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16 Gargoyle A&E February 28, 2001
Hooverphonic: The Magnificent Tree by kristy sharpe
The problem with trip-hop music is that it loses its appeal really quickly unless the band happens to be exceptionally tal ented. The problem with Hooverphonic: their not. With their lat est album Tbe Magnificent Tree, the band attempts to move away from their former psychedelic sound and toward a more tradi tional and, unfortunately, less exciting style. Hooverphonic, known simply as Hoover in Europe, formed in Belgium in 1995, and gained minor popularity with their song "2Wicky," which was featured on the Stealing Beauty soundtrack. Their first full-length album, A New · Stereophonic Sound Spectacular, featured original singer liesje Sadoajus, along with guitarists Raymond cave: ,,,,· :,,{; Geerts and Alex Callier and keyboardist Frank Duchene. Sadonius later left the band with +>:••}:.... d was replaced by vocalist Geike Amaet. On their 3rd full-length album, Amaet's im11,91. vocals lack the subtle grace that made the band's first album a success. Where 0 Stereophonic. was lush and graceful, Tbe Magnificent Tree is mostly annoying with q.~nf~~!! ~:~~;t~!·~ t ~p~t!y lri9}1~~t\Ji. , tired beats and overused string sections. Between nodding off during bouts of sheer Also, Pee-Wee Hermali~~~~l oiigµiilly tappecf to voice Mohkeybone, but for boredom, the album reminded me of theme music that would accompany some whatever r~on,Jo1¥1 Tw:tutr,o f ound up with the role. That's a shame, if there's strange European children's show. one thing we all could use aiittle more of, it's Pee-Wee.And government. The song "Jacky Cane" is particularly odd, as it features a children's ~horns for no " I .also heard a. rumor th.tt he is going to host a prune· tim:e version of Yo" Don 't apparent reason.Another bizarre song is the album's opener"Autoharp," which features t Know Jack this fall, but don't hold me J~ it' ,,, . ..•...... lyrics like:"You are my autoharp/1 push every button on your body/I push the A minor/ Almost every.o ,ther tI!;()vie at tlle theater js a waste of time, especially Sweet the F major and especially the C sharp 7." Huh? What kind of metaphor is that, any . November. Wasn't this.rnqv'ie ,.t pic;ce of trash when it was called Autumn in New way? "Every time we hve together we die a bit more" is one of the worst songs on the .• .l'qrk and starrecl Rlcp.~d <;,er~ ~dWinona Ryder? Only this time it stars Keanu , .album-it sounds as though it were put togetl1er with one of those Casio keyboards I 111ei::ves? "You defy every la~. of .natQre," groans Keanti, Ch~~~Theron is w~aring / had in the seventh grade. "Pink Fluffy Dinosaurs" is just as stupid as it sounds and so is in afro rainbow wig, ~d yo11 just fose all hope in everythinif 'db, and she has can- "L'Odeur Animale" with its new-agey lyrics:"Feel the need to wonder/inside/fulfill your cer and dies. Good fcit' lier. /•· u · basic needs/deep inside/we wander by the lake of tears/ and smell the odor of our over at ·screen four, they'Ve turned Hannibal into a living joke. There'.s some fear/ inside." unim, okay. guy who sounds like Krang the talking brain from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Hooverphonic is not completely without hope, however. The best track on the Krang is played by Gary Oldman, which makes sense in a Zen way. He wants to album is "Renaissance Affair," which was featured in a Volkswagen commercial.Along kill Dr. Lecter with a bunch of wild pigs, an idea I could've sworn I've seen on with "Macl about you" and "The Magnificent Tree," these songs have the same dreamy Captain Planet. atmosphere as Stereophonic. Unless you conside.c yourself a die-hard fan of . If cannibalism isn't to your taste, youcan sit through the sea of ridiculousness Hooverphonic, skip this record. Here's hoping they return to their roots. ·· that is Saving Silverman. What is he being saved from, you might wonder (and I ~ hope,for your salvation, th~t yo1:1 aren't)?.~y,his devious and controlling fiancee, ',fOutsd ~ d who is dpiitg''.tfie saving?.• His bumbling frien,ds fro!ll high scho~u';s+ atis awacky ctimp througl{LaughyI.and, I kid you not. Does the fun ever start? ' lio-W- T O Dl7STilOY .... , Apparently not, because.your girlfriend is going to drag you to see Head Over ij~Js; in which stupid ,Freddy Prinzt;,Jr. (in case you've forgotten Freddy Prinze, .S r.,is dead) falls head over heels iii stupid love witQ a stupid apartment full of stu J: A Il S S'~ o -W- ~ Y. 'pid models. Dagnabit, whyd~esn't that happen to me?! ······ · Jnstead of writing ignof.antly about Down to Earth, which I haven't seen, I'd . to .ceme~er a skf(@m Tf.,e Chris Rock Show that,.~~an after school spe• " ' called "Daddy Has ii{H;tt,,JOP::~ Ify~u missed out _of this one, then say g()()(t <, ..tlilu . .,.,: /&\•:, .. ,.t-i!<+ @ • •••• l . ~ ., to be heard. or you can't hear someone two feet away now af e measured from you, then the noise · i n;dec:ibels. Repeated levels around you ore :exposure'·to more than 85 hazardous. And your War College panel visits Flagler by eli bortz offered his or her own opinions on the decibels -- a lawh mower. hearing is at risk. A various topics discussed. r>,ower tools. even playing a musical Flagler College hosted for the first One of the first questions fielded was time a Current Affairs Panel from the U.S. on the missile defense system being con ~-:--t!'inS,rument- can cause gradual or measure sound levels. Army War College on Wednesday, Feb. 21, sidered by the United States, which sodden hearing k>Ss. In fact. about one evaluate your hearing. in the Flagler Room. The war college would act to intercept enemy missiles itself is comprised of officers chosen by that may be launched at the U.S. The in ten people in this country is already and recommend potential the United States military as the most tal panel expressed confidence that missile · expedencing some degree of hearing treatment such as professionally ented soldiers. defense was needed and was practical. The Current Affairs Panel was estab "Iraq and Iran may soon have the abil loss. This condition affects job .fitted hearing protection. To find lished in 1969 and travels across the ity to hit us with their own missiles," perfonnance and quality of life. out more. contact the American country to universities and colleges to Sloan said. "It is in our moral interest to create a dialogue between the military defend America against missile attack." · IMtnpads co-wortcers Speech - Language -Hearing and the public. The panel was unanimous in explain ribnilymembers Association at 1.-800-638-TALK or U.S. Army Col. David Lopez, Lt. Col. ing that they did not consider themselves Maggie Belknap, Califo.cnia National the experts in some matters, but they as 'Nell. If you have to raise your voice visit www.asha.org. Guard Lt. Col. Michael Bosma, and Navy were interested in hearing what the pub Cmdr. Steve Sloan were chosen to com lic had to say about these iss~es. They prise the CurrentAffairs Panel held at the also expressed gratitude for the reception college. they had at Flagler College, and they Addressing questions and controver thanked the audience for challenging sies related to the military, each officer them and their opinions.