Customer Reviews

Yum Yum Tree

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

During their time the Ozrics created some superb, classic albums. Pungent Effulgent (and before), Erpland, Jurassic Shift, Waterfall Cities, Hidden Step to name a few. The 'Yum Yum tree' for me is the end. The various band changes, change of bass player, synth, flute (Jumpin Jon leaving and being replaced by no-one) and different drum player (unless Merv steps in occassionally live) with far inferior replacements signals the end for me.

This album even after a few listens, is just rubbish. It simply doesn't compare to anything of the past and there is nothing 'new' or original in it. Ed is truying the same formulae, but with a rubbish band. It's a shame as they were once a great band. They should have quit on a high, but instead to go on & on the downward spiral producing this is just sad :-(

I hope Ed Wynne finds other projects to do as he still has real talent, but his band do not. Shame he can't join Shpongle, Eat Static, or do more Nodens Ictus etc...

The Yum Yum tree is the last Ozrics album I will buy as long as the current line up lasts. It is almost as bad as their current album, Paper Monkeys. Though Yum Yum tree isn't quite that bad! Frankly their last 3 albums have seen them fall to depths I though unimaginable back in the 90s.

I used to be a huge fan of the Ozrics and couldn't wait till their albums were released. The reason why I didn't buy this album before Christmas is that I already knew that it would be medicore at best. Unfortunately, it was worse than medicore. My main reason for fearing this was knowing how poor the current line up is. Ed Wynne can still play, of that there is no doubt. The others in the band are medicore at best, in reality quite talentless. The weakest link it has to be said is Brandi who not only has no talent, but it is no coincedence that the other musicians quit as soon as she arrived on the scene. Put it this way, if only she was as good as Yoko Ono!!! Nowhere near.

The Ozric Tentacles used to be one of the greatest live acts out there! They were extremely tight and each album truely was a band effort. When they had people like Merv, Jumpin Jon, Joie, Roly, Zia and Seaweed each individual contributed to an amazing live performance. It was out of this world! Live, they played like noone else. Better than Hawkwind, better than Steve Hillage & Gong, better than Shpongle. The line up also helped create quality albums such as Pungent Effulgent, Erpland, Jurassic Shift, Waterfall cities to name just a few.

It makes me sad to say, but I have to agree with the other reviewers who are honest enough to admit that Ozrics pre-hidden step compared to the 'Brandi show' are like a totally different band. I'm astonished that Brandi is considered good enough to be in the band. How long will Ed cut off his nose to spite his face? Fact is she is talentless. The rest of the line up isn't much better.

Ed's formulae for an album just doesn't work with this line up, nor will it ever will. Those who give this album rave reviews either never saw the Ozrics in their peak, or haven't heard of their earlier stuff (nor listened to Eat Static, Shpongle, Younger Brother, Aphex Twin, Shulman, Entheogenic... the list goes on). Frankly there are a lot more musicians out there now who have long since overtaken the Ozrics. This is sad as like I say, Ed Wynne should be doing better than this. For those that gave this 5 stars I say, lay off the drugs!!! A bit of honesty instead of sycophantly nodding yer head and accepting medicority. Who knows if more people were honest, the band line up may change for the better. There must be better musicians out there that would love to play with Ed. Well, one can only hope.

The Yum Yum tree is almost as bad as their latest offering, Paper monkeys. I have finally given up on Ed Wynne's Ozric Tentacles project. Over the years the Ozrics created some amazing albums, Pungent Effulgent, Erpland, Strangeitude, Jurassic Shift, Hidden Step. I agree with the other reviewer that 'The Hidden step'was the last decent album they did. I also don't rate Brandi Wynne at all, it is clear that the only reason she is in the band is because she married into it. No talent whatsoever. Those who think she is good obviously never saw the Ozrics in the golden days at Glastonbury.

It's obvious that Ed is going to continue with this, the worst line up the Ozrics ever had. Would love to see him try something different, perhaps a solo project or something. There is no point continually playing back catalog Ozric tracks at gigs with the worst line up they ever had. Fortunately, there are still other musicians out there who have not settled for medicority. Ed should take note.

It's sad to see how far the Ozrics have fallen. What once was a great band, with amazing contribution from each musician (listen to Erpland to hear just how good they were) compared to what they are now is just, well, sad :( I used to be so excited when I heard a new album was out, but with the Yum Yum tree and now Paper Monkeys it's quite obvious that they have settled for far less than medicore.

Their last good album was 'The Hidden Step', still way ahead of it's time now. As for Erpland, Pungent Effulgent, Strangeitude, Jurrassic Shift and their 80s stuff before all SUPERB! Then Ed put the talentless Brandi (his wife, suprise suprise) in the band and the rest of the quality musicians all, naturally, left. There are even youtube clips where she is pretending to play, when she clearly isn't. This band is now a shadow of themselves. Please Ed, get Brandi off the stage and hire some decent musicians again so that people now can see just how good this band can be.

I feel the same about the Yum Yum tree as I do with the Paper Monkeys. It just doesnt have the magic of the old. While I can't say I loved every song on previous albums, I certain liked at least 1/2 the album. Usually as is the case with Ozric Tentacles, there is one or two stand out songs that really make the album. That is the problem with Yum Yum Tree, there is not 1 good song on the album! What is becoming clear is that the Ozrics appear to have lost their magic. Reading through the other reviews, it does all seem to point up to 'The floor is too far away' which was the start of the failed trilogy of Ozric albums. Although I didn't like Spirals much, there were a couple of good songs on it.

Having seen them live twice last year, I also don't think that the current Ozric line up is that good. I remember seeing them 2 nights in a row back in the mid 90s and being blown away by how different they were. The current line up just don't improvise much and everything seems far too rehearsed. I want the 2nd show to sound different and yet the only person who really improvises is the guitarist. That never used to be the case. They also are relying far too much on the old 'hits', yet they don't play those hits anywhere near as good as they used to. Will the magic every return? Time will tell, though I fear not with the current line up.

The Yum Yum tree was to date the worst album EVER by the Ozrics (that is until Paper Monkeys). Some people reading this must wonder why so many fans became so annoyed with this band. Well, to see a band that once were masters, each and all, to see them fall apart and be replaced by talentless people is really sad. Especially to the many who supported the band over the years, travelling long distances to see them live.

For those who can remember as far back as the Hidden Step - now THAT was an excellent album! - all fans must realise how bad the Ozrics have become. I saw them live last year and could hardly believe that this was the same band that totally blew me away back at the Pongmasters ball. Remember Jumpin John, Seaweed, Zia... I mean people who had talent! Sadly I am starting to wonder if Ed has lost his musical ear. Anyone with half a brain can work out that the current line up is indeed the worst ever to grace the name Ózric'.

I have to agree with the other 1 star reviewers in saying that it does seem that since Brandi Wynne joined the band, they have sunk to a level below zero. She cannot play! When will Ed realise this. As for the others, they are almost just as poor. The live show now is pathetic compared to of old and yet they still rely heavily on the same old tunes. Please, change the name of the band and stop ruining the name of what were a psychedelic masterpiece.

Listen to Hidden step and everything before if you want real Ozrics. Don't waste money on this!

The Ozric Tentacles used to be one of the best space rock, psychedelic music around. However, this album is down there with the awful Floor is too far away album. Equally terrible. What ever happened to quality albums like the Hidden step?

I agree with the Brandi comments, since she joined the band is when you can trace their downfall. She is the worst most untalented band member EVER and clearly only got into the band because she married the guitarist. If you dont have the talent...

Its all very disappointing to see what were one of the best bands resort to worse than medicority. Shame!!!

Yum Yum tree isn't real Ozric Tentacles. For me, it is the poorest album under the ¨Ozrics¨ name. Saying that the new ¨Paper Monkey's¨ album is just as poor.

The current drummer & bassist especially are just not in the same league as ANY of the line ups of old. That is a fact and even the most ardent fan who deny s this is really not being truthful to themselves. I sometimes wonder if these 5 star reviews are written by the band members & friends! I really am in shock that some people think to give this 5 stars! As good as Erpland? As good as Strangeitude? Nowhere near!

If you listen to earlier Ozric releases you will hear excellent drums from Rad, Shoo and of course Merv (from the excellent Eat Static). All drummers were totally superb! My favourite drummer of all time was actually Rad, with Merv & Shoo a close 2nd equal. As for Brandi, err, Zia? Roly? Nowhere near.

There really is no comparison between the early Ozric albums and what they do now. I wish they'd drop the name "Ozric Tentacles" and at least be honest with themselves! The bassist, Brandi just doesn't have it! As has been said by others, the only reason she is in the band is because of marrying her way in. I sometimes suspect that the very rare good bass riffs on the album are actually done by Ed Wynne! (the guitarist and the only member of the current line up who can play!)

At the live shows now, Brandi's lack of talent is there for all to see! She cannot improvise at all and her playing is very 'prescriptive'. Just go to see 2 nights close together and you will see what I mean. Compared to when they had a proper lineup where each band member was a total genius live, and shows very different it is quite despairing for those who remember the Ozrics as one of the best live acts. Those days are well over!

Their current live shows also rely heavily on old material which at least gets them some cheers. But the same old material was played way better with the great line ups of old. I also miss the real flute and amazing solos and without jumpin Jon on stage they really do lack a stage presence.

I'd agree with the other reviewer who said that Ed Wynne is still trying to stick to the same album formulae, electric tracks, fast, quiet, the odd mid eastern, but with this line up he really is wasting his time. Time to do something different, perhaps?

At least musicians like Simon Posford (Younger Brother, Shpongle) and OTT really are experimenting. While the new Younger Brother album 'Vaccine' isn't everyones cup of tea, it certainly is very different to the other 2 albums. Same can be said of other bands like Phutureprimitive. I wish Ed would go it alone and do something different. Obviously the old line up will never be recreated, but playing with sub standard musicians only drags the Ozric name through the mud. I wait and hope for a solo project.

The Yum Yum tree is perhaps, by a whisker (either this or Paper Monkeys), the worst album the Ozrics have made. Sadly the revamped 'Ozric Tentacles' consists of 1 person who can play, the guitarist, and the rest who are inferior in every aspect. The days when they used to have a superb band who all contributed something of 'real quality' are long gone. It does seem to stem from the time when the guitarist thought it would be a good idea to let his wife in the band! Yes, as another reviewer stated, think Beatles with Yoko Ono, but only she is much, much worse! She just can't play live, nor improvise and is clearly spoon fed the little she does. The rest of the band aren't much better.

Don't waste your money on this, they have so many better albums (pre Hidden step, agreed). Waterfall Cities is my Fav.

Thinking positively, Paper Monkeys, The Yum Yum Tree, The floors too far away and to some extent, Spirals in hyperspace (as it is not a band effort) are the only poor Ozric albums out of a huge back catalog of excellent albums. That is not bad considering just how good their previous albums right up to the Hidden Step were. And that includes a lot of albums!

Since after the Hidden Step, the band just don't do it for me :( The Hidden Step line up was the last good line up. The current 'band' just are far too weak.

I agree with the other reviewer in saying that I hope Ed does something different, a solo project, or teams up with Merv, Joie or someone of that standard again. Ed Wynne is someone with pure, real genius and I think his talent is now wasted on Ozric projects with such poor line ups and people who don't have any great ideas of their own. I also hear a staleness from Ed in Paper Monkeys, perhaps his heart is not in it. It's sad, as someone with such talent should not be wasted with this current talentless line up.