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Here’s a few words others have used to describe Camera-Head Shark: Hyperactive. Bubbly. Infectious. Those words could also be used to describe fever-induced puss sores, though. Well, then, here’s some of the comparisons drawn by other music critics and bloggers: Monkees. Barenaked Ladies. Somewhere between Camper Van Beethoven and Cake. Beatles-inspired. From Monkees to Beatles? By now, you’ve realized that this is an odd band, indeed.
Recorded in a basement between April and June of 2007, “Oh, Boy” is an eclectic collection of indie-pop tunes that is remarkable in the lack of similarity between any of the tracks. It starts with “Punched,” an organ-driven, light pop tune that would sit well on a Belle & Sebastian record, were it not for the violent refrain: “I heard you got punched with a flashlight.” It’s a great song, but instead of ending, it just suddenly stops. As if the entire band had been, well, punched. “Baby Midnight” croons “I need my bones! Don’t take my bowowowowowowones!” What does that mean? I have no idea. But it’s catchy. And the ending coda, where something that may be zombies whispers “We need your bones!” is flat out creepy weird. But I love it! “Pack Up Your Suitcase” sounds like something out of an off-Broadway musical. It doesn’t work as well for me as some of the other oddities on the album, but when a band is as offbeat as this, you can’t expect everything to stick. Some songs even sound like sing-a-longs (“Help Me Out”). Then there’s the country-tinged “I Can’t Wait,” a good closing track, that ends in a psychedelic whirl of fiddle and piano. The album also features twee vocals, violin, cello, trumpet . . . Incredible variety. Check it out. - Berkeley Place
"Dear God: Thank You for Camera-Head Shark. I know I've been a lousy correspondent-the last time I wrote You was back in 2004 after seeing The Kites. But maybe if You sent me more great bands, You'd hear from me more often.
Clearly, these four Patchogue musicians are pursuing their own quirky, funny, absurdist vision of indie-rock. It's audible on every track of their debut album, "Oh You," from the opening number, "Punched," with its cartoon piano and oddball lyrics ("I heard you got punched with a flashlight / You said it kinda hurt but your alright") up to the closer, "I Can't Wait," a quasi-bluegrass number that actually might not be a joke.
Where should we file this band? Next to Ween, Camper Van Beethoven or Cake? (Someday, You should put Camera-Head Shark on a double-bill with like-minded locals Vision Through Sound.)
There's humor here but also real songcraft, with delightful piano chords on "Kurbana Novain," a melancholy under-current to "Fire Drill" and some power-pop riffs on "Since the Stone Age."
Granted, it's not always clear what guitarist-vocalist George Kalivas is trying to say. Camera-Head Shark might consider writing a clearly wacky an-them with a big ol' chorus, like Cake's "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" or The Offspring's "Self Esteem." The best way to grab the roof-rockers is to get them singing along. Then again, who am I to mess with your Creation?
P.S. Please keep the band together. It's such a bummer when You taketh away."-Rafer Guzman, Newsday - Newsday
2. Camera-Head Shark, "Oh You" - Bright and bubbly with a distinctively nutty flavor, this is the most refreshing disc from Long Island in years. File somewhere between Camper Van Beethoven and Cake. - Newsday
What a great name for a band. Every time, I hear that name I literally think of a shark attacking me with a camera. This New York band's self-released album is what indie pop should be. Its fun, serious and wacky in all the right places and there is a great balance between all of those elements. For example. the first track on the album “Punched” its this funky little tune with even an appearance by an organ. Then you get a track like “Help Me Out” goes with a more straightforward approach, with multi layered vocals and a intense hook. “Kurbana” sounds like something out of the Barenaked Ladies catalog, it has that quirky sensibilities. “I Can't Wait” has a bit of country/folk/bluegrass to it and its very compelling hybrid of different sounds. The harmonica and that fast violin are still fun. Camera Head Shark's album was a fun time. It won't be something that is going to blow you away. But, there are a few deep, solid and fun songs that are very nice to tap along to.
by John Siwicki
- Comfort Comes
"Camera-Head Shark offer up the sort of hyperactive indie-pop that infects your body like some virus that’s grown resistant to antibiotics – once the stuff’s in you, you won’t be able to kill it off. But nor should you, as CHS play the kind of infectious, multi-layered and multi-harmonied songs that guarantee for a listen so fun it hurts. From the wacky, pitch-shifted vocals and playful punk chorus of “Kurbana Novain,” to the poignant, piano-laced waltz of “Face the Day,” CHS deliver a sound that weaves so many influences through its sonic depths that there is certain to be something to grab everyone’s attention."-Bill Dvorak, The Deli - The Deli
"Oh, You by Camera-Head Shark is an absolutely terrific Beatles inspired collection of eleven songs co-written by pianist Ry Smith and guitarist/vocalist "George Kalivas with the exception of the manic, neo-George Harrison-ish "Abeya" which has Luke Shaljian contributing with the duo on the songwriting. It's amazing that this was recorded in a basement between April and June of 2007 because the dense pop sound could have come out of a major league studio, everything so perfectly presented and bursting out of the speakers with an effervescent sunshine pop feel. "Kurbana Novain" sounds nothing like Nirvana but it drives with a happy-go-lucky madness that dissipates the cynicism. Heavy piano from the Magical Mystery Tour era keeps the short two minute "Fire Drill" driving while "Face The Day" takes its cues from Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra, even lifting the intro to "Evil Woman" and adding some Hurricane Smith production ideas. The pièce de résistance of this superb outing has to be an incredible number, "Pack Up Your Suitcase", which is irresistable Top 40 in the vein of Emmit Rhodes/Merry-Go-Round's delightful "Live" descending into total fun chaos of making the decision to tell the girlfriend it's over with a capital O. Everything about this album is amazing, out of left field making one wonder where has this band...and music like this...been hiding. Terrific sounds flow from "Since The Stone Age", not only with the pauses and the backing vocal elegance, but the urgency with which these fellows tear through their short and very appealing songs. Oh, You is absolute magic and is built to brighten up any party. If only more records got hip to the fact that The Beatles are the textbook, not to be copied, but to be emulated. Camera-Head Shark emulate while putting their own stamp and mayhem on the sound. Someone give them a TV show a la The Monkees, this stuff deserves to be heard."--Joe Viglione
- Allmusic.com
Discography
LP: "Oh, You" (October 2007)
Songs receiving airplay: "Kurbana Novain," "Punched," "Help Me Out," "Fire Drill," "Since The Stone Age"
Photos
Bio
Camera-Head Shark began in January 2007 as an excuse to mess around with instruments and melodies. George Kalivas and Ry Smith had written enough songs to perform at local bars' open mics and small rock gigs. Once Ryan Foster and Charlie Stucklen joined the band full-time, singing songs in front of people while drinking beer became a local demand. Within a few months, the band had enough support, material, and motivation to record their first LP, "Oh, You."
The recording of "Oh, You" commenced at the end of April. Engineered and mixed by close friend/musician Udbhav Gupta, the album was tracked entirely in George's basement on Long Island. Most of the instrumentation was done by the band members: George on guitar, Ryan on bass (and on one or two ripping guitar solos), Ry on piano, and Charlie doing the drum thing. A couple of their musician friends joined in to add some of the album's textured tones, such as violin, cello, trumpet, and girly voices. Vocal props are given to George and Ry, with the former singing the lead on everything except "Fire Drill," "Since the Stone Age," and the majority of "Pack Up Your Suitcase." Everyone in Camera-Head Shark sings backup harmonies, both live and on their recordings.
Tracking for the album was finished by the beginning of June 2007. That summer, the band played live shows throughout Suffolk County,Long Island and New York City. They constantly wrote new songs and finished the mixes of "Oh, You." In August, the record was mastered by Ken Wallace of Ian London Productions in New York. On Halloween, they released their debut album and threw a CD release/costume party at their favorite local bar. After ten months of writing music and performing it for friends, Camera-Head Shark had an eleven-song self-produced album. The band feels that this is their greatest accomplishment yet as a diploma-deprived musical outfit.
The songs on "Oh, You" were written by George and Ry Smith, almost completely as a joint effort. They all try to focus on melody and rhythm as a musical matrimony. The blended result is a pop smoothie with a couple of key changes and strange rhythmic patterns. The songs' content, in the opinion of the writers, is generally ambiguous; but, as with most rock recordings, the themes of love, nostalgia, and zombie survival are inherently prevalent. They've got to be.
Armed with 1,000 album copies, the resources of the internet, and the high fives of friends and listeners of all ages, Camera-Head Shark just wants to create, release and perform music to whomever is interested.
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