:(



Push the Button really made me sad about what's going to happen to Chems in the future. I mean, come on, it's all "commercial" and "returning to basics" stuff. Same thing is happening to, say, The Chrystal Method, who never were good anyway, or Prodigy with "Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned" (who used to be great).

My favorite album still is "Dig Your Own Hole", and I liked later stuff, but I noticed that I really like 2, maybe 3 songs off 'Come With Us".

This time it's barely 1 track?!...

Push The Button doesn't sound like it's from the same performer anymore even. 'Marvo Ging" kind of reminds us about "Where Do I Start" or "Let Forever Be".

And on "Believe" - man, the drums are exactly like in Daft Punk's "Face to Face" but a bit faster (snare's modified a bit), and with those inappropriate synths popping up here and there.



I'm really disappointed. I just hope there're more good indie musicians out there who can still keep the good tracks coming.

Just because their music is selling more than it has before doesn't mean they've suddenly become sell-outs. They may be heading in a slightly different direction than they were when they started...but that's something every artist strives for. Honestly, I don't think they have made a mistake in their musical careers as of yet. Your entitled to your opinion, but I feel as though they're just as strong now as they were ten years ago.

The chems are far from "selling out". I think you should give PTB the time it deserves and it will grow on you and reveal itself to you. The songs are as well crafted as their early work. The chems are very consistent. Plus, please don't mention the Crystal Method and the Chems in the same sentence. They simply don't compare.

The chems are far from "selling out". I think you should give PTB the time it deserves and it will grow on you and reveal itself to you. The songs are as well crafted as their early work. The chems are very consistent. Plus, please don't mention the Crystal Method and the Chems in the same sentence. They simply don't compare.

The point is not how well their records are being sold.

Like you can't hear the strong mainstream-pop-crap-rap influence? The more and more simplistic kind of sound with apparently less care taken of the production.



It's also not about me hating all the 'gangsta rap'. Even in terms of hip hop Galvanize has nothing interesting to offer.

I compose music myself, and I'm heavily into alternative rock and electro. I of course analize all the records in terms of complexity, mastering and everything. Not that the aim is to make the song as complex as you can. Things like Morning Lemon have proven that.



But when it sounds like they just had to put *something* together..

It's one thing to just run out of inspiration. I can understand that. You just don't release anything in that case. But this is just too bad. Sounds more like the label was pressing on Chems to release the new album and they had to throw the album together fast.

Unmemorable synths, samples I think everyone making music has... That's not the ingredients of a great record.



My main hope is that Bros realize all this and that they're not looking at their album as a masterpiece.

Oh, and as to Chrystal Method - sure they do compare. In terms of the genre. Only Method sounds more like a chem wanna-be to me.

Consistent... Really not the word to be used here.

I know what it's like to run out of inspiration.. With age the music kind of becomes more calm, in the best case, or just uninteresting in the worst one.

it may have something to do with them drifting away from their original formula, which I define as acoustic funky drums+acoustic bass+wicked synths. You know those tracks, "Music Reponse", "Dig Your Own Hole" etc. etc. Those are the Chems and the tracks I wanna hear. And even not in that strict direction, Chems managed to compose great stuff. But lately it does sound more like 'going to basics'.. Which is never a great thing as i noticed..

Isondil Escribi�:

Just because their music is selling more than it has before doesn't mean they've suddenly become sell-outs. They may be heading in a slightly different direction than they were when they started...but that's something every artist strives for. Honestly, I don't think they have made a mistake in their musical careers as of yet. Your entitled to your opinion, but I feel as though they're just as strong now as they were ten years ago.

Britney Spears has one of the best album selling on the world. Do You like her music ? X-D

@23.976 Escribi�:

it may have something to do with them drifting away from their original formula, which I define as acoustic funky drums+acoustic bass+wicked synths. You know those tracks, "Music Reponse", "Dig Your Own Hole" etc. etc. Those are the Chems and the tracks I wanna hear. And even not in that strict direction, Chems managed to compose great stuff. But lately it does sound more like 'going to basics'.. Which is never a great thing as i noticed..

I agree with You !!!Why they can't record, what they do best on the world: i mean psychedelic funkin?????????????Shit, why they want to change his direction in music??Why why why???It's like Jean Michel Jarre want to change his direction and record some techno or big beat and Mike Oldffield start to recording the electronical suit (well, he actually create some of electronic albums and now we know this is shit) or U2 want to record some rave music???????Don't You miss guys for DYOH style???You really wont hear another of those block rockin beats????A new breakbeat album not have to sound similar to DYOH at all!!!Breakbeat music has a biiiiiiggggg possibles and energy on that!!!!And Breakbeat music is not dead at all, wchich was prooved by Prodigy!!!

Progression is good, look at Moby. Play was a masterpiece, 18 wasn't worth the plastic & foil it was burnt onto.

Like I said, I understand the desire to experiment and try out different things. You can't just keep making "rocking beats" till the rest of your life. I know that's what fans want but you're the ones who are creating. But still.. All the promotion Galvanize had, all what I read about it here and there - it all appeared like pathos to me. I wasn't wrong..

I think pretty much everyone with hands can throw together some simple hip hop kick-n-shmack kind of beats, but that's what made you stand out in the first place, the originality. And Push the Button somehow lacks it.

That's my 4 cents.

I hear what you guys not liking Push The Button are saying. So, forgive me if I don't understand - difference of opinions I guess.



23.976, I've been playing music for a while. Over 25 years, but I'm no professional I do it because I enjoy it. The inspiration comes and goes in waves, I totally get what you're saying. It's not like a tap you can turn on at will - sometimes ytou have to wait for the next wave where the music comes to you. And even then, at the end of the day you're your own worst critic.



On that note, I think this is precisely where the Chems got it right with Push The Button. Maybe my way of thinking has been swayed by numerous interviews I've read recently (but I don't think so, because I really connected with Push The Button from the get-go) so with that in mind I seem to understand where the Brothers are going and what they set out to do when making this record.



"Freer, closer and wilder" weren't just words Tom Rowlands picked out of thin air and written down in a notebook - they were pondered on long and hard and it's obvious they were at a musical crossroads when making this record. And for anyone who's been keeping up with them over the lull between studio releases knows this record was long in the making - wasn't it. I mean, weren't we expecting a 2004 summer release, late fall at the latest? It couldn't be easy going in to make your 5th studio record, and I personally think if they were in the position to throw in the towel, they would have. But they didn't, because they still had something to say and things they wanted to do. The new things they've tried like, working with somewhat less established yet fresh musicians, change of studio environment, and really having a hard long look at themselves after Come With Us (a record they said they made because they thought that's what people wanted to hear) and the Singles release.



But really, everything they want to say is said in their music and I don't think Push The Button is no different than them wanting to express themselves on their previous records. If Push The Button was a disappointment, take out Dig Your Own Hole and listen to it and treasure it. Because the Brothers aren't 27 years old anymore, it isn't 1997, and there's no real going back to Block Rockin Beats. Don't you think almost 10 years on, that as musicians they've been there, done that and it's time they move on?



And I don't believe there was any push from the record label. I just don't think that assessment is appropriate. Maybe because they've always done what they wanted and never tried to be a part of that machine. It seems the label has always gone with them, gave them creative control rather than the other way around.



Enjoy the music (past, present, whatever suits your taste) for what it is, but please take into consideration that Tom and Ed obviously don't think they've hit a road block and were uninspired. When I listen to their new work, I hear explosions of genius and inspiration they've drawn from their past, present and most importantly themselves. But maybe that's because I'm hearing it through my ears, and not anyone else's. ;)

i think you are really in the minority here @23.976. whenever a band make a new album there are always gonna be people who feel let down. but hopefully the majority of the fans will embrase the new album and win some new people over on the way.



i think on the whole the diverse cross section of fans who regularly contribute on this forum have been extremly happy with push the button. i think they have churned out one of their best albums especially considering that they have been around for some time now. and the fact that people keep saying dance music is dead (i've never actually seen any proof that dance music is dead by the way!!).



i find the people whos favorite album is 'dig your own hole' are a different breed to the other fans. it like nothing since has met your expectation. you all miss those heavy beats. i think its a shame you haven't grown with the chemical progression in sound. at the end of the day although you love their early work, your just not fans of what the brothers music sounds like today. i doubt you like any future chemical brothers albums either. still there is a wealth of music out there to enjoy so good luck finding the beats you love

on the topic of the album some people are stuck in 1997 and want the album to sound like previous albums such as dyoh. well i love the progression of each album and the excitement of what new stuff they will come up with next rather than rehashing earlier albums

on another note they have two albums in the top forty in ireland we rule

Hey, i respect your opinions and i also wanna give mine...PTB it's not commercial. I'm telling you that 'cause Mexico is a great parameter for commercial music...Radio stations only play bullsh*t all over our country. No Chems trax on rotation, only on the alternative but "no-commercial" stations like BEAT 109 on Mexico City. For real.



And in my opinion, DYOH is way more commercial than PTB, i dunno...i think it's because some tracks like Piku or It Doesn't Matter are intended for american listeners, in fact..only the singles sound BRITISH...the rest of the album is like "this-track-is-gonna-be-a-hit-in-oklahoma-and-texas"...and it also got a Grammy, but surely not for BRB or Setting Sun.



Ok...now if you wanna choose the best Chem work ever...Exit Planet Dust. The prefect blend of adrenaline, dopamine, serotonine; dance and chillout in a small plastic piece...simply excellent. Surrender and CWU are like part 1 and part 2...they're both similar and good.



So, don't misjudge PTB only 'cause of the production or the lyrics or the collaborationjs. This one is very good, and surely the guys of the Grammys in the US can't understand it . See ya.

PYB is brilliant and is maybe there best! Why be negative about chnage, if we didnt have change we would have the same boring music all the time!

equinoxe24 Escribi�:

Isondil Escribi�:

Just because their music is selling more than it has before doesn't mean they've suddenly become sell-outs. They may be heading in a slightly different direction than they were when they started...but that's something every artist strives for. Honestly, I don't think they have made a mistake in their musical careers as of yet. Your entitled to your opinion, but I feel as though they're just as strong now as they were ten years ago.

Britney Spears has one of the best album selling on the world. Do You like her music ? X-D

I'm not clarifying for your sake but for the sake of others: I don't buy music based on how well it sells. I buy music I enjoy listening to (which most certainly does not include the likes of Britney Spears). I live in the US. If I bought music based on how well it sold, I wouldn't have boughten Push the Button. Also, I have been a fan for years. Not since the very beginning but since their Surrender album (which remains my favorite). I find your post insulting and immature. What you stated was entirely the opposite of the point I was trying to make. There are other artists that sell well and make great music: Air, Radiohead, etc.

I don't get it way ppl say that PTB is not good album. If you are a fan of TCB then u must like it.

Yes, it might not be commercial. It might be progress. But it doesn't sound like a listenable progress to me.

I'm not stuck in one place in terms of genre - i listen to a whole variety of music, except pop-mainstream and things I don't get like black metal or psy electronic stuff.

PTB is a lot like that psy electronic stuff which just makes me wonder, who is listening to that? I mean, when the music is just random synths and cliche drum samples, that isn't too good for me.

And also, one thing is juding the music by the way it sounds - there might be differences in opinions, of course. But just being a die-hard fan and listening to everything the band releases no matter how awful it sounds, that's just stupid.. I can't find another word to describe that.

"You must like it". What the heck... There's nothing to like about it! It's by no means melodical or inspiring.



Like I said.. There's a difference of tastes, but this is more of a message to Chems than to you, guys. Of course there always be those who listen to any kind of music, be it classical music or black metal. But for me PTB lost every sign of being listenable. Try listening to Bjork "Pluto", and tell me if you like it. Those who do should be slapped or got off drugs.