Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Already had this album before, the review: 'Pleasantly surprised, started out a little rough after the first song. But started to like it more and more. Definitely a save for later'
Really good!
Some misses here but mostly bangers.
Love the chemical brothers but it's not a 5*
Great to listen to while exercising or cleaning the house
Pleasantly surprised, started out a little rough after the first song. But started to like it more and more. Deffinetly a save for later
At some point during this album I hadda stop and wonder to myself how I actually wanted to review electronic music like this. Which, y'know, is a question that can drift off into "How do I wanna talk about music as a whole?", but let's stay focused. So, like... Electronic dance music. Big beat. Breakbeat. Whatever other genres this is. This is music, first and foremost (at least how I see it), for the clubs. It's for flashing lights and getting all hot and sweaty, losing yourself on the dance floor, and also drugs. More of a possibility than not drugs. Ecstasy, if I hadda guess. Now, I don't go to clubs. I hardly dance. If I get hot and sweaty doing anything, it's taking a walk in mildly warm weather. And I certainly don't take drugs (and even if I did, my cheese intake would still probably get me first). With all that gone, what exactly does the music itself leave me with — y'know, when I listen to the actual music? And to cut this off at the pass, I don't wanna make it seem like clubgoers wouldn't be paying attention to the music, nor that the Chemical Brothers just slapped this album together to be a pace-setting piece of wallpaper. More, it's just that when you take this kind of music out of its natural environment, what are you left with to chew on? For me, I think it comes down to two things: how much I can lock in with and be hypnotized by the beats, and how well (as with a lot of instrumental music) I can Fantasia to it. And to address the latter first — well, in general how one can Fantasia might more come down to how much imagination someone has b/w their ability to think of things on the fly... But I think I can make it work well enough. It's a fine one to imagine some goings-on to. But then we obviously have the more important side of things. And, like... Yeah, I'd say I can, but it's also where I think I had a revelation about myself and my tastes in electronic dance music: Daft Punk has colored a lot of what I expect out of it, specifically thanks to DISCOVERY. And that's not fair to this album, I know. It's an apples and oranges thing, tryna compare French house nu-disco to English breakbeat big beat. But it's not irrelevant, y'know? 'Coz I feel like with Daft Punk, their songs are always evolving. They never stay in one place forever — I mean, just look at "Around The World" from HOMEWORK. People razz on that thing for its repetitiveness, but if you notice, it has a bunch of different sections and it's always changing. It moves around and it keeps your interest. Versus the Chemical Brothers on this album, where, y'know, I'm not gonna say there's not similar evolution, but, like... It's not **as** noticeable? Especially with some of the longer songs, there are times where you'd be hard pressed to figure out how far away you are from the beginning or the end of the song. And they're good songs, don't get me wrong. I like what I heard here. But it can be a **bit** hard to stay focused when you feel like you're stuck going in a circle, y'know? As well, it doesn't strike me that there's as much variety as there would be on a Daft Punk record. Every song on one of those sounds different from each other, while still fitting into a cohesive whole, whereas here... Besides "Block Rockin' Beats" at the front, it all kind of feels pretty similar, like it's vaguely hovering around the same BPM the entire album without ever going too far over or under. Although, with that said... It doesn't feel like **as** much of a problem as it would be on other albums? I know I just made a big three paragraph deal out of it, but I wanna emphasize that I **do** like the songs on here. They may all have a similar psych-breakbeat tone to them, but it's a damn good tone, and one I enjoy hearing. There's an accessible poppiness to this stuff, while still retaining a lot of the harder integrity you'd want out of this kind of music. And seriously, when it all comes together and hits — fuckin' hell, it's great. Of course "Block Rockin' Beats" stands out as the big example, but I also wanna pay special attention to the album closer, "The Private Psychedelic Reel". It's... Just, wow. It's the best track here, bar none. It's this intriguing, great-ass mix of break and Indian-inspired psych rock... And in fact, it sounds like what I wanted OK by Talvin Singh to sound like. I mean, lemme tell yah: another small nitpick of mine about this kind of music is that, as a girl who tends to latch on to melody over everything else... Well, break**beat** and big **beat** don't exactly have a big focus on that. But with this track, and that little sitar lick it has going on throughout... Oof, yeah, yeah, no, yeah. I'm down for this big time. Don't even care that it's nine minutes; it got its hooks in me, and it got them in **deep**. So, yeah. I might have my quarrels with this kind of electronic music, but overall, it's still good stuff. I gotta give my props to Tom and Ed for putting all together. And, sure, I don't think I'd reach for this as soon as I would a Daft Punk album... I can't say I'd never touch this thing ever again, y'know? So I guess I found what I got out of it. "Block rockin' beats" indeed, goodness.
I’m at a 3.5 that I’ll bump up to a 4. We’ve gotten stuff like this before, mainly in “The Fat of The Land” by The Prodigy & Fatboy Slim’s “You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby”. As the direct comparisons, I don’t think this album gets to the same level as those two. The energy isn’t as high, the “danceability” isn’t really there for a lot of these tracks, & as a whole, there’s a number of baffling production decisions that just drag this thing down throughout the already long 63 minute runtime. There’s a bunch of smaller ones, like a few sections of each track taking a bit long to transition from point A to point B, and really harping on a repetition in a way that left me unsatisfied until the drops/transitions occurred. The big one, however, is just in how often this album puts a heavy emphasis on one instrument that absolutely monopolizes the soundscape & sort of burns the ears up. It’s especially egregious on the endings of “Setting Sun” & “It Doesn’t Matter”. If your brain is as attentive as mine is, those moments happen way more than they should, and it lends itself to a sort of negative simmering feeling that doesn’t fully go away until something else distracts the ears away. With that said, it’s not THAT bad, otherwise I would be giving it much lower than a 4. I’m tearing into it a bit, but that’s because this album’s “flaws” are so potent that it’s easier to point them out. It’s harder to pinpoint the parts of this album that work really well, because the soundscapes are always encapsulating the ears in some fashion. There are nuances throughout this thing that I almost certainly didn’t catch, but as I said, that “simmering feeling” sort of distracts the ears from catching it in the first place. When this album does find a zen state, it clicks really nicely, and I honestly did enjoy 7 of the 11 tracks here in a “yeah, I’d listen to this again” sense. So, it’s getting a rather generous bump up to a 4 – I’ve nearly talked myself back down into a 3, given that even the tracks I liked have a number of stagnant moments within each one, but I think the energy level and the overall production here is still fine enough to warrant it. It’s nowhere near the level of the other big beat / plunderphonics-y albums we’ve gotten, but it’s a wholly competent 63 minutes that is, at the very least, interesting to listen to as a progenitor of the more polished & more energetic albums that would emerge in the wake of its popularity. I liked it, flaws & all, hence the bump up to a 4. No more than a 7.5 out of 10 though, if we were going that route.
Cool album.
I have danced to this album in clubs uncountable times over the course of my life. For a 52-year-old gen xer this was my Disco.
Sounds like every 90s action movie
Fine
Goes cray cray
Complex, cinematic, and scene-building—“storytelling with sound design” Big beat energy, rock/electronic crossovers, evolving structures Standouts: “Block Rockin’ Beats,” “Setting Sun,” “Where Do I Begin,” “The Private Psychedelic Reel” Deeply impressive, even if not personally defining; could grow or settle in time
I bought this album on the day it came out and returned it to the shop immediately after listening to it as I thought it was rubbish. But you couldn't get away from hearing it in 1997, it was absolutely everywhere and I soon succumbed to its charms. I never liked Block Rockin' Beats as a single, but it was a Number 1 hit here in the UK and a very 'accessible' way into the album. 'Dig Your Own Hole' is rawer, better, and more like the live Chemical Brothers experience. I'm also fond of 'Elektrobank' and the toughness of the breaks, and the vocal sample works well. 'Piku' is the first suggestion of filler to me. Pretty but lightweight. 'Setting Sun' was another monster number 1 hit. At the time in the UK it was illegal to say anything negative about Oasis. This is the better hit for me as it's a bit more distinctive. I have a soft spot for 'It Doesn't Matter' as this was huge in techno clubs in the UK at the time and takes me back to them. Side C of the album is most like the live experience, but perhaps doesn't work as well in album form. If this side was missing I don't think the album would suffer much, even 'IDM' is more of a club track. There's a pretty Beth Orton-vocal track and it finished with 'Private Psychedelic Reel' which is OK but goes on a bit. All in all holds up pretty well, despite my first negative reaction back in 1997
I really enjoy 80% of the tracks. There are just a few mixed in that are bit to much like random noise to me to give it full marks.
very cool album by this great band
I'm probably more of a Surrender man really. However, this still bangs. Final two tracks are probably my favourite and more expansive.
Very of its time. But the chemical brothers have an incredibly unique palette when it comes to writing songs. Super energetic and a lot of fun. Sometimes a little monotonous, but only rarely. Would recommend.
I know very few Chemical Brothers tracks, none from this album. This was more enjoyable to me than many electronic albums, I liked the more industrial qualities of the mixes. Did drag out in places, but certainly maintained the energy. Really good overall, not great to me but I can understand both high and low ratings. 4/5
You no longer need to hit the club, the club will hit you.
some of these 90s electronica albums just come with aura, the chemical brothers are pretty sick
Classic still sounds good
Repetitive electronic music. Ok, but lacks the interesting breaks to the repetitions that this kind of music needs. They have other albums that I like more.
This feels like it would be the soundtrack to a grungy, early aughts cybercrime/action movie or a PS1 skating game [positive].
Kulutin chemical brotherssia jonkin verran siinä parin kympin ikäisenä kun tämän tyylinen konemusa oli kova juttu. Näin uudelleen kuultuna täytyy myöntää, että aika yksipuoleiselta ja saman loopin toistamista kappaleet ovat vaikka löytyyhän sieltä timanttejakin. Kyllä tää edelleen ihan potkii.
Rating: 7.5/10 Overall very good electronic music.
Dope
Would be amazing if I was mashed like its intended audience
This album came out two months after I was born. So ahead of its time full of mantric songs from the matrix like It Doesn’t Matter and Where Do I Begin. It had me fast walking on the way to work. I feel like I was able to be more open minded about them too because I’ve seen them live and I know how genius they are. Where electronic meets rock meets alternative. It’s giving you everything all at once.
I dig it (no pun intended). Listening to it feels like a live continuous set
I remember seeing these at a festival, amazing set and light show, consummate professional. Enjoying it except elektrobank and it doesn't matter very repetitive songs.
Enjoyed it.
Good memories
Уровень жесткости Chemical Brothers: Daft Punk<Chemical Brothers<Prodigy Альбом Dig Your Own Hole - одна из самых культовых работ в жанре брейкбит. Рекомендую его послушать всем, особенно тем, кто из брейкбита знаком только с Prodigy (как в целом был знаком и я). Песни Chemical Brothers легче воспринимаются чем их песни, их интереснее слушать, а также они не так сильно зафоршены в массах. Начиная слушать альбом DYOH, вы открываете мир неизведанной ранее музыки слегка знакомого жанра, которая погружает вас в атмосферу рейвов конца девяностых вплоть до окончания последнего трека. Данный альбом вполне хорошо подходит под прослушивание во время игр и подобного интерактива, что достаточно сложно встретить в списке «1001». Если бы концовка альбома была такой же драйвовой, как и начало, то альбом получил бы от меня максимальную оценку. Рейвовые 4/5.
Not usually my bag, but I got into this. Kind of a fan!
4.1 3x great EDM
This album gets me pumped up. If I were high in a club, it would be a 5/5
Surprisingly tasty
I was really getting into this at the beginning, but that feeling died down as it went on. That was probably just me getting sleepy though. Pretty good overall
Before yesterday I didn't knew much about this album besides the three main singles(Setting Sun, Block Rockin Beats and Electrobank), while the third one is better in the full form(it was edited down for single release) I think that this album suffers from the extended runtime gained due to CD being the popular method of album release. Not to say that it was a bad experience, just a tiny bit too long. 8/10 Other than that, what's not to love, I love when the bass was cranked up in the outro of Electrobank https://youtu.be/DS6udW_D5N0
Dig Your Own Hole is a proper wild ride. The Chemical Brothers went all in with this one, throwing everything at the wall, and for the most part, it sticks. It’s got that filthy, in-your-face energy, the kind that makes you wanna move whether you like it or not. The production is massive, thick, layered, and constantly shifting, with beats that punch hard and synths that sound like they’re trying to break out of your speakers. The mix is crisp as hell too, every little detail sitting right where it should, making the whole thing feel immersive. The instrumentals? Well, they’re packed with all sorts of madness pulsing basslines, wailing siren-like synths, relentless drums, and a proper psychedelic touch that keeps things interesting. Block Rockin’ Beats is an absolute stomper, setting the tone straight away, while Elektrobank is this spiralling, chaotic beast that’s just begging to be heard at full volume. That said, the album does start to feel a bit samey after a while. Some tracks drag on longer than they need to, and a few moments feel like they’re all build-up with no real payoff. The vocals, when they do show up, don’t always hit the mark for me—sometimes they add to the atmosphere, but other times they just feel tacked on, like an afterthought rather than an integral part of the track. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot to love here, and when it’s on point, it’s seriously good. But by the end, it’s all a bit exhausting. like it’s trying to keep you locked in a rave you’re not sure you wanna stay at. It’s got moments of brilliance, but as a full album, it loses me a bit. Solid effort though, 3.6/5 stars.
It's cool! It's fun! I love music made with the computer so much! I really like this era of big beat and this album and fat of the land are always fun to listen to. Not my favorite big beat releases but i'm gonna shift the blame to mr oasis entirely instead of just finding other stuff in the period more interesting. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- I heard a lot of people say they listen to this album while fucking. I literally don't ask for this information but i get told this
8/10 It’s gosh dang fun *puts on my eye jacket sunglasses, baggy cargo pants, and roller blades with my frosted tips freshly wetted* Easily some of the better UK Electronic music that existed during its prime in the 90s *opens up laptop to disable the alarms at your parent’s house* With the abuse of sample flips, infectious breakbeat samples and fat funky basslines, it’s insanely easy to get into a groove of these songs *does a flip through a closed window into your parent’s house undetected* I had an absolute blast with the front end of the album, high on energy and aesthetic that is pretty definitive for the 90s *Does insane parkour through hallways and off furniture, making sure I get all the dirt from the outside on all of their antiques, and also spray painting my name all over the walls* There’s other elements of Trip Hop, Techno, and House music that occur on the second half of the album that are still pretty solid though they do get drawn out a bit especially in length *Your parents run in the living room shocked, I do a backflip and woo them, they fall for me, I have sex with both of your parents* I still have a lot of love for this style of music and the era it comes from, if we bother to maintain the late 90s/Y2K aesthetic for longer, we do have a moral responsibility to bring Big Beat back *Your parents are both passed out from all the epic sex we had, I bring out my laptop and deposit all of their savings into my NFT collection, I’m making a rug pull scam for the Costco Guys* I prefer the Prodigy more but hey not mad at this at all *I make a million dollars and continue this Sisyphean pump and dump schemes from different house holds until I’m inevitably shot and killed by a doomsday prepper*
This feels like it would be the soundtrack to a grungy, early aughts cybercrime/action movie or a PS1 skating game [positive].
Electronics is tricky because it does not lend itself to just listening. It works better in context to something else. Be that dancing or as the soundtrack to a movie (for this album, The Matrix comes to mind). Without that context it risks becoming stale and repetitive. That said, I found this album to be pretty well paced. As soon as a song was nearing that repetitive state where my ears tune out, it added something new to the track to grab my attention. It would be a killer score for The Matrix.
An album of its time for sure, but a great time it was. Love the guest vocals from Beth Orton too, and the whole thing just sort of rolls out in front of you. Great album.
Love these guys, always got some absolute bangers up their sleeves. In these early albums it’s definitely quite a stripped back and raw sound, which actually makes it quite a harsh listen as a whole album. This album starts off like a train but for me then looses its way in the 2nd half, before recovering to end on a belter.
Vet aldrig om jag kommer kunna sätta instrumental musik som en femma, detta kommer då isåfall vara det närmsta. Så fantastiskt det mesta av det och även om jag är ett stort oasis fan så tycker jag hans låt va den som avvek mest från perfektion.
I feel like DJ/electronic bands, have extremely unique fingerprints. This band reminds me of The Prodigy. I won't listen to it regularly, but it's still a good time, if your in that kind of mood
I'm into the artwork and album title. Bleak. I'm digging the opener, Block Rockin' Beats. Straddles a boundary between electronic and hip-hop with a futuristic lean. Could imagine this fitting nicely into a montage scene from either the Matrix or some heist movie. Title track is another propulsive breakbeat number. Some elements in here that could rub people the wrong way (screeching whistle and an uncomfortable synth warble through the back half) but I'm here for it. Piku makes me think immediately of El-P in terms of the styling. It Doesn't Matter is a wonderfully satisfying loop track. At once propulsive and psychedelic with all of the skittering shit that comes in and out of focus with the warm bass current. Makes me want all of the drugs, but here I am plugging away at code... Lost in the K-Hole, while having one of the best track names I've seen in recent memory, is a late album standout for me. Really love the way the vocal sample sits atop the glittering keys. Loved this one. Not perfect, but I was vibing with way more than I wasn't. High 4 verging on 5 for me. Another listen in the morning will tip the scales.
I had a feeling we would be getting this album at some point because of Block Rockin Beat. Just seems like it is right up this guys alley in terms of music. Dragged on a bit long and a lot of the songs in the middle had some really cool beats that got repetitive in the song itself, but each song was fresh. Was going between a 3-4 here, the ending was really strong though with the last 2 songs especially the last one. So ending on a great note moves it up to a 4. Lets go get lost in the k-hole
The transitions into other songs is impressive. Took me a few songs in to realize I wasn't still on the first one. Liked the song with Noel Gallagher. Also had to look up what song I was listening to and it was Lost in the K-Hole. Super dreamy. Also had to come back to check out what song was The Private Psychedelic Reel. Love the sitar on this one. Debated giving this one a 3 but I found myself jamming a lot during it. Kept my Friday morning interesting.
Great big beat
Bigbeat/electronica/psychedelic trance from the late 1990s. It's the kind of music that doesn't really work in any setting, as background music or at a concert because it's very fast pacing and kind of repetitive. It only works in a club when someone uses drugs, it's very trippy music. Still, it sounds quite fresh, and well produced. A few minues of it would work very well as a soundtrack of a far-out movie. I wanted to give it a 3, but the last two track, especially the closing is too good. So it's a 4 at best.
Really exceeded my expectations! I knew the first track, of course, but was surprised at the depth and variation and melody throughout. I even feel like it gets stronger as it goes. Cool album for my evening at home.
Great album! Reconized some of the songs, i think this is a great album to have one while gaming.
Day 14: Dig Your Own Hole - The Chemical Brothers. The Chemical Brothers are an integral aspect of the big beat genre, a genre that derived from break-dancing music, or breakbeat. To put it quite simply, take a hip-hop track, add syncopation and polyrhythms, and add some pretty freaking epic instrumentation. The music from this album would be an awesome addition to nearly any party. While I very much prefer The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers have still produced some awesome music that can easily put one in a very good mood. I'm not sure what type of hole I'd be digging, since I'd be lifted up high instead of being dug low. I absolutely enjoyed listening to this album, but it doesn't really feel like a must-listen. I'm sure that it changed the lives of many individuals over the last three decades, it's just that I feel like Exit Planet Dust is enough from The Chemical Brothers for the "1,001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" album compilation. Personal Enjoyment: 5/5. How Much It Belongs Here: 3/5.
If you don't like this at all you're probably a little bit boring. It's just banging beats for an hour, what's not to like. Sure it gets a little same-y eventually, but it's good fun.
Big beats are the best get high all the time
Hasta ahora el mejor de los álbumes sugeridos (voy 17). Nada que decir más que aprecio lo arriesgado que es este disco y lo bien que resulta. The Private... una genialidad. Nota: 4.5
I enjoyed the tracks individually, but it was a bit much as a whole album. It really is fantastic to listen to in a dark night club with the neon lights and everyone around you having a great time though.
Love it!
deep and physical and Gritty,,,an occasional sort of instrumental hip hop/plunderphonics vibe where bits of different fundamental audio temperance are pulled into semi-harmonious collage. the sparks of them smashing against eachother are usually more the main appeal then them melding seemlessly! and are ultimately where the record's aesthetic cohesion is found...it counts for a lot that the drumlines and bass grooves feel constantly Bottomless no matter whats on top of them
Très bien structurés, entre insistance, variations et progressions, des basses qui nous soulèvent et nous accrochent
Another 3.5, really liked it but felt like it dragged a bit on some songs. Still, closer to a 4 than a 3 so
Good stuff
Ógeðslega góð plata ef maður en fyrir svona tónlist. Hressandi og tengi alls ekki við það að hún sé of full af endurtekningum. Finnst þetta einmitt bara rosalega experimental en á sama tíma þétt. Ekkert rugl. Gaman að djamma við þetta og reyndar vinna líka og ræktast.
Ég er að fíla þetta. Mjög hressandi elektró rokk. Where do I begin sem Beth Orton syngur kom mér líka skemmtilega á óvart.
Typical 90's rave music to blast while high on ecstasy. The album maintains a really solid back beat, and the music makes ya wanna move. Surprisingly solid album. This is the second Chemical Brothers album I've had on this generator, the first being Exit Planet Dust. I was completely unaware that The Chemical Brothers sang the song "Where Do I Begin". The first two notes of the song and I was transported back to 2006 when I was watching the movie Accepted while attending university. This song plays while the character Bartleby Gaines is trying to figure the whole "college thing" out. Such a fantastic movie, and a nice shot of nostalgia. Now I have to go re-watch Accepted. Favourite songs: Where Do I Begin, Block Rockin' Beats, Setting Sun, It Doesn't Matter, Elektrobank, Piku, The Private Psychedelic Reel Least favourite songs: Don't Stop The Rock 4/5
Cool
Rockin’!
Wall to wall bangers
classic
Interesting experimental early electro sounds. Worth to listen
This album is very important to me. It was the first album non-rock album that I really loved. It made me realize that there are other genres out there. As for the album itself, it really still holds up very well. It's catchy in all the right ways. There's some harshness that I don't love, but that comes with the territory I think. I'm always up for listening to this one.
Very surprised that I really liked this!
this albums first few tracks are nostalgia laden movie soundtrack bangers, but as the album progresses its gets odder, almost off rhythm, off kilter. strange arrangements and horn sounds, keys clicking and 90s pop electro sounds subverted into dark eccentric spaces. its a cool album.
I like this album but not sure why. It got a lot of fun things going on. It reminds of a video game background.
Must admit, although I like the Chemical Brothers a lot, they're normally an act I listen to in fairly short snatches. There's only so many epic-buildup breakbeat slammers a man can take... but this record does reward a full listen through. It ebbs and flows nicely and sort of captures the dynamism of a live set. Strong.
Felt like I was on speed in a shitty euro night club. Hell yea.
It is quite fun and unique. I don't think I'll listen to this album again, but I enjoyed it
This has been my favorite of the Big Beat albums we've listened to so far. I felt like it really hit a stride toward the middle of the album, with a combination of breakbeats and basslines that I enjoyed enough to forgive a cameo from a Gallagher brother. Very enjoyable overall.
Great album. Listened to it for another list. 4/5
What a classic! This was the album that got me into electronic music. After almost 30 years, you can still see how influential Exit Planet Dust was on the whole electronic dance scene.
I feel like I just huffed chemical fumes
Industrial drum and bass with 90s angst and attitude. Unapologetically repetitive and grating which makes the mixups surprising and exciting. I haven't listend to anything like this before. Guaranteed to make the lofi girl shit herself.
Pretty fun. Not my usual style but good background music. Made me feel like I was in the club in the 90s even though I was checking emails. 4
They were decent, not shower vibes but if we were in a club in the late 90s we'd be all over it.
I really enjoyed this musically. It had some rough moments in terms of sounding a bit shouty at times. This was on one of my smoothest setups too (ZMF Atrium, R2R DAC, tube amp).
Liked it.
Big beat classic - harshly rounding down to 4 as it has aged a little.
Classic electro album from 90s. Still sounds fresh today. Heard it many times but good to hear again. 7.5/10
What a start and end to the album! Block Rockin Beats gets a star on its own. Everything in between got kind of samey but I enjoyed it. Good stuff
Big guitars, big beats. Nice 4/5
A great album from a genre I normally can’t stand
I'll probably regret rating this so highly, but I quite enjoyed this one. Production is clean yet punchy (sounds great) and there are some creative moments & transitions. By far the best electronic album I've gotten yet. Where do I begin is a stinker though
From the days of big beat dance! Very enjoyable psych-up music, obviously good for the ‘90s dance floor, but appropriate in so many other instances as well. Back before everyone wanted to be so durned mellow all the time.
J’ai été surpris d’aimer ça, d’habitude la musique electro-industriel c’est un peu trop rought sur le système, mais là ça touchait une belle niche. Un genre de «Evil Kraftwerk», et je suis là pour ça
Not my style, but I did love this album at the time. It reminds me when I had subs in the can of a Ford Ranger.
It's fine. If I were more into EDM I'd probably love it.
I think maybe the first electronic album I've had that develops and changes during the songs! I guess I've been on early stuff, but I love this giving me some more interest to listen to. And that funky ass bass on track 1 !!!! From around It Doesn't Matter, parts of it do start to sound like the end of the party where you sober up and get bored/feel how tired you are, but still enough changes going on. Interesting and enjoyable listen for an average Thursday morning, which can definitely not be said for every edm album
Oikeen viihdyttävää kamaa, mielenkiinto pysyy yllä läpi levyn
Some of the songs went on a tad too long. Too many boring albums lately though, so this was welcome.
i feel like i should explore more dance / tech house albums, i like basically all the ones i've heard, this one included
I’m curious as to how well known The Chemical Brothers are outside of the UK. Despite this being released in 1997, I probably can not go a week without hearing Block Rockin’ Beats somewhere. I imagine this is a UK thing, but I’d love to hear whether that is true or not. Anyway, I did quite enjoy this album. I listened while working, which meant my focus wasn’t entirely given to the music, but I felt that this worked in its favour. It kept me happy while I was typing away. I’d usually say that the more ambient side of this genre is good for focusing, but this seemed like an exception. It’s an odd hybrid of a rump shaker and Ritalin.
Gigantic classic, but I’m getting too old for this. Got to see them live last year, it was an enormous blast, but at my age, I was back in the VIP bar sipping on some cocktail and overpriced beer before opting out and heading to see The Cure. Chemical Brothers sound was louder even from the other stage. Wish I could relive the blast like back in the days instead of being a bit annoyed by it
Very 90s electronic music. Cool and exciting for the most part tho
For me this is where their sound starts to come together. This album captures what's about to happen with the Matrix movies, phones and the increase in pace for digital art. But I haven't looked into that, so I'm quite likely wrong.
A great electronic gem for when you need some block rocking beats!
Yes!
Pretty good. The songs go hard as hell. Reminds me of the Matrix soundtrack or The Prodigy. Cool!
Good stuff.
This shit slaps. 4/5
This isn't bad, but it's also not spectacular. Pretty generic unst unst unst bwow bwow bwow music. Probably pretty great at the time, though.
Good listen!
Stonker
This album always gets me amped, it’s one of my favorite running albums. Right off the bat the energy from Block Rockin’ Beats is electric. It doesn’t really slow down from there. The guest vocal tracks, Setting Sun and Where Do I Begin, are two of the best tracks, but the album is full of rockin bangers that have held up surprisingly well. It’s a little long and honestly the last song always kind of throws me off with the eastern world music sitar vibes, but overall this is a great electronic music album.
nice rocking album - especially great at work when you are trying to focus on some tough numbers crunching or mundane tasks... seriously. Hard not to foot tap or head bob along. Great find and listen. I know electronica is not for all, but I enjoyed multiple listens
A classic of it's time. This reminds me of university days. Not every album track is perfect and, like a lot of "Big Beat" stuff, sometimes it seems a bit bombastic and a bit too much. But the hits are fantastic and I'll always love the last two songs that make up the trippy outro.
I am comparing this to the other chemical brother's album and this is a true 9. A house classic and helped not only cement the legacy of house music but also is just a beautiful, crafted record with hype throughout the whole thing. One of the strongest openings by them and the strongest closer that I revisit and listen to constantly. Piku is one of my favorites it is so electric with its drums and overlapping samples it just rewards you for patience and I would love to just vibe out on a dance floor to this. I agree this is an abloom worth listening to before death
Ég hef vanalega ekki talið mig vera mikið fyrir svona tónlist en þetta er samt alveg mjög gott stöff sem ég komst í góðan fíling við að hlusta á. Kannski enda ég bara í einhverju reifpartýum á þriðjudagskvöldum með þessu áframhaldi en það er kannski bara af hinu góða.
There is a lot of industrial sound in this, which I didn't expect. I could listen to this again, and even use it for background music when focusing.
This is a good electronic album ? I say with a question mark because while this was enjoyable, it sounds a lot like most electronic albums I’ve ever heard. The genre doesn’t do a lot for me when I’m listening on my own. Very neat for performances, enjoyable when your with a group or at a party, but for individual listening this wouldn’t crack my favourites. Still an enjoyable listen, and I like having it in my back pocket for electronic enjoying friends or for suitable occasions.
4.2 - Okay this started out as a struggle and the whistle was waaaaaaaay to much, but I stopped and came back to it when I was editing instead of driving and it felt so much better. It was a really strong ending IMO and deffo would re listen in better circumstances.
Block Rockin Beats is good, and Where do I begin, I mean a lot of them are good. I like this mainly because of the times it reminds me of in the mid to late 90s. Those were very special times for me in my life. I'll give it a 4 for those reasons. The songs aren't particularly stellar.
hit the spot for the long night drive back to school from Cambridge. no songs stood out and i’ll probably never revisit it but it was absolutely what i needed tonight
It’s a bit long, but I found myself enjoying most of the tracks. I think there is enough material here to revisit at least a few times. It definitely exemplifies late 90s electronic music and provides some good historical context.
trippy
Great album. Almost perfect. There are a couple clunkers in the middle but put this on and go for a walk. You’ll love it. It’s also super nostalgic for me. High school rave in the middle of the country in a landlocked state vibes
Timeless album. So good.
01) Block Rockin' Beats - 10,0 02) Dig Your Own Hole - 8,0 03) Elektrobank - 9,0 04) Piku - 7,0 05) Setting Sun - 10,0 06) It Doesn't Matter - 7,5 07) Don't Stop The Rock - 7,5 08) Get Up on It Like This - 7,0 09) Lost in the K-Hole - 8,0 10) Where Do I Begin - 8,0 11) The Private Psychedelic Reel - 8,0 TOTAL: 8,18 (82/100) I remember a girl from school going to London, UK in 1997 to babysit some kids for the summer. There she met a guy who liked "Block Rockin' Beats" while she liked The Kelly Family (German teen pop band) and she couldn't stand "those fuc**ing beans" (in her words) he was playing all the time. And I thought to myself, what a cool guy, we would probably get along. I laughed at her and called her a Balkan peasant and an embarrasment because she didn't know who "The Chemical Brothers" were. Ah, it was a nice time to be in your late teens...
Suspiciously sound really like hair blair bunch...
Daft Punk for scary people
This album has a special place in my heart. My senior year my contemporary dance class did a dance to Block rockin beats. That song is burned into my brain! 😂
Maybe like "Surrender" better (or at least more familiar with it), but this is still one of the great albums of this time period/style.
That one song that plays during the hockey scene in Letterkenny is great.
Brings back some memories. I was a little rowdier back in the late 90s and this album brought back the days of club hopping and shots of Jack Daniels. I'm older now. Don't go to clubs and don't shoot JD anymore but it was nice to reminisce about the glory days. So minus a point for making me feel old but a solid album nonetheless.
7/10 pretty fun electronic doesn’t sound too special to me honestly don’t know why it’s in this book honestly, ‘1001’ needs way more Aphex Twin, Oneohtrix Point Never, and other guys who actually really pushed the boundaries of electronic music and made stuff that’s truly legendary this mundane dance music is fun but I wouldn’t say it’s essential listening
I really like this project and i’m very happy it was recommended. The combo of rock and breakbeats is infectious definitely up my alley. I’m excited to look into more of their music.
I accidentally mistook The Chemical Brothers for My Chemical Romance, so I was a bit surprised to hear rave music from the first track. But I like it. Also, learned about big beats so I've literally just realised that this is the music that Jez and Super Hans are trying to make!
I tried to listen to this high and it was one of the few albums I've gotten that didn't sound better baked. Fortunately, I ended up enjoying it the next day despite the earlier misgivings. It took me a while to warm up to but then I realized that it was basically the prodigy but slightly more ambient. By the end, I was totally vibing to this and wanted to relisten from the start despite the song near the end that finishes with like a lawnmower engine. Piku and elektrobank were probably my favorite.
Love all Chemical Brothers output, but I prefer their ravey stuff to their pure big beat era
I owned this album once, many years ago. It's definitely the high point of the Chemical Brothers career as far as I'm concerned. But it's not perfection. I like the breakbeat, but the big beat/ Fat Boy Slim sound is a bit of its time and dates it badly in my opinion. There's a bit of a bridge here between club music and pop music and I would rather the album went harder and wasn't so catchy/ accessible. Setting Sun is a definite high point, and the lowest points aren't too shabby either, but there are low points definitely, a mixture of strong tracks with the odd bit of filler, which is a shame as a tighter 45 minute album would probably have been what I wanted. The last track sounds like something Hawkwind could have made and that's meant as a compliment. This gets a strong 4 stars from me.
I love Chemical Brothers, but you really need to be in the mood for it. Not exactly passive sit back and chill stuff, but if you want to get the party moving, well….this is the ticket.
A joy
As the kids say, they had me in the first half. The A side is a little too drum and bassy for my liking. But as the B side delves into more melodies and an almost prog rock vibe, I think the albums becomes much more interesting. Not a hard enough pivot for anything above a four, but enough to bump it above neutral.
Obviously you'd have to have lived under a rock to have never heard any of these tracks, as they were absolutely everywhere for a year or so after the album dropped. Good stuff overall, though a few of the tracks feature really annoying hooks -- many of them have great hooks, but boy, I don't ever need to hear that tune with the whistle sample ever again in my life. That said, I want to listen to this more, and check out other albums, so I give it four stars.
I normally skip the electronic albums but decided to listen to this one since I’m familiar with the artist. It’s quality, Setting Sun which features Noel Gallagher and a Beatles sample is clearly the standout track.
Dated in places but this is by far the best album of the big beat era, a generous 4
Good, enjoyed it. I think I prefer the album which came after this one, but this one was still enjoyable, and a lot of songs I had not heard before.
Kæmpe banger. Lidt frontloaded, men sidste nummer var fed.
Fitting that it came out the same year as Fat of the Land because they have a very similar sound. First listen but it sounds very familiar.
If the 90s had a soundtrack, this might be it. Can't stop listening to Where Do I Begin.
I hate electronic music, normally. This however I found to be a thrilling, fun and moody listen. It puts you right smack back in the mid-90s. It’s aged rather gracefully and feels just as energetic as it did 25 years ago.
Great to work to. The band name does hint that it is designed for people who are on a chemical induced buzz, but I'm on a spreadsheet induced buzz and loving it.
Definitely some block rocking beats. Bit on the long side
Thought I would hate this, great production, especially enjoyed the 909 & 303 workout on “Don’t stop the rock”
Big beat is generally not my thing but this album goes hard. It’s even better than their debut which is pretty strong in itself, and just keeps up the energy the whole time while still having enough variation to not feel like it’s dragging on for too long (which a lot of 60+ minute electronic albums suffer from imo)
Big Beats By Brothers vol. 2
Stellar production, stellar sampling, stellar guests. The Chemical Brothers sure know how to produce an album.
It's crazy that this came out the same year as Daft Punk Homework and Prodigy Fat Of The Land and the Fatboy Slim and Moby records came out the next year I think... so much excellent stuff happening in dance music at that time. Definitely this 'big beat' music can be a bit offensive if you're not in the right mindset. It's not Skrillex/dubstep wub-wub offensive but it can come close. The big tracks Block Rockin' Beats and Setting Sun are both such killer tracks - not a bit out of place all these 25 years later. sidebar: I wonder if there will be a ‘rediscovery’ of this music someday - like when I was a kid there was this big movement of young people embracing 60s/70s music and like hippy-inspired culture and clothing and stuff…. I always felt like it was a /reaction/ to the music that had come in between. Like for me personally I was NOT into Madonna and Michael Jackson and Simply Red and Paula Abdul and stuff like that… even Elton John had become unrecognizable… Looking back I can see that really early (12-ish?) I was really dissatisfied with the music that was on the radio/etc and what people thought was cool and I fell in love with the Beatles and (to a lesser extent) the Stones and Cat Stevens and then later Zeppelin and Hendrix and on and on… Really that was /my dad’s/ music. There was new music that moved me for sure (Nirvana, Pearl Jam) but it wasn’t very ‘mainstream'... I guess that's why it was branded 'alternative' I wonder if our kids’ generation will look at this big beat stuff the same way - like they’ll look around at all the mindless hip-hop oriented “pick a beat from GarageBand and mumble-rap over it” / wub-wub dubstep craziness new music and have their minds blown by the creativity and energy of the 90s music that it evolved from?
Certainly a vibe when it’s cold and raining outside and you are driving through peak traffic.
*BLOCK ROCKING BEATS* 1997, back when the country was full of hope and optimism and life was a non-stop party, this was undoubtedly one of the soundtracks. Not all the tracks are as epic as the opener, but still a fantastic body of work.
See, I had to listen to this during the end of a 8 hour trip. I am exhausted and I ain’t in the mood for club music. All in all, I’d enjoy it abnormally hard if I was drunk vibing in a club. Rn, I still enjoy it, but I am tired, most objectively I could rank would be a 4/5
PREFS : Block Rockin' Beats, Dig Your Own Hole, Elektrobank, It Doesn't Matter, Get Up On It Like This, Lost in the K-Hole, Where Do I Begin, The Private Psychedelic Reel MOINS PREF : Don't Stop the Rock
A noteworthy album in the Big Beats (or if you prefer, Electronica) subgenre of the late 90s. There are some great tracks here, from the cracks and distortion of Elektrobank to the oddly touching hangover anthem of Where Do I Begin. I've always thought that the original opening track, Not Another Drugstore (later released as a b-side), would have worked better. Overall, it may be a bit repetitive and grating at times, but for me, there's loads of nostaglia value in this album.
Dig Your Own Hole is the second album by the English electronic music duo the Chemical Brothers. This electronica, breakbeat/big beat album was a more successful follow-up to their debut album and topped the charts in the UK. It has been certified gold in the US and platinum in the UK. This was a beautiful early-EDM album imo. It was a seamless album (tracks fade/continue into the next) of either rockin' or spacey vibes. The Chemical Brothers made some great music on this album and I'm excited to hear what else they have made.
This is a foundational big beat album by one of the best of the genre. That said, the album is too long to a casual listener of electronic music. However, because this album is as important as it is, I'll trust that the length is not an issue.
There's gold on the album, absolutely classic tracks of the dance scene. The big beat stuff still holds up so well. The tech tracks have dated a bit worse, but still super groovy. Solid album.
epic hedonistic club music. It Doesn't Matter hits
4/5. A catchy and heavy-hitting electronic album. Each song sounds unique and the album as a whole flows very nicely between the songs, transitions on point. Also great background music as well when doing something else. Best song: Block Rockin’ Beats, Elektrobank.
😎 gettin funky more enjoyable than the previous Chem Bros (over 300 albums ago, so it's not exactly fresh in my mind). "Elektrobank-Piku-Setting Sun" was probably my favourite part of the album, plus I was eating really good ice cream at the time. I like how as soon as Noel Gallagher enters the fray the drumbeat starts to sound like a Beatles track (Ticket to Ride or Tomorrow Never Knows) DYOH deserves recognition for holding my attention as long as it did for two reasons, 1) I don't listen to much electronica and 2) it's from an era of music that I don't pay much attention to (aka the late 90s, when I was alive but less concerned with music and more about PlayDoh flavours) HL: “Setting Sun”, “Elektrobank”, "Where Do I Begin", "Private Psychedelic Reel", "Block Rockin Beats" (I think that's literally all the singles from this album)
I need to plug back into the matrix. The vibes are right. Chemical brothers live is a vibe. I’m coming back.
A minor step down from their debut, but this still jammed down in my ear-holes deeply pleasantly. These guys are how I wish more electronic music was.
A good enough electronic album, although I think it needed more juice.
Overall the album has a very strong first half, the driving funk/electronic grooves are infectious and fun. However the second half gets a bit long in the tooth as the repetitive nature of the tracks leaves the listener fatigued by the 1 hour run time. I can tell this one will grow on me over time.
Wisselend album, maar had misschien van een andere volgorde van de nummers kunnen profiteren, want sommige stukken waren wat eentonig. Verder wel veel vette nummers en block rocking beats!
'97? Time goes fast damn!
This is the only Chemical Brothers album I own, and I really enjoy it. Its interesting to hear it with a critical ear after reading some of the valid criticisms here - especially that it's consistently loud. The collaborations work the best for me. Setting Sun is their take on Tomorrow Never Knows, but the real highlight is the combo of the last two tracks - Where Do I Begin (w/ Beth Orton) and Private Psychedelic Reel. They are a great pairing, I love the buildup and can easily drift off for the full 15 minutes or so that it takes. Rest of the album would be probably a 3/5 for me, but these tracks bump it up to a 4/5.
I had no idea what was coming next. Definitely an interesting house album with some highs and lows. Overall I enjoyed the uniqueness of it
Why do they call it “Big Beat”? Because them beats is ***BIG***. This album was the louder-than-a-bomb bombshell that caused Big Beat as a genre to burst onto the scene, and from the first of them “Block Rockin’ Beats” it’s easy to see why. Though it doesn’t have the biggest beats of the era (That honour goes to “The Fat of the Land”), “Dig Your Own Hole” is loud and catchy enough to distance it from the then bustling acid house and techno scenes with a uniquely bombastic experience. For all the Big Beat albums to rightfully explode, this album serves as the perfect herald to a new kind of dance music ready to shake the MDMA right outta the raves. Standout Songs: “Block Rockin’ Beats” “Electrobank” “Setting Sun”
25 years old already and still fresh as anything. A classic of the big beat era. And where the big hit at the start of the album has never really done it for me, with third song Elektrobank this album really takes off. And ends in the two masterpieces Where Do I Begin and The Private Psychedelic Reel.
Quintisential!
This kimd of music is not usually my vibe but I enjoyed the hell out of this
I've always heard Chemical Brothers as the big 3 in Big Beat alongside Prodigy and Fatboy Slim. But compared to those two, Exit Planet Dust left me a bit disappointed and figured they were only known for their hits. But this goes hard, reassuring me of their status. Hard funky beats with effects that imitate rock music. Full of insanely cool psychedelic and industrial effects that keep you on your toes. There are only a few standalone great tracks, which unfortunately don't live up to Fatboy Slim's or Prodigy's hits. But this does beat them in terms of consistency, and there was always something new and exciting happening in every song.
Quintessential futurist retrospective of the 90s
Wow! I'm happy that The Chemical Brothers are included on the list, but also I'm very surprised at the album choice. Dig You Own Hole is a good record, but far from the best in the band's discography. I think Surrender is the peak of their career, which they briefly visited before, or revisited after. Nevertheless, the DYOH itself is a really enjoyable album with many hits, that are still sounding fresh and crisp, ready to move up a modern crowd in a club. The opening track, "Block Rockin' Beats" is a real high energy banger, that sets the tone of the LP. Energy is maintained throughout, with couple less interesting tracks in the middle of the album, but still ending strong with a really nice "Where Do I Begin" (with Beth Orton's vocal) and "The Private Psychedelic Reef". Very good album, happy to revisit it on my The Chemical Brothers binge.
This record can still get me hype despite its age.
Lots of good stuff on this record, but it starts to lose speed somewhere around "It Doesn't Matter". For me, that's pretty good for a techno album. "Block Rockin' Beats" is one of those songs I had purchased separately, so it's a good song to start off the album. After that, I dug a lot more on this album than I expected. But again, it's too long. Still going to give it a higher grade. If I had to have one of these kind of albums, it would probably be this one.
Best: Lost in The K-hole Worst: It Doesn’t Matter Sounds good when very loud
Some filler but also some truly great songs
I dig the hole thing
8.5/10 absolutely sick
very solid electronic album. really enjoyed this one
Eerste helft is jaren 2000 actiefilm soundtrack, maar het wordt een beetje spacey in de 2e helft, die is heel solide. Had 5 sterren kunnen zijn met meer zoals de 2e helft
Good few bangers on here. Stand out tracks - block rockin' beats - dig your own hole - where do I begin - Setting sun
Where do I start? Where do I begin?
Energetic, electrifying, fun, upbeat. I enjoyed this. This might just be the best electronica album on this list. I would know, I've listened to the whole thing. 4/5
I wanted to love this album, but it fell a bit short. I found some of the tracks a bit tedious. Even so, there was a lot for me to like here.
Good, more Chemical Brothers. I still really can't tell one song from the next (for the most part) but I like the sound.
Back to the good old days! Loved this when it came out and still sounds great
This gets four stars in its genre. It was long but it was really good. Recognized a few of the tunes
ＬＳＤ
Great album!
Classic, some fillers though
Ground breaking
Estava tentando escrever relatório, e nem as músicas costumeiras, aquela do dia-a-dia, arroz com feijão, estavam inspirando. De novo, saí da minha zona, escutei músicas que não escutaria normalmente (a não ser que eu fosse obrigada, aí vale para a fila do mercado ou sala de espera do dentista) e, incrivelmente, o trabalho fluiu. As músicas são carregadas de energia, um baita ritmo e uma batida de fazer até o sangue correr mais rápido... nota 5!
Interesting, first one I hear of this genre. Refreshing.
Feels like I'm in the Matrix
While Exit Planet Dust might've been a fine debut album for big beat greats The Chemical Brothers, it would be Dig Your Own Hole that is most fondly remembered. Everything is turned up, more bombastic, more memorable. A heavy lean on phasers and flanger effects leads to some pretty intense moments. The dense sounds might get a little too abrasive for some, but this kind of energy from the hard-wired production can be highly stimulating and a lot of fun. The truth is that this is the most fun I've had listening to an EDM album. Even though these songs were made for the dancefloor, I was mentally invested in these songs. Things start to slow down with the last few tracks which made things lose a bit of momentum, but for pacing purposes I could see why they were there. Things pick back up near the end of Where Do I Begin before going into an explosive finale, the closing track The Private Psychedelic Reel. The Chemical Brothers proved to be a dynamic force in the beat big scene, and this album cements it. Improved in every way from their debut, and made something comparable to what Prodigy would put out just a few months later.
BACK WITH ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE BLOCK ROCKING _BEATS_ this album was already a favorite of mine, it kicks ass that bassline on the first track is so great, i am compelled to bob my head to it it's electronic music that's loud, maximalist and in your face, it's energetic and there's always something going on. it feels like it's meaningless to say it rocks, but that's still the best description to me. the sampled drumbeats feel propulsive. the one noise on "setting sun" that's like a siren rules. EEEEOOOOOO i zoned out and don't have a lot else to say. just really like having the tracks on in the background. hard to describe it really it's just a really good album
Surprisingly good, I have to say. Might check out more of this stuff when I get the chance
A classic of late 90s electronica
Pretty groovy. A little too weird for me. Good bassline and stuff My rating: 4/5 Roommate's rating: 3/5
I'm not sure if this is good or not but I've always kinda liked them. Setting Sun is a great running song for me...
Kyllähän tämä toimii! Aika energisoivaa elektronista. Parempi kun bändin myöhempi tuotanto. 4/5
Upea levy, tämä tai Surrender on bändin paras. Alkupuoli ihan viiden tähden menoa, kunnes hieman hiipuu. Eli olkoon vahva nelonen.
Tää oli kova! Varmaan kyseisen bändin paras levy. 4/5
There is much more variety on this album than I expected. Definitely expected big housey bangers, and you get plenty of those. Expected the laboured Tomorrow Never Knows clone with a Gallagher, because I lived through it. But the chilled one with Beth Orton was unexpected, and the 60s infused closer was an absolute joy. Only loses a mark because some of the tracks would be great at 4 minutes rather than 6 and Setting Sun being a bit crap.
Block Rockin Beats and Setting Sun are just outstanding!
A bit overly long, but enjoyable throughout.
Work, run, back to back, karaoke, johnny ps, talkin
I prefer The Prodigy, but this still bangs though. Some big beats, some chill beats, some nasty evil beats. One beat, two beat, red beat, blue beat. I'm drunk again, dude. I don't know what I'm saying. It's a good album and let's leave it at that.
An improvement on Exit Planet Dust I reckon. I still think their more recent albums have more going for them, but I can see why this is rated highly. It’s got some bigger hits than EPD and the last few tracks where they mix up the pace a bit are great. 3.5
banger after banger.
Belle découverte! C'est un groupe dont je ne connaissais pas l'existence, maisnles chansons oui! Ça m'a transporté dans les jeux de course et de sport de mon enfance!
As a critical listening piece, this album is really hard to get through. But as a background, GSD soundtrack, it's fantastic. It's repetitive but also additive, building on itself, bar after bar, in clever and compelling ways. This is the sound of human energy making forward progress. So yeah, I liked it a lot.
I was leaning toward 5 stars here, as this is very ‘listenable’ dance music. Much more interesting and breakbeat than what I was expecting. Lost a little momentum towards the end though, so dialling it back to a high 4.
Yep, these guys do it for me. It pumps along, but there's enough weirdness to keep it interesting.
Probably the best Chemical Bros album
Back with another cock blocking beat.
block rockin'
Love the soundscapes. Need to get this LP
Heard before: no Pretty good! Not the kind of thing I throw on normally, but I can see how it would be great in some contexts, and a few tracks are definitely going to make it onto my running playlists!
It's ok. Made for remixing and/or dancing.
Pretty awesome
groovy but industrial dark warehouse party jams. Berghain-esque with a bit of Jet Set Radio
INCREDIBLE BASS SO FAR I can hear so much influence in later electronic music from this album This album for me is exciting. Every track I was thinking about what the next one would be like Every instrumental is super unique I feel like this, daft punk, etc. really pioneered this genre and this project still holds up. While this definitely isnt my favorite electronic project, I think this could definitely be in my top 25 electronic albums currently. 8/10
Dobar ali malo od svog vrimena
A couple of massive singles among a collection of genre-defining dance numbers.
Dig Your Own Hole weaves together an explosive and big sound that feels inventive even to the present day listener.
Great energy background music for doing something while listening. Focusing entirely on listening was a bit much, with many songs spanning between 7 and 9 minutes and repeating themselves. 3.5 but I'll round up
This was a pretty interesting album! (also first time ever listening to the Chemical Brothers) The title track, "The Private Psychedelic Reel," "Elektrobank," and "Setting Sun" are probably my fave tracks.
based
Drum'n'bass con intensidad y con canciones con mucho ritmo. Música electrónica con mucho sintetizador y variedad de sonidos. Para disfrutar
Their best album, groovy tracks with punch and odd sounds baked into them
I can't say I've ever listened to The Chemical Brothers before, or even knew quite what kind of music to expect. I am immediately drawn in by Block Rockin' Beats, though as is often the case with electronic music when you are just sitting listening, the songs go on a little bit long. That said the whole album is a treat, enjoyable on first listen, interesting with great transitions between songs, a detail rarely seen. Overall, a big two thumbs up. Favorite: Setting Sun Least Favorite: It Doesn't Matter. Definitely belongs on this list and I'm glad to have listened to it. Several times now.
Let's have some more of those block rocking beats!
I own this...and its prob tbe best CB album...intense and unrelenting big beat dance music...they know their stuff. Often a surprise round each corner. It ends with the big beat prog masterpiece of the Private Psychedelic Reel.. Thought this was going to be a 3 but its 4.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Block rockin’ beats, Piku
Belter!
Bangers, init.
I haven't listened to this since the early 00's. It's still sounding great. It's a nostalgic journey through various genre's that have been run through the Chemical Brothers big beat machine. I particularly enjoyed the housey verging on technoey tracks in the middle which serve as a sort of rest from all the breakbeat & big beat before passing over to the mellower tracks at the end of the album. "The Private Psychodelic Reel" builds and builds and serves as a great finale.
Suck my vulva
I've always loved these guys although I like their later stuff (more mellow) If you're not into electronic repetitive dance beats you might wanna give this a skip. It can be a bit noisy too in places. Overall, they are the best at what they do.
Good album, in the right place & time.
Great album, if not a little too long. Think I like the earlier Chemicals a little bit better, but still fun. 3.5/5
this was my electronica album growing up. setting sun is top 5 all time techno song for me.
Tiene una de las canciones clásicas de película, sin duda es uno de los mejores albumen de The Chemical Brother unos verdades químicos mezclando música.
Back with another one of those Block Rockin Beats
Not what I was expecting but surely greatful for the experience.
Great album, but not for daily play.
Tämä oli yllättävän hyvä levy, tykkäsin. Tosin ei listan aiempikaan Chemical Brothersin levy mikään huono ollut. Levyn avausraidan lisäksi toinen mieleen jäänyt biisi oli Don't stop the rock, joka vei minut takaisin Szigetiin Chemical Brothersin keikalle.
Though I slightly prefer their debut "Exit Planet Dust," this is still a great sonic landscape to get lost in. Always love the way their albums fluidly transition from song to song.
Surpreendeu e funcionou bem
The first half of this album sounded like a 90s action movie or a heist montage. Very fun. Got a little strange toward the end. Still worth a listen
Beats beats beats beats. Yeah it's great
Very cool. The first musics are note so cool, but than things get interesting.
Meilenstein
Didn’t know it. Great to listen to while diving into data to see what it is telling us
251225 0:16 4
I still dig it.
Lots of fun! Pretty interesting, at times a bit grating but I interpret that to be intentional.
Dug it. I am into a synth vibe right now and they crushed it
I thought this album was incredibly creative but I was kind of bored with it until the last three tracks. They really drove it home for me.
Party!
Not my style, but some good pump up music to walk across the park to
Good. Reminds me of my youth
Great band - lots of quality here.
That first track did nothing for me. Fortunately, the record got better as it went on, and I left feeling like it was a worthwhile experience. I liked the overall vibe and would need to revisit again. This is a "light" 4, but still definitely a 4.
My impression in 1997: solid & very skilfully constructed album, a couple of very strong tracks. My impression in 2021: the same and 9+ minutes of a private psychedelic reel is still too much. Rating: between 3 and 4 stars - depending on the sound volume and speaker set. Seems fair to give 4 stars then.
Joj, ovo je njihov dobar album. Sviđa mi se. Definitivno najbolji njihov, isprike, ali nije čista četvrtka, ali je jako blizu.
Niet zo goed als Daft Punk, maar toch op de 2e plek als het gaat om 90s Dance! Wat een dikke plaat.
Takes me back. Block rockin
Reminds me of tripping on Good Old London E near the fin de siècle. Good times.
Well this was unexpected! The album felt like a less exciting Jet Set Radio Future album and that isn't bad. Quite a bit of repetitiveness but there were some gems in here! Some were a little long but I jammed out to this one.
Excellent always..
Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to!
Several of the beats rocked my block.
solid 4. More interesting than some techno style albums.
Not usually a fan of electric type music, but these beats were amazing! Love the psychedelic rock mix! Fav track was “Block Rockin Beats”
Heavy drum and bass with industrial elements incorporated. I had a great time jamming to this album. It's not for everyone, but it would be awesome to listen to live. It feel like if the Matrix had their own band. Fav Song: Block Rockin' Blues
Good sound, and a few kickass songs!
Another album suited to the big beat manifesto. BT: Block Rockin' Beats, Elektrobank, Setting Sun
An amazing album for me with its music mixed up emotionally with a time in my life when every weekend was spent off my tits.
i like this a lot for what it is but its definitely not fun to just sit and listen to if you’re not dancing or anything. 8/10 but could be a 10 if i was on drugs at a rave
Knew more than I thought I would.
Such a great record. Sounds a bit dated, but it is one of best examples of rave culture back in the 90s.
Nice techno vibes. A bit too harsh some of the songs, but overall good