing sounds rushed or labored over and, despite the diversity, the songs move easily from one to the next. The songs can be taken individually or as a whole with equal effect. And the music is good. Never boring, often inventive, and not clearly derivative of other artists. It?s a highly original collection of songs. ?It?s all about the music, really,? states Brad. ?Otherwise, what?s the point??

Group Members Mike Shanahan: Voices, drums, bass, etc. / Brad Allen: Voices, guitars, bass, etc.

Instruments voice, guitar, bass, keyboards, piano, accordian, e-bow, banjo, harmonica and kalimba

Albums Civilization [Spirit] - 1999, Life Imitates Art - 1993, Shimmer (EP) - 1991, Too Full to Whistle (EP) - 1990, Slumber Party - 1989

Press Reviews Steppin' Out Entertainment / Local Noize (Jan 2000): Okay, to consider Every Part of the Animal "local noise," we need to suspend our linear sense of time. EPOTA was based in Tucson until a few years ago, when they realized that for reasons unknown YOU TUCSON PEOPLE were not making them rich and famous. Now residents of the Chicago area, EPOTA have produced their strongest album yet in "Civilization [Spirit]." Right away, it becomes obvious that since their 1993 debut "Life Imitates Art," these guys have refined both songwriting and performance to a point of sounding damn near professional! In previous reviews, I've described the accursed quality known as "the local sound" -- EPOTA successfully avoid that by taking time in the studio to fatten the songs with artful post-production touches. It's hard to believe "Civilization [Spirit]" is the product of a home-studio; the mix is well-balanced, and the "local sound" is wonderfully absent. Civilization is also heavier than "Life Imitates Art" -- it offers a dozen well-crafted pop tunes that are complex enough to stick in your head like a strange dream. Case in point: the first track (King of Scarecrows) has the stick-to-your-skull quality of any annoyingly good pop tune, and has the courage to open up and jam for a bit before closing... a very good opener. "Fallen" betrays a certain XTC influence which EPOTA pulls off very well. Not many bands can execute melodies like that without falling all over the place.There are even progressive rock touches hiding in the slower tunes: "Worse From Here" maintains a spacey background chorus that keeps the tune from getting too bogged down in emotional vocals. Subtle touches like this really make the album work. "Juliet's Balcony" revisits XTC territory with a dash of Paul McCartney -- Mike Shanahan's vocals aren't too far from XTC's Colin Moulding here. The vibe throughout is light without being silly... Then, with "My Attention, Baby," the sound becomes eerily close to a heavier-than-himself James Taylor. Seriously frightening! The resemblance was almost enough to cause this reviewer to drop his pizza in mid-song. Would it be unethical to plug Piccuro's Pizza in the middle of an EPOTA review? Throughout the album, "Civilation [Spirit]" is obviously more finessed than most home-studio recorded albums. "Romance" is the most dynamic tune of the collection -- it travels from harmonious pop to heavy riffing that is more space-rock than metal. In truth, EPOTA may be a band with a nebulous future: their approach to straightforward pop music isn't so straightforward: They employ the round-about strategy of XTC, REM, or early Smithereens: very pleasant, but perhaps TOO INTELLIGENT for the teeny-boppers of today's world. Could these guys be out to resurrect the concept of "college music" that existed in the late 80s? I hope they succeed -- there's a lot of absolute crap out there that needs to die. Since EPOTA's relocation to Chicago, their product may (or may not) show up at your corner ZIA. If you can't find "Civilization [Spirit]," you may have to go to the source: Every Part of the Animal, c/o Mike Shanahan, 0s681 Forest Street, Winfield, IL 60190 or e-mail them at epota@home.com -- by Norman Electric

Additional Info Cassette releases: Slumber Party (1990); Too Full to Whistle (1991); Shimmer (1992)

Location Winfield, IL - USA

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