The Chemical Brothers have been filling up clubs with sweaty people for quite some time, first bursting on to the scene as The Dust Brothers with a few singles in the early 90s.
Once they ditched the dusty name, Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands released 1995’s Exit Planet Dust. The debut was a critical smash and produced hits like “Leave Home” and “Life is Sweet.”
It was 1997’s Dig Your Own Hole that really brought the Brothers out into the mainstream, though. Q magazine readers voted it as the 42nd best British Album Ever in 2000. The hits were all over the record, with the still-popular “Block Rockin’ Beats” leading the way. Noel Gallagher was featured on “Setting Sun” and Beth Orton made an appearance on “Where Do I Begin.”
1999’s Surrender was up next, once again garnering substantial critical praise and solid sales. Noel Gallagher made another appearance, singing on the terrific “Let Forever Be.” New Order’s Bernard Sumner was featured on “Out of Control” and Mazzy Star singer Hope Sandoval appeared on “Asleep from Day.”
Come with Us, from 2002, was a bit of a step off the ladder for The Chemical Brothers. Despite an appearance by Richard Ashcroft on “The Test,” the album really didn’t do too well after debuting in the top spot on the UK Albums Chart. It was not as well received as the duo’s previous work by critics, either.
Their fifth album, Push the Button, saw a 2005 release and brought with it a step in the right direction. Q-Tip featured in the loop-heavy “Galvanize” and brought the band back to the dance floor. The record won The Chemical Brothers a Grammy, too.
We Are the Night found a 2007 release and actually won a Grammy, making The Chemical Brothers the only artists to win the Best Electronic Dance Album award twice.
And within the gaps of their standard album releases, the duo released a hefty constituency of other singles, side-projects, and compilations. With September 2008’s Brotherhood, they’ve done it again.
This compilation record is available as a double album and as a single album.
Article comments
1 - Sterfish
I picked up the Singles 93-03 when it was released strictly for the bonus disc but I won't be doing that again for Brotherhood.
As for the use of guest stars, I wonder if that's their way of "staying relevant" in a music landscape that has seen some of their contemporaries fall by the wayside.