The Bell Beat’s debut The Carrot Chase was released (while the band was named “Sh! The Octopus”) in July of 2007. This was followed by Our Manderley in January of 2011 (under the moniker “The Bell Beat”).

Bio – Our Manderley (PDF)
Cover – Our Manderley
Promo Photo – Manderley Promo (by Luke Hartley)

Bio – The Carrot Chase (PDF)
Cover – The Carrot Chase
Promo Photo – Carrot Promo (by Anne Ruthmann)

“From the opening song, the aptly named ‘The New Year’ the newly matured and specialized sounds of the Bell Beat that are written all over Our Manderley are evident. The uptempo acoustic nature bridges the gap between the soft acoustic feel of ‘Call Me The Fool’ and the straight up rock and roll of ‘Seize It Quick’ both styles pulled off with the precision that comes with having the five members fully invested in what they’re creating.”
- Gabe Downey (Ferndale Friends / From the Looney Bin)

“[The Bell Beat have] cleaned up their act on [Our Manderley], starting right from the top with the spirited ‘The New Year’ where the band appropriately sings, ‘We’re a jovial bunch.’ The album settles into a nice groove as the second half begins. ‘Labrador’ is a beautiful combination of the band’s male/female vocal dynamic [...] ‘Call Me the Fool’ is your classic porch-sitting, whiskey-sipping, gal-loving lament [...] ‘Fool’s Errand, Fool’s Gold,’ is an appropriate follow up, a sweet lullaby that may be [Randy] Bishop’s finest display of songsmanship.”
- Kevin Hakansson (Decoy Music)

“Upbeat, full of crunchy electric and acoustic guitar, keys, and all kinds of other fun sounds [...] A touch of twang just plain seals the deal for me. One of my favorite aspects of the music, is the laid back effortless feel of Randy [Bishop's] voice, often paired with the harmonies of Marina [Trejo]. No pitch correction or auto-tune bullshit here, just real, honest music…”
- Ben Adelt (Vocal Nerd Rodeo)

“[The Bell Beat] have a great, clean pop sound – captured perfectly on their delicate, somewhat melancholy new song, ‘Call Me The Fool.’”
- Ryan Spaulding (Ryan’s Smashing Life)

“The Bell Beat’s debut The Carrot Chase (released as Sh! The Octopus) could heartily be considered a modern folk record. Its followup Our Manderley presents the efforts of years of growing collaboration, and comfortably shifts from breathy and modest ballads, to jaunting and shuffling pop staples, to melancholic reveries.”
Jonathan A. Berz (Real Detroit Weekly / Notes from the Underground)

“Smooth flotation between girl/boy vocals, call and answer stanzas, and a catchiness that sort of sneaks up on you, forcing you to hum the songs out of your skull for the rest of the day. [Our Manderley is] rife with folk tunes cheery enough to melt the ice while deeply threaded with [...] nostalgia and longing.”
- August Smith (Mostly Midwest)

“Sliding through any of [The Bell Beat's] shimmering pop twirls is like having every tastebud tinged with a different delectable indie-rock sensibility from the past decade. Tight, chopping, [Sea and Cake-ish] change-up drums. New Pornographer’s unabashed effervescence (combined with barbed/quirky lyricism). Sepita-toned daydreams and disarmingly intricate guitar solos stitched between cooed-out boy-girl vocals, [...] one conjures the inevitable Belle & Sebastian-type chamber pop.”
- Jeff Milo (Real Detroit Weekly / Deep Cutz)

“The Bell Beat’s album, Our Manderley, can be compared to a fine pint of India Pale Ale. It opens with the slow, pungent notes of an organ, hits with finely-composed complexities of musical flavor and depth, while finishing smoothly with clear intention.”
- Casimir Kopacki (Writer/Chef/Musician)

“The Bell Beat is a talented band. [They] bring us their sophomore release of upbeat, psych pop folk, Our Manderley. The album has touches of indie rock with its tight electric and acoustic instrumentation, boy-girl vocals, and bouts of call and response.”
- JFelton (Record Dept.)

“[The Bell Beat] shows that Detroit still has some great music coming from its weary streets. At the same time, [The Bell Beat] 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…”
- Kevin Eagan (Blogcritics.org) (Full Review)

“Something you might expect to hear from a bunch of angry kids in a farmhouse garage outside Kansas City. Like punk, but with cows and pitchforks instead of studded leather jackets and mohawks… [All the tracks are] so good, f**k the FCC. Play it anyway… ‘Last Great Massacre’ is easily one of the most honest, forthright tracks I’ve heard in the past year.”
- Zach Musgrave (WSBF) (Article about Last Great Massacre)

“Poppy and a bit more polished than their initial output…”
- Keith N. Dusenberry (Real Detroit Weekly)

“The kind of thing that could be a good backdrop for bar-brawling fun… Dashes of harmonica, twittering keyboards, female backing vocals and a well-defined rhythm section… On the mic, (Randy) Bishop is a pop philosopher, a jaded rock warrior… as he describes the bar band’s struggle for something more.”
- Natalie B. David (Detour) (Full Review)

“‘Flaking Friends[...]‘ A charming bit of acoustic-flavored pop… ‘If You Please[...]‘ Sparse and wonderfully Spoon-esque.”
- Matt Whelihan (Punknews.org)

“It would be very hard for [The Bell Beat] to live up to such a great name, but they do an admirable job on their debut album, The Carrot Chase. The Detroit band [has] some good lyrics and can unquestionably play…”
- Michael Edwards (Exclaim!)

“The 5-piece outfit from Michigan known as [The Bell Beat] have done a fine job of recording, mixing, producing and releasing their debut full-length The Carrot Chase…”
- Matt the Raven (Delusions of Adequacy)

“Sprawling psych-pop-folk collective polishes the jangle ‘n’ bash with hooks and harmonies to soothe the savage bohemian.”
- Metro Times

“Sea and Cake-like blend of spare melodies and bright percussion with folky undertones.”
- Jordan Miller (Ann Arbor News)

“Fairly poppy, frequently veering toward a stripped down ensemble sound.”
- Keith N. Dusenberry (Real Detroit Weekly)

“Folksy outfit aiming to make big waves… Elements of folk rock are backed by a more rocking rhythm section with spare but upbeat drumming. Bob Dylan goes indie maybe? Good stuff!”
- Lager House Detroit

“Kind of Steven Malkmus-y.”
- Jasper (Web Vomit / Eat This City)

“Eclectic popsters.”
- Jeff Milo (Real Detroit Weekly / Deep Cutz)

“There’s the budding young, hip folk scene and there’s the edgy, emotional indie rock scene… [The Bell Beat] is able to blend these two sounds with ease to create refreshing music that stands in its own box.”
- Lauren Gant (The Big Green)

“Folky pop and oil paint ambition.”
- Metro Times

“I will tell you that the guy who fronts the band can sing. He can also play guitar, and write a pretty good song. Those three things are important, and I’d guess they’re a pretty good foundation too.”
- JRC (Eat This City)

“The Bell Beat play folk-tinged pop with layered background vocals and driving guitar. Randy Bishop’s lyrics will have you thinking long after you’ve moved on to the next venue.”
- Kelly Bennett (780.00s – The Place for Local Music @ the FPL)

“Part folk rock, part psychedelic rock, this group put on a feel good session this weekend.”
- Bill Ketelhut (WXOU / MCB)

“Saturday was off the hook [... The Mighty Narwhale] were shapapjiewjo;fawf;j*., [The Bell Beat] were shapapjiewjo;fawf;j*., the bloody marys at the Blackstone were TOTALLY shapapjiewjo;fawf;j*…..the whole thing was as shapapjiewjo;fawf;j*. as you could want.”
- Scott McClintock (Member of Great Lakes Myth Society)

_{* We’re assuming this word has positive connotations}