- Forest for the Trees
Infobox musical artist
Name = Forest for the Trees
Img_capt = "Forest for the Trees" (1997)
Background = group_or_band
Origin =
Genre =Trip hop
Alternative rock
Experimental rock
Psychedelic rock
Electronica
Years_active = 1993–1999
Label = DreamWorks Records
URL =
Current_members = Carl StephensonForest for the Trees is a musical group. The group was the brainchild of Carl Stephenson, an eclectic producer known for his work with
Beck . Difficult to classify, the group Forest for the Trees is probably best described as experimental psychedelictrip-hop . Stephenson began the project around the same time he was working with Beck, and by 1993 he had completed the majority of what would eventually be released as the self-titled "Forest for the Trees" album. That same year Stephenson began to obsessively tinker with the album's contents, but then suffered a nervous breakdown from which he spent several years recovering. [ [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:6x1tk6kxqkrf allmusic.com] ] The self-titled album was released by Dreamworks in 1997, and followed by an EP, "The Sound of Wet Paint", in 1999.Forest for the Trees included input from many musicians, including Beck, John "coz" Acosta, Papa Bear Martinez, Mark Petersen, don device, and Jasper & Amadeus, among others. In addition to producing, Stephenson plays violin, guitar, sitar, drums, keyboards and the
didgeridoo . "Forest for the Trees is also beautifully infected with a collage of sounds from answering machines to dripping water to roller coasters, which bring a real-life aspect to rather abstract music." [ [http://media.www.iowastatedaily.com/media/storage/paper818/news/1997/09/10/UndefinedSection/Forest.For.The.Trees.TripHops.Answer.To.Beck-1072685.shtml iowastatedaily.com] ]Response
"
Entertainment Weekly "'s David Browne described the self-titled album this way: "With its bong-watered, headphone-ready melange of distorted vocals, hip-hop beats, space-cadet lyrics, and sampled effects, the album is a spiritual cousin to Beck's debut "Mellow Gold ", which Stephenson co-produced." [ [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,289659,00.html Entertainment Weekly] ] The album's lead single, "Dream," enjoyed modest success in MTV's heavy-rotation "Buzz Bin," and received mixed reviews. As credit to the obvious psychedelic nature of the music, Shroomery.org lists Forest for the Trees as "good music to trip to." [ [http://www.shroomery.org/9081/What-is-some-good-tripping-music Shroomery.org] ]"
Pitchfork Media " gave the album a disappointed 6.1, but did state "Given the fact that this album was completed three to four years ago, it takes on visionary qualities. Had this been released when it was originally completed, Beck's "Odelay " may never have been hailed as the cut-n-paste production blueprint it has become." [ [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/17816-forest-for-the-trees-forest-for-the-trees/ Pitchforkmedia Review] ]Chart Information
Single Chart Information
"Dream"
Album Chart Information
"Forest for the Trees"
Discography
* Forest for the Trees (1997)
* The Sound of Wet Paint (EP, 1999)References
External links
*amg | id = 11:6x1tk6kxqkrf | label = Forest for the Trees
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.