The Magnificent Tree [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Japanese version of the Belgian ambient pop band's third album. Scheduled for earlier release and now featuring two bonus tracks, 'Visions (9+ minute version)' & 'Visions (3+ minute edited version)'. 13 tracks in all including the first single 'Mad About You'. Also set to feature lyrics to all tracks. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

Tracks:

Autoharp
Mad About You
Waves
Jacky Cane
The Magnificent Tree
Vinegar & Salt
Frosted Flake Wood
Everytime We Live Together We Die A Bit More
Out Of Sight
Pink Fluffy Dinosaurs
L'odeur Animale
Renaissance Affair

Amazon.com

If you've been following the career of this Belgian trio, you've seen them go from trip-hop (on their debut, A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular) to trip-pop (1998's Blue Wonder Power Milk), pitting fan against fan in the process. One thing's for sure: The Magnificent Tree only adds wood to the fire. The "trip" has all but left the pop, leaving behind an assortment of solid, radio-friendly tunes, but hardly anything with the character and charm of their earlier work. It's too bad, really, because though there's some real ear candy here, it's lost in the crinkly wrapper of predictable arrangements and vapid lyrics. Geike Arnaert, given to ethereal coolness on Milk, chooses a more out-front, sultry vocal style on Tree, and while it works on the uncharacteristically rockin' "Jacky Cane" and the torchy "Vinegar & Salt," elsewhere ("Mad About You," "Everytime We Live Together," and the embarrassingly treacly "Out of Sight") it just rings false--too slick for its own good. Touches of the old style appear here and there, notably on the atmospheric, sample-infused "Autoharp" and the dreamy, Dubstar-like "Waves," but they promise more than the rest of the album can deliver. It may be a solid, sturdy Tree, but it's a few branches short of magnificence. --Steve Landau

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Good.......2007-02-08

I don't find this as good as their other albums but if you like Hooverphonic, you should probably have this in your collection.

Descent into lameness..........2006-10-24

As my friend used to put it; this cd marked Hooverphonic's "descent into lameness." "A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular" will always be their best. "No More Sweet Music" is a hopefull turn back for them. I have the 2 album version which has a more agressive mix on it- it is better. The newer singer is limited though- she cracks up here and there on the NMSM cd. Their first 2 cd's are great.

Mad about you..........2006-08-06

Initially, I was not sure quite what to make of The Magnificent Tree. They begin in a Kraftwerk mood and then swirl in ethereal ambiance until the song simply disappears into emotion. I like the contrast of the initially cold electronica with the warmth in the ending atmosphere.

Mad about You begins on a more classic note and it quickly becomes apparent that the appeal of these songs are infused with Geike Arnaert's vocal magic. Her voice is soft and sexy like satin sheets slipping across velvet. She brings a sense of emotional reality to the rocktronica selections making this a perfect marriage of edgy electronica and romantic pop.

The Magnificent Tree inspires an increase in volume. The louder you play this the deeper the sounds appear, although the lyrics are somewhat mysterious. Vinegar and Salt has exactly that emotion although it is peppered with contrasts.

Frosted Flake Woods takes you out into nature where a magical forest sets the backdrop for a playful fairy tale mood that borders on eccentric.

Everytime we Live feels more like what I thought Hooverphonic would sound like because the sound sort of feels like it is being captured in a void or sucked out into space. They play with the lyrics in a labyrinth of pulsating sounds.

Out of Space has a slower mood and then Pink Fluffy Dinosours gets playful again like a child's lullaby. L'Odeur Animale has otherworldly appeal with ethereal sweeps and moody lyrics.

Poetic in places, an enjoyable escape. This album seems to be driving in the right lane. If you like Balligomingo, you will love this album. Mad about you sort of stole my heart on this album.

"Into never seen passion, never seen passion
That it why I am so mad about you
Mad about you"

~The Rebecca Review

My "Pick of the Litter" for best Hooverphonic to Feb 2006.......2006-02-07

Bought the New Stereo Sound Spectacular when it first released '98, liked it a lot, but it was only one album and they sounded a lot like "Mono", had & I had The Crystal Method with Vegas, Forest For the Trees to compare. Liked 2Wicky on "New Stereo..", movielike sound, the singer. Remembered Hooverphonic, looked for them online, got Blue Power Milk, and Tree. Didn't get into Blue Power Milk on first play, it needs to be played loud or with phones, Dictionary was interesting, nothing else really grabbed me, although I listened to them while waiting in the car for my babe to do her Christmas shopping, listened to my new CDs. Autoharp grabbed me, and Frosted Flake Wood, I've been playing the album repeatedly for the 35-40 minute drive each way, often just restart Autoharp for the first 4 or 5 times before letting Mad about you play, only Vegas and Forest For the Trees got played as much repeat. Like the percussion, plucked strings, the vocal in the center bridge without words, and the sound like trumpeting elephant at the end, each tune is good, some stronger than others, "Pink Fluffy" the least, perhaps "floating through the day" reminds me of being out of work a while, uneasy. Some tunes I like are on Sit Down and Listen to Hooverphonic, just got that, like it, less so, and haven't absorbed No More Sweet Music yet, "Tree" is out of the Car CD player for a while. This album is the peak, I only wish there were more along this line in the future. This is the best in months for me, the Poe, "Haunted" was my prior favorite. Complex sounds, worth the money. Recommended, you won't memorize this album the first few times through.

Sonic Adventurers.......2005-05-21

If you are sonically adventurous, then you will love this CD.

By the way, I know most of the other reviewers hate "Frosted Flake Wood," but it's an acid trip of bubble-gum-pop proportions! If Willie Wonka had a theme song, this would be it! If the Monkees' songs were redone by Massive Attack, they would sound like this! And if you like it, then you should definately pick up Broadcast's latest, "Ha Ha Sound," cause every song on it sounds like "Frosted Flake Wood"!

Come on, ignore "Mr. Doubt" and "give that mushroom some warm food"!

Average customer rating:

Ladies and gentleman...ALBUM OF THE YEAR!

The Magnificent Tree
Hooverphonic
Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Dream Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Ambient Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004XQWS
Release Date: 2000-11-28

Tracks:

Autoharp
Mad About You
Waves
Jackie Cane
Magnificent Tree
Vingar & Salt
Frosted Flakewood
Every Time We Live Together We Die a Bit More
Out of Sight
Pink Fluffy Dinosaurs
Odeur Animale

Tracks:

Visions
Mad About You [Llorca's Radio Shot]
Mad About You [Multimedia Track]
Video: Mad About You

Album Description

Limited edition of the third album by Belgium's greatest musical export since Front 242 (though they sound nothing like those industrial stalwarts, but rather, somewhat like a mix of Ruby, Cocteau Twins & Saint Etienne). A must for every true fan, this special release comes packaged in a special tri-fold carton case with the standard 11 track album featuring the single 'Mad About You' (an elegantly dramatic midtempo ballad that will thrill lovers of songs like 'Tuna', 'Renaissance Affair', 'Magenta', 'Club Montepulciano' & 'Battersea' off of th

Customer Reviews:

Ladies and gentleman...ALBUM OF THE YEAR!.......2000-09-25

This new effort by the amazingly brilliant Belgian band Hooverphonic is a MUST HAVE! Already over here in Europe the band is getting rave reviews for 'The Magnificent Tree' and deservedly so!

If you have never heard of Hooverphonic--this new album is a gorgeous introduction to one of the BEST bands out there right now. The new songs are unbelievably outstanding. Stand-outs include: Mad About You, Vinegar & Salt, Jackie Cane, Autoharp, and Waves. The variety on this album is the true genius of Hooverphonic. Not one song disappoints. With this new album, Hooverphonic shows growth in their music and courage to put out accessible eclectic songs. I can say with all certainty that this album should push Hooverphonic into the music world and gain more noterity!

JUST BUY THIS CD AND LET THE MUSIC SPEAK IN VOLUMES!

If you like Massive Attack (who I read in an interview happen to be HUGE fans of Hooverphonic), Cocteau Twins, Depeche Mode (who stated that Hooverphonic's version of their song 'Shake The Disease' was their personal favorite from their Tribute album), Lamb, Olive, Moloko, Esthero, Kid Loco (share a loungey vibe with Hooverphonic), etc. you'll absolutely LOVE Hooverphonic!

Under the Canopy
Average customer rating:
Under the Canopy

Manufacturer: Burmusic Productions
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA7GFA
Release Date: 2005-03-01

Jackie Crane/the Magnificent Tree
Average customer rating:
Jackie Crane/the Magnificent Tree

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000OCZBQM
Release Date: 2007-04-03