Reviews (page 5 of 9)
Really did not like this one. Generally not a big fan of electric music and this one felt so repetitive and long, nothing really stood out to me.
Interesting, though ultimately not my thing.
5 minutes in: These beats aren't so big. 10 minutes in: Is it just going to be like this for an hour? I'm over it. 20 minutes in: I am the beat, the beat is me. 45 minutes in: No, I'm over it again.
Great overall listen
Started so strong, but didn't keep me rocking with those block rockin beats through the whole album. Slightly disappointed with the overall album, but I wouldn't complain if I heard it again.
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
Overall: 4/10 More likeable than most electronica I've listened to, but still so repetitive that I can't bring myself to enjoy it too much. I need variety in my music and this isn't providing enough of that. Each track features one really good beat looped over and over again. I'm glad the beats are good and danceable but, again, it's not enough. Fav Song: Setting Sun Least Fav Song: Elektrobank
Day480 - lots of people probably enjoy this and maybe in a club it’s fine. listening in the car going to work it gave me a headache.
#570. If I was 22, at a club, high, drunk, or high and drunk then I might like this. But I am a 30 or 40 year old man listening to this in the car on the way to work. And its super repetitive without being interesting in any way. Kinda reminds me of the Prodigy or Orgy, but less interesting. 2/5: pass
I'm probably more of a Surrender man really. However, this still bangs. Final two tracks are probably my favourite and more expansive.
This gave me nervous ticks and made me aggressive when it was new and fresh and exciting. It's no longer new nor fresh, and seems a bit formulaic in hindsight (which I know is a bit unfair). It still gives me nervous ticks and makes me aggressive, though.
Decent beat/sound but not great. Lyrics are a bit goofy. Mid overall.
Decent but not for me
Like the other Chemical Brothers album, pretty boring, not bad for doing work, maybe 1 good song. High 2.
4.5/10 - maybe just being in the gym where I could focus on the music more made it worse but I didn’t like this one as much as the one I listened to like 5 days ago. I also feel like every time they sing it sounds not the best. Ok I kinda liked the last song
More chemical brothers. Yay.
Starting to lose some patience with this list on day 327. One Chemical Brothers album, sure. But two? Among the most important 1001 albums of all? Highly doubt. The album itself? Whatever man.
Fundgrube für Soundbastler und Jingleproduzenten. Als Musikalbum eher mau.
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.
Was kinda too weird for me I think. Off-putting at certain points
Ikkje essensielt i mitt liv
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
1,5/5⭐ bati estaca sem letra
TOUGH listen. It's obviously a praised album and band, but not a fan of the type of music. Ok, I had to stop listening after Setting Sun. This was torture for me. 1/5.
Classic still sounds good
I was not in the right mood for this today. Token 3/5.
There was some good things on this but generally very repetitive and almost a bit boring but still about gets 3 stars
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.
3/5 Ehkä odotukset liian kovat. Levyllä kuitenkin vain pari hyvää raitaa, loppu aika tasaista tuubaa.
Absolutely grimy, relentless beats that will get your head bopping, your ears ringing and the rest of your body violently sweating. And once all that is done, you get to nod away to the much more mellow psychedelic treat that is the second half.
This feels like it would be the soundtrack to a grungy, early aughts cybercrime/action movie or a PS1 skating game [positive].
Konemusiikissakin on oma hienoutensa. Paikoin tuli vähän samaa fiilistä kuin Daft Purkissa. Voittaa ihan huolella viime viikon rap-sekoilut.
Ainutlaatuinen soundi! Silti usein omaan mieleen liian pitkät kappaleet ja liian paljon toistoa. Genrelle ehkä ominaisia seikkoja, mutta niillä ei ainakaan täältä vielä saa lisäpisteitä
Noh Prodigyhan tuosta mieleen tulee. Ne on vaan parempia. Muutama laulu jossa jalka kyllä selkeesti vipatti mut loppua kohden hyyty...liika on liikaa
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.
Ei ole meikäläisen musiikkia. Tuntui että kappaleista olisi voinut ottaa 80% pois eikä olisi menettänyt mitään.
Just fantastic early electronic album.
This is quite similar to the last review I gave for their debut, in that I like it, but I prefer their later stuff. There is some further expansion in their sound in this album, but it is still quite repetitive in a lot of the tracks. Whether that matters or not is the question I guess, as I do still dig a bunch of those ones. There are some seriously dirty beats going on at times, and then songs like Setting Sun are excellent. 3.5 rounded down.
Back with another one of those block-rocking BEATS! ...the rest is pretty forgettable though. Never heard "The Private Psychedelic Reel", but it's surprisingly decent. 3/5
Interesting beats and song structure, and I like how everything fits together. Does NOT need to be this long, though.
Enjoyable, but aside from a few tracks it is best suited for the background
Block rocking beats and setting sun were bangers but like with most electronic albums it gets too repetitive. Bonus points for me actually buying this CD when it came out.
I didn't understand what happened here. A very crazy trip, but it didn't bring me any feelings or even make me want to dance. Meh.
I like the Chemical Brothers. Quality EDM. This is a 7 out of 10, but I'm rounding down -- I find the middle weak. If you like this, their album, Surrender is their best, in my opinion.
Not really into techno.
2.8 I enjoy electronica. However I view the chemical brothers in the same way that I view acts such as Fatboy slim or Moby, a pop version of electronica that for some reason made it mainstream, probably because it was played slightly safe, with 5-7 minute songs that involve *a lot* of repetition. It's fine, but it's not exactly captivating and could easily have been 2/3rds of the length with the same track count. How artists like Squarepusher, Aphex Twin and Autechre didn't make it 'big' in pop culture in comparison to these guys I'll never understand.
Электронщина
I didn't do drugs and go to raves in the 90's, so I hate this crap.
Rating: 7.5/10 Overall very good electronic music.
Just okay. Mainstream techno.
Most of this music sounds like it should be playing in the background for an action movie chase scene. There are some cool grooves here but it gets so repetitive and tedious very quickly. This is dancing music, not listening music. I'm not an artificially amped up club kid so I won't be dancing or listening to this one.
Dope
Would be amazing if I was mashed like its intended audience
I was there. Had this album. Took the necessary small pills needed to enjoy the music. Now I'm old and clean I find it hard to enjoy such repetitive music. But there's nostalgia there and I appreciate they were good at what they did.
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 bet this is what Elon Musk listens to while pretending to play Diablo while on Ketamine.
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.
Not my favourite Chemical Brothers album. Sunshine Underground is far, far better than this. It’s ok.
Great electronic record, I enjoyed it
Just like every other dance/electronica album with no BPM changes: great if you're on some sort of substance; incredibly repetitive and boring if you're sober.
Mostly boring and or unpleasant to listen to. 90s trance is definitely not my thing. Maybe if I was running or doing the dishes?
Not that bad tbh, some songs where quite good.
Grand album
Enjoyed it.
Good memories
It's a decent album but not my taste. I'd go 2.7, so it's a 3/5
Booooo!!
There's some good tunes on here, but overall the albums too long and some tracks too long and repetitive.
Back with another one of those cock blocking electronica albums.
78% Best: Block Rockin' Beats; Piku; Lost In The K-Hole Must-Hear? Not quite
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 my favorite electronic album, mostly because it’s too over the top for my tastes, there isn’t really a breather until the second to last song. Still. This is good, undeniably a great album. Kinda clicked for me when I read people talking about psychedelics in the comments, made a lot more sense. Still, I don’t do shrooms, and I can’t dance, so this is only a 3
Decent spin. 3 / 5.
Not usually my bag, but I got into this. Kind of a fan!
The Matrix is that you?
Probably would have been a 5 if I was on drugs
4.1 3x great EDM
Not something for daily use but a nice shot of energy now and then.
Not for me. Would definitely fit as the soundtrack of an action sequence in a movie, but this kind of background-noise electronica bores me.
Another album that doesn't really work with sitting on your sofa in your pyjamas eating your muesli in your mid 50s. There are a couple of standout tracks but its Big Beat tricks do get tiresome pretty quickly if paid close attention. A bit better than Fatboy Slim.
This album gets me pumped up. If I were high in a club, it would be a 5/5
Not really a fan of EDM but I liked this more than some of the others I've heard on this list. Some quite strong beats and songs that build nicely. Does suffer from the genre's typical repetition though which limits my enjoyment
One gets the appeal – loud, obvious, hooky – without finding it very appealing oneself. This belongs in a club or at a rave, and preferably with a tailored drug regimen (sans tranq, natch and obvs). Otherwise (with the possible exception of the gym [and only on high intensity workout days]), it simply doesn't suit anymore. Beth Orton's contributions save one half of one song. It's odd that such aggression plays as tedium in the end.
Surprisingly tasty
This album is for club kids or a Grand Theft Auto soundtrack, it is not an album to just listen to. Definitely NOT a must hear.
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
wait . . . . . 🤔 let me listening again 😍
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
Not much to say on this one. It isn't bad just way too repetitive for me. I also feel like the tracks could have been arranged better to give a more balanced listen rather than every track just building up from the last.. 2.5 out of 5 with bankers rounding.
engineered in a lab to be 2000s movie soundtrack music
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.
On merit of what it accomplishes, I should probably award it a 4, but I didn't really love much of anything off of it. Skill issues as per usual. Big Beat is probably just not my thing; I'm too sober for it.
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
https://youtu.be/D2jVUyPq4mI
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*
hasn’t aged well, dumb in a dumb way
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.
What’s that? I’ve said there’s too much electronica on this list too many times? Well maybe that should make you think about how much electronica is on this list
Sinister and irritating.
Not bad but not really my type of thing.
You need to be in a very specific mood to appreciate big beat. The Prodigy has the biggest nostalgia factor for me - elder millennial here - so The Chemical Brothers are already at a bit of a disadvantage. This sounds like playing a racing game on the original PlayStation feels: it was cool when I was a teenager but hasn't aged well at all. Yeah, sorry, this is just as much a snapshot of the 90s as Donovan's Sunshine Superman is a snapshot of the 60s, but with a lot less heart. I'd rather leave this in the late 90s with my sequined spaghetti strap tank top where it belongs.
It was okay, not my favorite.
Not quite sure how to rate this one as I was listening to it whilst working which I suspect is not the best place to be doing so. I remember these guys being very popular at the time and some of this was decent enough. A few didn’t really hit the mark though.
“Back once again with the same repetitive beat” I have tried to get into these guys in the past but can never bring myself to like them. It’s not bad, just not as good as some of their contemporaries.
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.
Under rated, tbh. This is still going hard more than 25 years later. The Chemical Brothers are pretty handily one of the best artists of the big beat scene, a lot of it sounds pretty dated now. This does too, but it's also still cool sounding.
Nö! Mist!
Lotta 4s, lotta 2s
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
Too sober to listen to this. The beats are rough in most songs and the last 2 minutes of Where Do I Begin are just trash.
This did not grab my attention enough to remember anything about it other than the fact that it was okay.
A bit too raw for a saturdaymorning 2/5
This was a pretty wild ride. I liked a lot of the beats and it was great background music while I worked, but the songs themselves were also pretty long and dragged out the whole album. Setting Sun sounds like a cracked out version of Tomorrow Never Knows by the Beatles. Not a dig, just an observation. I really liked the songs with the groovy bass like Blockin Rockin Beats and K-Hole. Solid 3.
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.
Intense electro vibe. Definitely some cool parts of the album with some trippy sounds. This was probably a wild album back in 97'. I'm giving it a hard 3.5 stars.
Hell yeah Block Rocking Beat. Definitely has its moments, but is a pretty noisy album. This one is a 2.5, but I'm going to round up because even though I didn't love it, I was engaged with what was going no the whole time. Great process, but not a great result in my eyes. Last track also saved it. Heater.
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.
Another Chemical Brothers record, another matrix soundtrack. See my previous review of the Chemical Brothers, my feelings towards this one are literally identical, this album just had more vocal samples, I guess?
I think this was more interesting than the Chemical Brothers’ debut album that we previously reviewed. After “Block Rockin Beats”, the relentless big beat kinda wears thin and encourages you to tune out, but they’re good at what they do. I liked “Where Do I Begin” breaking up some of the monotony before the very long closing track. I think a couple more songs like that peppered throughout the album would make it much more engaging and enjoyable. 6/10
I gave Exit Planet Dust a five star review with only the text "Bangers", and I could really just do the same here, TBH. But I want to add that Setting Sun is amazing, captures the vibe of Tomorrow Never Knows and amps it up.
Absolutely of its time, great workout music, but not something I'd go back to just to have on.
Great big beat
It’s background music I’d listen to while getting some work done.
WIld journaling music!
I don't care what you say, "Block Rocking Beats" still hits hard. Their next album would eclipse this but mid 90s Glastonbury dance tent music still gets me going.
cool electronica sounds
Standout: The Private Psychedelic Reel. Would probably go crazy for some of this in a club or something tbh.
There's definitely some bangers here but some of it does "go on a bit".
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.
Hay temazos y otros no tanto
So subdued that I can't imagine it functioning as background music, much less being played at clubs - I pretty much forgot I was listening to it early on.
1.5/5. I don't mind electronic music, but I found this to be unbearable.
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.
This album is an interesting sonic adventure but it is just too repetitive for me. The sound is industrial electronica. Maybe it just took me the whole hour to get into the mood but the only composition that I did not feel like fast forwarding through was the last one, Thr Privat Psychedelic Reel. I give a three just for the last track...
I like the way it makes my brain feel
Fast-paced electronica with thumping, rattle-your-speakers bass. The Chemical Brothers paint with a colorful palette — a lot of sounds and styles are blended into these songs.
Some cool trance-y EDM. Like a lot of good trance / techno, I liked the flow and could tell there was a lot of attention put into that throughout the album. As a listener, if I'm going to sit and marinate in many repetitive bars in a row I want the changes to be gradual, flowy, and smooth, and that happens here. I don't know if it's an album that I'll often reach for as there's others in the genre that do similar things, but this was still an enjoyable listen.
Had high hopes for this one but it failed me. Too tiresome and repetitive. For the first half hour the same song continued seamlessly under different aliases. That might have continued throughout but I wouldn’t know because for the second half hour I was skipping to the next track after a minute or two.
2.5/10 Nope nope nope nope nope nope nope
Troppo strumentale per i miei gusti
Definitely not my genre
The minute this album started I got the feeling that every single track could probably be used in a movie for a car chase and I was right. I guess is okay if you listen to one or two tracks but the whole thing is pretty tiring.
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.
Sorry I wasn't able to make it past the 4th song. I'm sure the album has its place somewhere - just not in my listening room. 2 strs
2.45
Respect the game just not my sport
Pure 90s electronic bliss that shows the power the Chem Bros once held in their apex.
Nervig. Nicht eingängig. Langatmig.
As most electronic music, repetitive and boring,
Stellar, showing everyone how it’s done. Sound is full but so well balanced, everything fits 4.7
Surprisingly found this fairly enjoyable
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
Repetitivo pero con ideas interesantes.
Auch experimentell, aber irgendwie mehr mein Geschmack.
Music for drugs by drugs
All I know about the Chemical Brothers is that Jez from Peep Show really liked them and tried to emulate them. And honestly I have trouble distinguishing his shitty music from what’s in offer here. It’s not BAD, but what am I supposed to do with this? It’s hard to think of when I’d ever listen to this unless I found myself in a street race in 1999. Or playing a PS1 game.
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 started off thinking I'd really like this album, but by the end it felt like one really long track of noise.
This is intense. I'm amazed at how many songs I know on Dig Your Own Hole. Great beats and samples. Liked Songs Added: Block Rockin' Beats Setting Sun Lost In The K Hole The Private Psychedelic Reel
Genius
Play that funky music, white boys! Powerful dance, stirring up the club. I wish the lyrics had more variety. I wish there was more than just the boom, boom, boom. Great stuff, but it feels like there should be more. And kinda loud. I guess I'm not meant for the club scene. 3/5
Pretty run of the mill electronic music. A little manic at times and still not a great listen while just hanging around the house. Maybe better at a club. 2.5/5 Won’t listen again
Really like a couple of these songs(esp where do i begin) but the whole album vibe is a little too jittery for me.
Hard work, but ok.
Can I give this shit a 0?
Loves me some block rockin’ beats
What an antidote to that fat boy arse nonsence. Thisis an example of quality 90s eleconic music. An awesome album fron an awesome band at an awesome time. I remeber glasto 98 stuck in mud up to me knees dancing to this. Ooh they were the days me lad, when you could leave your back door open, everyone knew and despised their local bobby and drum and bass was still called jungle.
There's a time and a place for this repetitive beats nonsense, and Christmas day is as good as any. Perfect foil to all that carols bollocks.
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.
While not perfect, it is great, I was close to giving it a 4, but Setting Sun tipped me up to a 5.
Many songs get really annoying. Nothing goof stood out
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
I expect this album is going to score relatively poorly on this site. Those people are wrong and this album is in fact 'mint'.
Terrible! Gave me a headache! Glad when it ended!
Nearly all the tracks go on for a few minutes too long. I've enjoyed Block Rockin' Beats since hearing it on Big Shiny Tunes 2, but even that track I usually find I can't listen all the way through.
A 1 feels really harsh but I am absolutely not finishing this. It literally gave me a headache. Best song: There were songs?
it's best when it's arabesque psychedelic
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
This album was like a bad trip, annoying, repetitive, come the last stretch all I wanted to do was curl up somewhere dark, not think and wait for it all to be over. Having listened to the (I hope only) Beth Ortan album on this list, I was not excited to hear her again, and even as someone who disliked Central Reservation, this was a waste of Beth Ortan. The most interesting thing about Central Reservation was the lyrics and here you’ve got her using the line ‘Where do I start? Where do I begin?’ Radiohead were able to do something with that lyric, but they subverted it, and they had decent music behind it, something with dynamics that didn’t just repeat the same chords over and over before devolving into irritating dissonant noise. Emil Cioran himself couldn’t produce a statement as Nihilistic as repeating ‘It Doesn’t Matter’ ad nauseam over a boring, boring, boring beat. I can’t tell you what listening to a monotone voice chanting ‘It Doesn’t Matter’ over and over again to that stomach-churningly repetitive beat for 6 full minutes while sitting on a dark beach, staring at the waves dragging rocks down into the briny depths does to a motherfucker, but I can tell you that I sure as shit am not gonna kill myself to the fucking Chemical Brothers. They don’t deserve the satisfaction. Ian Curtis killed himself to Iggy Pop! When I commit suicide, I’m going to have to do it to fucking Metal Machine Music or something
I should have done some drugs before I listened to this.
Good stuff
Truly, truly terrible!!!
I've always felt like they have potential, but it's usually not fully realized. Favorite tracks are Piku and the Private Psychadelic Reel
twas fun! good studying dance music
I like this form of percussion better than rock drum percussion. Album gets a little repetitive
If I was at a rave and on ecstasy, I think I’d give this 5-stars for sure!
same 3 second sound repeated for 5 minutes
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.
Oh man, what a record. Always nostalgic to hear the Chemical Brothers, especially the tracks on this record, but the album itself - funky, banging, diverse, fun, interesting, psychadelic, dance-y and does not sound dated at all. It rises, falls, punches and kicks, entertains and surprises.
A few good tracks here. Nice kick off with a Pink Floyd sample.
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
3.5/5
Probably the best Electronic album I've ever listened to. It still highlights electronic music's limitations, repetitive and mechanical.
Terrible, forgettable, painful. Like an explosion in a car alarm factory!
Generic electronic, which is a shame for the Chemical Brothers, who usually create a perfect sampling of 90s electronica. Here, however, we have uncreative and bland tripe. The only good song was probably only good because it had Noel Gallagher.
endless loops and samples. man, i just don’t get this type of music.
Not my thing. Gets cold quick.
not my vine
electronic, not terrible and didnt force me to stop listening to it as i was working
Cool
Superb. Really enjoyed this. Also listened to other albums I hadn’t heard yet.
Very frustrating. Some really good/cool stuff, but way too overlong and anonymous at parts. 2.5/5
Rockin’!
Meh, I can take it or leave it.
Not for me. Too much going on in a very 90s way.
Wall to wall bangers
4.7
1/5
classic
Didn't mind this for the first little while but it got old fast
tis not to my music taste
good bass. I think other things were there but can't be sure
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.
Didn’t hate, didn’t love. Honestly these tracks were kinda crazy to listen to on my workday commute. I’m surprised I didn’t dislike it as much as other albums but hey, maybe I’m just maturing
I liked this album better than a lot of similar ones. Not entirely sure why. Felt like the Prodigy and old Toonami music. Reminds me of the old days.
Does every drum and bass album have to be an hour long? It’s not that I dislike it, it’s that it’s way too long. The last song is by far the most interesting.
I really liked this album... for the first 25 minutes. I guess it's easy to stretch out songs like this when you're just constantly looping everything. I got distracted and stopped listening after writing that first part. I picked up the second half of the album while working on a spreadsheet. That's what you need to do to enjoy this album! Breaking it up really helped, and half focusing on something else is the way to go. Couldn't do it all at once, but still enjoyable.
Very surprised that I really liked this!
Imagine you visit London on a business trip. Your daughter is going to school there for the semester and you meet her for dinner. She convinces you to go with her to meet her friends who are going clubbing. You agree to go for one drink and one of those “friends” slips you some MDMA at the club and the drug kicks in. The next hour+ of your life sounds like this album. In all seriousness, I found the album to be pretty repetitive except "Setting Sun" and "Where Do I Begin" both of which had vocals. I did enjoy the bass lines in several of the songs but the drums were rather annoying throughout.
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.
212/1001 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
Noisy, fine but a bit bland. Probably good for work rotation
The Amazing Chemical Brothers! watch as they strap on their rocket skates and do battle with the wicked California Surf Nazis invading the ravefields of New Manchester in 11 thrilling episodes! witness as they do battle with evil normcore monsters created to destroy the K-Citizens wandering the fields, vanquishing each foe with their samurai swords and titanium-reinforced Stratocasters! be astounded by the death defying sonic stunts in each episode -- flying bass kicks in "It Doesn't Matter", flaming song structures in "Elektrobank", and their world renowned... "Block Rockin' Beats"! you might even get to see their elusive and astounding "Private Psychedelic Reel"! don't wait! don't miss out! tune in each Thursday for another, jaw-dropping episode! only on Big Beat Network: "We've Got The Beat."
2 - Long stints of repeated sounds that just annoyed me. Elektrobank killed it for me.
After it started, I didn't expect to like this much--but that changed quickly. I don't know as I've ever heard any Chemical Bros. Pretty fun, if you can use that word to describe techno. Grabs your ears. Endlessly engaging and inventive, often surprisingly so. I would normally think this is only good on the dance floor, but it works (for me) as background music that you occasionally drop in on and attend to.
I have almost nothing to say about this except I find it a bit wearing. I like Block Rockin’ Beats.
I like this album but not sure why. It got a lot of fun things going on. It reminds of a video game background.
This has been in my collection for many years. I'm sure this is one of those genres that you either love or hate. I am definitely a Chemical Brothers fan. This album or the first one are probably tied for my favorite. The first record has more variety with some slower, ambienty songs thrown in. This one is pretty relentless with hard beats and multiple layers of chaos until the end, but it's pretty great. The songs with vocals (guests Noel Gallagher and Beth Orton) break up the record a little bit. And the Spike Jonze music video for Electrobank is a f*ckin masterpiece.
First, what a great name for a band (musical collaboration, etc.). Second, each song on this album is pretty excellent. And they are songs, not just sonicscapes, which I find to be true of many other contributions in this genre. But... it's just a lot in one sitting. I guess I'd say it's too much. Even if the MDMA were kicking in, I don't know that I'd hang on this vibe for over an hour.
jesus, these guys have a hard-on for EDM. I tried, though. I really did.
Best served when rolling on the dance floor. But not terribly bad at my desk trying to pound through some work...not as much fun though.
This kind of music just doesn't make sense to me. I mean, it's kinda cool sometimes but it looks like some background music of some car parts shop.
More of not my style.
Some cool breaks mixed in throughout, but even if I heard this live I wouldn't be impressed.
Classic
I've always loved the opening bass line to block rockin beats. The rest of the album falls short of spectacular. It's way too heart pounding to listen to as an old man of 53. It gives me anxiety. But imagine yourself in the '90s ,young again & a tweaker at a club. Let's drop some X and go for it. Oh to be young again.
Hated Chemical Brothers back then, still don’t like the sound. It’s too heavy and dark, I prefer my electronica bright and happy. If you’re into aggressive music, this album is for you.
Started off strong, but seemed pretty boring by the end. Just not my kind of music.
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.
Half familiar with them. Saw them live at a festival once. This is like… electronic rock? Or ? It’s not not something I would listen to. It sounds ambitious and very forward considering release year. I like how the songs transition
Good for background music, I guess. Aside from the first song (Block Rockin' Beats), nothing really stood out to me. Didn't hate it, but won't listen to this album again.
If I were a passenger on a road trip and the driver said they need this album to help them stay awake, I'd say, "OK, but not too loud or it'll give me a headache, alright?" Other than that, I'll never voluntarily listen to this again.
Excellent breakbear album, could not top nodding my head to it.
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
Respect perus electronicat
I do have a soft spot for this kind of stuff done well and there's a few songs here that work for me. But it does get a little long in the tooth.
Not good enough to be that repetitive.
Yes it's boring monotonic electronic music if you "listen" to it, but that's not what it's meant for. I can imagine it works really well on the dance floor. And the Chemical Brothers are influential, so I understand this is in the list. 1-2* for musical quality, 4-5* it its genre, a 3* it will be then.
Este segundo álbum de los Chemicals Brothers estableció el sonido definitivo del Big beat yendo más allá en todos los estilos (club, psicodelia, hip-hop) que meten en su coctelera. Ya sólo la apertura del disco "Block Rockin' Beats", con su fusión de hip-hop y hardcore techno , hace de este un disco imprescindible. Del resto del disco destacaría "Elektrobank" y el homenaje sónico a los Beatles de "Setting Sun".
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.
yeah sure. i don't reach for this genre often, but i can tell this is standout
This was fine. I liked the Justice album more though. I think we've had a lot of electronic music recently, and maybe I'm just burnt out on that, but this didn't stand out to me at all as anything special.
For some reason, The Chemical Brothers were a group that cool people I liked on LiveJournal all seemed to like but I couldn't get into. They would also talk about them like they were this really weird underground unpopular band, but then Block Rockin' Beats was all over the place. I'm sure at least part of this is just how life is, but when I was younger and trying to Find Myself and ideally do so by finding unique and cooler music than everyone else, this group just didn't do it for me. Today was better, although I think a full album of it is a bit much (or maybe the last two tracks dragged more than the others).
No
Yeah it was fine, kinda passed me by. I like the hits, who doesn't?
Hated this at first, it felt like the beastie boys trying and failing to make their way into techno. By the end though there were some real jams
I can see how this would be fun at a dance party, but it's super repetitive and not my style.
An absolute balls to the wall classic. Not only a good album of its time, but a building block for the electronic music that followed it. Pace, power, energy, form, skill and production combine something that everyone should be aware of. Its criminal that its so badly rated here.
I liked this more than I thought I would. As repetitive as it is, Chemical Brothers have a certain edge to their sound that keeps me interested. This is something I wouldn't mind listening to again. 3.25/5
Great album. Listened to it for another list. 4/5
Some cool drum beats here, and some annoyingly repetitive vocal parts. How many times did they say "Who is this doin' this synthetic type of alpha beta psychedelic funkin'?" The lyrics on Apple Music say 20 times in a row, though it felt like more. When it's not doing cool drums or annoying vocals, it kind of fades into the background and I forget it's on, I guess as you would if this was playing at a club. Dance music isn't my thing, so it's just mediocre to me.
House music is not my thing, I felt like I was listening to the half time music from a basketball game in the nineties
When i listened this album i felt like im inside a mortal combat game or matrix movie.
I thought this looked like a really good album. Only one song I actually liked much, Where Do I Begin. Too techno instrumental for me to enjoy the album.
Pretty electronic. Pretty Dub
I had to stop at about 3/4 of the way through. I couldn't take it anymore. Block rocking beats is a banger, but a lot of the rest of it was pretty intolerable.
No. 2/10
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 just watched Vanilla Sky and I knew this music sounded familiar haha. It's... very 90's
This one hurt my ears as I listened to it at home, but I do not think this is an album for casual and relaxed listening. Best locale is a club, post drinks, when you'll dance to anything or as a movie high action scene soundtrack.
I remember being a kid and hearing my mom say about this sort of music: "This isn’t music, this is pure noise!". I remember thinking to myself "She's too old, she just doesn't get it". Listening to this album 30 years later made me realize something: I'm sorry mom, you were right... There were a couple of passable songs, but some of them made me want to pull my hair out. I'm still not sure what would make a 1 star rating, but this one was really close.
They present more aggressive yet more engaging and melodic style of electronic music than their British DJ friends. I knew their name beforehand and I wasn't the biggest fan. Still I respect them for creating another branch and going with it in a succesful way.
The perfect textbook "big beat" / late-nineties british electro album that made the whole 'rock vs. techno' debate moot. You could also select Prodigy's *The Fat Of The Land*, out the same year. Out of the 11 tracks of *Dig Your Own Hole*, six explain why the latter is worthy of such a list. It doesn't look like much, but those six tracks alone are the equivalent of a 40-ish-minute album. There us the iconic "Block Rockin' Beats", with its no less iconic slapped bassline either ripping off Pink Floyd's "Let There Be More Light" or 23 Skidoo's "Coup". There are also the title-track, aptly named given that it digs the same groove than the opener ; "Elektrobank" and its climactic conclusion, like a jet exploding mid-air in slow motion, the hectic yet also melodic "Setting Sun", featuring Noel Gallagher, the moody and more relaxed "Where Do I Begin", and"The Private Psychedelic Reel", a flasy epic 10-minute closer. The rest, mostly drawn from the "electronic battle weapons" series of singles asking DJs to test them on dancefloors, might be a little samey and secondary. And follow-up LP *Surrender* might be more varied, and overall a better album, than *Dig Your Own Hole* (or at least one more accessible). Yet there is still something that screams "essential" in that record. You had to be there at the time to fully understand the thing now. But you *had to* be there, whether in a club or at a friend's party. 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 5. 9.5 for more general purposes (5 + 4.5) Number of albums left to review: less than 70, I've temporarily lost count here. Number of albums I'll keep in my own list: half, approximately (including this one) Number of albums I *might* keep: a small quarter, approximately. Number of albums I won't keep: a large quarter.
Love these guys.
Ugh.
High 3
Very 90s record for sure. Had some pretty cool songs, but it was a pretty up and down experience. 'Block Rockin' Beats' and 'It Doesn't Matter' felt like perhaps the strongest songs, other than that it wasn't anything special that stuck to me. Hasn't aged nearly as well - or reach the same level of quality - as Prodigy, even though they have quite similar sounds. Think I will seattle on a weak 3.
Hard one to review for me. It has a cool sounds and "Block Rockin' Beats" is a really cool track. The rest is also fun but I have trouble knowing when I'd want to listen to it. Maybe at a rave? I think I'm missing some melody or vocals to get it to reach the same height as "Fatboy Slim" or "Massive Attack". Going to settle for a strong 3.
51/100
another annoying electronica album. didn't even finish all the way through. The genre just bores me to tears.
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.
Oh brother. Thought this was okay for most of it but I stopped lying to myself on the last song cause I couldn't bring myself to finish it. Some of it was just early 2000s video game music (or lethal league), very repetitive for the most part but not infuriating. But good god that last song made me want to put my head through my windshield. This is the type of music playing in the background as Johnathan Wickathan clears out a club. 2/5 still better than Kollaps
Cool transformative house/party and techno. 3.4
Repetitive driving workout music. Could've been Prodigy for all I knew. Solid in certain settings.....but then again, so is most music.