I was thinking there may have been a thread about this from Boy With The Golden Eyes ages ago, but I remember that sort of dissolved into a 'who can listen to the most Chemical Brothers songs in the shortest amount of time' marathon thread. I thought I'd freshen up this topic a bit and get some discussion going. The future is here with the new track Rock Drill so I would imagine a good portion of you are digging out the Chems albums and singles in anticipation of what's to come.



I know I am, but I'm a nerd like that. :P



Anyway. What I was hoping is this doesn't dissolve into a Now Playing The Chems type thread... of course there is nothing wrong with that, but maybe flesh things out by putting into words what you are hearing, or how the song makes you feel, or pointing out something you may not have noticed before. Even talk about technical aspects of songs, production - discuss! Drive a point home what makes the song good or bad (yes, it's fair play to be critical)



Here's my first entry which I just posted in the Now Playing thread:

whirlygirl Escribi�:

I was kind of loving on that little whimsical Chems track Scale yesterday. I know some people here have commented on that song (in not the best ways) but I like how the concept of scales/octaves is rather simple but the song is well executed, with rich and textured movement. Melodies evolving out of scales in various keys, while other accent notes are played one octave from another (a full 8 degreees) - even the 'tone' of the percussion is played out in octaves. It's a tightly wrapped concept which seems to work, and sounds like an experiment to see how far the scales can be pushed.



I've always used the word whimsical to describe this track not because the song is erratic but because of the lively movement within the song. For some odd reason I get images of tin toys being wound up in my brain when I hear it.

Super thread Whirly!!



Scales is an ok track, I say its an ok track because the main melody is pretty simple but hey it works. Not sure if it's dancefloor material.



Currently loving : Hoops

This one is really different from the rest of the chems track. I like the tempo change and the use of guitar riffs in a really clever way. At first you are like hmm good song but then that wicked baselinish thing kicks in and doesnt stop until and the end of the song, oh so clever! This should have been a single. It's power is fully realized on big speaker and some intoxicants.

Get up on it like this.



Always thought it was pretty average till i bothered to get loops of fury... i think this version should have been on dyoh... which one is the original? Anyways its got some wicked scratching at 1:36 with the sick drums after mmmm love those chemical breaks! Then theres a couple more breakdowns in this L.O.F mix plus the intro cannot be improved imo.



Another thing... whats the deal with 'don't stop the rock'? is it just an intro for

G.U.O.I.L.T???

one song that surprised me is Where Do Begin

i love everything on this tune: the inverted fx, guitars, oooh and those final drums.. that part is amazing.. i feel like im exploding X-D

it turn a little bit repetitive on the final part but its ok i forgive you chems

T/SG LFBA of course.

And the chems' remix of Primal Scream- Swastika Eyes.

Speaking of a Chemical remix of Primal Scream, I'm really digging the remix of Jailbird as well. I love how technical the beats get right before the bass line comes in. And then the whole "Come on y'all lets rock the *whistle noise*!" and "Damn right!" vocals are really catchy.



For some reason I've been getting into Chemical Reaction in general. The remix of Tow Truck is also interesting because it reminds me of Hoops just a lil'. Its just a feeling though.



And then Aphromoods... well, its not chemical but I really like it with lots of hidden vocal samples and crazy scratching 8O

3rd_brother Escribi�:

Another thing... whats the deal with 'don't stop the rock'? is it just an intro for G.U.O.I.L.T???

Nope, it's a song in it's own right. It was Electronic Battle Weapon 2, which is available on the UK Elektrobank CD single. The full version comes in at about 7 odd minutes. It's a good club record, not too much to get your teeth into, but a good grimey, 3am techno record.

chemicalreaction Escribi�:

Super thread Whirly!!



Scales is an ok track, I say its an ok track because the main melody is pretty simple but hey it works. Not sure if it's dancefloor material.



Currently loving : Hoops

This one is really different from the rest of the chems track. I like the tempo change and the use of guitar riffs in a really clever way. At first you are like hmm good song but then that wicked baselinish thing kicks in and doesnt stop until and the end of the song, oh so clever! This should have been a single. It's power is fully realized on big speaker and some intoxicants.

Naw, I'm not sure if Scales would work on a dancefloor either (actually it would not imo... unless it got a major overhaul.) But some of those sounds in there are wicked, if anything it would be interesting to hear bits and pieces mixed into other things.



Hoops is one of those songs that really grew on me. The guitar melody in it was OK but somehow at first I didn't think it fit well into the song, my opinion has since changed. The big thing, like Star Guitar, was hearing it played out live because it gave my ears a new perspective. I prefer the Electronic Battle Weapon 6 version much more. It sounds a tad more raw in comparison to Hoops, and those screeching air raid type sounds just rip into the atmosphere and blaze into you like electro shock therapy. It's the highlight of Singles DVD for me. It's magical to watch how sound manifests itself into real physical energy to the point where it controls the crowd like puppets.

3rd_brother Escribi�:

Get up on it like this.



Always thought it was pretty average till i bothered to get loops of fury... i think this version should have been on dyoh... which one is the original? Anyways its got some wicked scratching at 1:36 with the sick drums after mmmm love those chemical breaks! Then theres a couple more breakdowns in this L.O.F mix plus the intro cannot be improved imo.



Another thing... whats the deal with 'don't stop the rock'? is it just an intro for

G.U.O.I.L.T???

I need to rip and burn all my singles and revisit a lot of these b-sides. Like this one so I can draw comparisons here. I feel like Get Up On It Like really works in the context of Dig Your Own Hole.

TheFlamingDead_ Escribi�:

And the chems' remix of Primal Scream- Swastika Eyes.

stash and I went to London right after Primals' XTRMNTR came out and I wasn't aware that the Swastika Eyes remix was on it. I freaked out when I heard this song, definitely a stellar remix. The song itself is really powerful with a good groove and the Chems manage to kick it up a notch. There was a quote from one of the guys in Primal Scream who said they wanted a gay disco remix of Swastika Eyes and nobody does gay disco better than the Chemical Brothers. X-D

jOsSse Escribi�:

one song that surprised me is Where Do Begin

i love everything on this tune: the inverted fx, guitars, oooh and those final drums.. that part is amazing.. i feel like im exploding X-D

it turn a little bit repetitive on the final part but its ok i forgive you chems

This song embodies the feelings of "the day after" a long and messy night that leaves you disoriented upon waking up. It's that part of the album - a valley - that offers much needed breathing space after the aural onslaught of the rest of the album... which can be a disorienting experience. It's my favorite Chems collaboration with Beth Orton. The ending is a bit repetitive but to me it goes along with the rest of the "day after" mood of the song. It sounds like it's trying to rev up the energy enough to shake that dosoriented and somewhat contemplative feeling - I like how the revving fades out and the soft intro of the Private Psychedelic Reel slowly fades in.



I'll forever associate this song with driving back from Coachella 2002. It reminds me of meeting up with some friends from the Chems mailing list and it was such an awesome weekend. stash and I hardly slept at all and by the time we hit the road on Sunday we were feeling the burn. We were driving along listening to Dig Your Own Hole (needed the energy for the drive) and when Where Do I Begin comes on and we got caught up in a traffic jam on the highway. It was so strange, the coincidence between what we were hearing on the album and how it fit in with the drive. Then outtro with the revving part came in and an entire fleet of motorcycles came up from behind us straddling the lanes between the stopped traffic. They loud Harley engines were roaring like the final churn in Where Do I Begin. The sounds were so similar... It was just one of those moments when stash and I looked at each other and all we could say was "weiiiiiiiiird". Synchronicity indeed.

played These Beats are made for breakin and Get Yourself High yesterday when I dj

whirlygirl Escribi�:

I'll forever associate this song with driving back from Coachella 2002. It reminds me of meeting up with some friends from the Chems mailing list and it was such an awesome weekend. stash and I hardly slept at all and by the time we hit the road on Sunday we were feeling the burn. We were driving along listening to Dig Your Own Hole (needed the energy for the drive) and when Where Do I Begin comes on and we got caught up in a traffic jam on the highway. It was so strange, the coincidence between what we were hearing on the album and how it fit in with the drive. Then outtro with the revving part came in and an entire fleet of motorcycles came up from behind us straddling the lanes between the stopped traffic. They loud Harley engines were roaring like the final churn in Where Do I Begin. The sounds were so similar... It was just one of those moments when stash and I looked at each other and all we could say was "weiiiiiiiiird". Synchronicity indeed.

its so cool that synchronicity stuff... it happens to me when im walking on the street with my mp3 player listening Lost In The K Hole (awesome song indeed) and cars goes with the rythmn..



btw that Coachella stuff must be an awesome xperience

i would love to meet The Chems or FBS 8)

whirlygirl Escribi�:

I was kind of loving on that little whimsical Chems track Scale yesterday. I know some people here have commented on that song (in not the best ways) but I like how the concept of scales/octaves is rather simple but the song is well executed, with rich and textured movement. Melodies evolving out of scales in various keys, while other accent notes are played one octave from another (a full 8 degreees) - even the 'tone' of the percussion is played out in octaves. It's a tightly wrapped concept which seems to work, and sounds like an experiment to see how far the scales can be pushed.



I've always used the word whimsical to describe this track not because the song is erratic but because of the lively movement within the song. For some odd reason I get images of tin toys being wound up in my brain when I hear it.

have you listened to the intro for Steve Miller Band's- "Fly like an Eagle"....it sounds just like the Chemical Brother's Scale. I wonder if this was done on purpose.

Bosco Escribi�:

whirlygirl Escribi�:

I was kind of loving on that little whimsical Chems track Scale yesterday. I know some people here have commented on that song (in not the best ways) but I like how the concept of scales/octaves is rather simple but the song is well executed, with rich and textured movement. Melodies evolving out of scales in various keys, while other accent notes are played one octave from another (a full 8 degreees) - even the 'tone' of the percussion is played out in octaves. It's a tightly wrapped concept which seems to work, and sounds like an experiment to see how far the scales can be pushed.



I've always used the word whimsical to describe this track not because the song is erratic but because of the lively movement within the song. For some odd reason I get images of tin toys being wound up in my brain when I hear it.

have you listened to the intro for Steve Miller Band's- "Fly like an Eagle"....it sounds just like the Chemical Brother's Scale. I wonder if this was done on purpose.

Yeah, Ive heard Fly Like An Eagle (although admittedly it has been years). I know what you mean but I dont want to assume it was done on purpose. Some things we well never know I guess!



(sorry, my apostrophe button is fucked up on my keyboard!)

I love Come With Us, its the best opening to an album ive ever heard, its so intense and every single second of the song sounds like its had so much thought and production gone into it. Out of Control makes me do the bass head more than anything

-peace x

I like Weapon of Choice, because the video with Chris Walken rocks! 8)

benjam Escribi�:

I love Come With Us, its the best opening to an album ive ever heard, its so intense and every single second of the song sounds like its had so much thought and production gone into it.

Spot on! Come With Us is my favorie intro to a chemical brothers album also!

Elektrobank



This is The Chemical Brothers on top of their game. From the opening chant to the distorted synths, this tune has energy overload! It sounds like it wants to be challenged, almost like its taunting every other song created to try and beat it or be better. But every other song fails!

The Big Jump



One of my friends described it as a "80's porn music". I agree, the live version is insane. especially those high pitched sounds. 8)

Slipvin Escribi�:

I like Weapon of Choice, because the video with Chris Walken rocks! 8)

hahaha, I knew you'd come in here eventually, but wrong thread!!!