Aldhils Arboretum

of Montreal | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 24, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Kindercore Records
• ASIN: B00006IJ2Y
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #371,695 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars - A return to simpler Of Montreal, October 13, 2002

By 

Sheldon Rowan (Brookline, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aldhils Arboretum (Audio CD)

If Of Montreal's The Gay Parade was their Pet Sounds, Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies their Smile, and Then Who will Protect our Children their Smiley Smile, where does that leave Aldhils Arboretum? Why it's Wild Honey, of course. This isn't meant to slight either album, as both have their distinct qualities, but for Of Montreal and The Beach Boys it represents a change in musical direction to looking backwards and not forwards. Aldhils Arboretum doesn't have the same high concept as Coquelicot or the coherence of The Gay Parade, but this probably makes it a more likable album for the newly initiated. If you're listening to the group for the first time, this should be your album. It's really the Of Montreal sampler. You can hear bits of Cherry Peel (Jennifer Louise), The Bedside Drama (Predictably Sulking Sara), The Gay Parade (Natalie and Effie in the Park), Coquelicot (the most challenging song on the CD, Kid Without Claws), and even Then Who Will Protect Our Children? (the beautiful An Ode to the Nocturnal Muse which is sung in Japanese (Neru No Daisuki) on the aforementioned CD).

There aren't too many clunker songs on this CD, which makes it very listenable from beginning to end. Even the lower quality songs like Isn't it Nice? and A Question for Emily Foreman have charm. What holds me back from giving this album the 5 star rating and my highest recommendation is the lack of some truly brilliant songs. Doing Nothing could be a pop hit if Of Montreal ever wanted that kind of thing, and Kid Without Claws brings me back for repeated listens. They just don't set off bells in my head like some of their better songs from earlier CDs.

That said, Aldhils Arboretum is worth buying for existing fans and those drawn by their curiosity. The cheery relentless poppy hooks are all there, as are some of the finest musical arrangements this side of Circulatory System. Of Montreal is a band that loves to make music, loves to play music (if you can ever get to their live performances, they are routinely among the best performers I've heard), and loves to make you smile.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strange Album, May 2, 2005

By 

jacktheidiotdunce "weezeridiot" (Racine,WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aldhils Arboretum (Audio CD)

Aldhils Arboretum was my first Of Montreal CD. It is a very interesting CD and it seems like a good place for new-comers. They'll probably appreicate it more than hearing all the without hearing the supposedly awesome original neat concept albums like "Gay Parade"(which I'm dying to hear). It seems like old fans were kind of bored with this one for that reason. This seems just like a weird pop album without a concept like the others.

Songs like the humorus "Blank Husband", "Isn't it Nice?", "Emily" and most of the songs are off-beat pop songs, some are enhanced with horns and cello. All in all, Kevin and Of Montreal rock too. Lots of catchy songs. Definitely worth the ten bucks it is here. Oh yeah, neat artwork too, not too much but it look looks great.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For me, a good introduction to a great band, October 13, 2002

By 

C. Jaycox "word" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aldhils Arboretum (Audio CD)

First of all, download track one (Doing Nothing). If you like that song, buy this album as the rest will certainly appeal to you. Full of storytelling gems, this album reminds me of so many moments in my life. "Old People in the Cemetery" just offers such beautiful imagery. The catchiness of "Jennifer Louise" will remind you of a forgotten cousin. "Pancakes For One" is the perfect song for a breakup, while "Kissing in the Grass", with its haunting clarinet, makes you wish you had a lover again.
An album that reminds me of The Apples In Stereo and of the "Magical Mystery Tour" couldn't be bad, and it isn't.
Although a friend of mine disparaged this as a Beatles ripoff, 60s pop influences don't make it that. Instead it is an intelligent album that is definitely one of the top 10 of the year.
Give "Aldhils Arboretum" and Of Montreal a chance.