Review Summary: What tempted Tom and Ed to release another greatest hits album only after 5 years and 2 bad albums?
The Chemical Brothers are more than just icons in the electronic world. They have achieved mainstream success, which very few artists have attempted to do over the years. After a while it became apparent that the more they grew, the more their music failed. Yet, people rush to stores to buy the album, regardless of how it sounds, only because they have seen a rapping salmon on TV. (and for that, I am thankful they haven't included it on this album). The year 2008 has dropped, and many curious fanboys awaited the official setlist for "Brotherhood". Very disappointingly, it turned out to be no more than just a "best of" collection. With a twist.
A 2-disc set will be sold, the first disc being the usual collection but the second being the rare Electronic Battle Weapons (demos & b-sides) that will include 10 tracks full of hard beats, dirty mixing and pump-psychedelic vocal hysteria. Its the Chemical Brothers! "Midnight Madness" became the lead single shortly after announcement, being part of the EBW, Viewing the website of the Brothers, I came across an intruiging article about "Brotherhood", stating there will be a twist. I got the album, and what exactly is the twist?
You will be sad to know, nothing. The only twist is its bonus track, "Keep My Composure", which is a little on the repetitive side. Although Spank Rock delivers a brilliant rap performance, the production work feels choppy and rushed. Many of the snares are out of place, constantly shifting like one of Plies' beats. The Chemical Brothers are getting terribly old, and its time to step down the plate. Look no further, it has its fair share of great tracks. "Star Guitar" remains the top dog on the list of undefeated CB songs, as well as the Oasis-feature "Setting Sun" and technotronic "Hey Boy Hey Girl".
The Electronic Battle Weapon collection is also value for money. "Acid Children" blasts in with its Matrix-styled sample thrown over a sharp bassline. Freddy Kruger does the intro, "...you are all my children now!" from a sample taken from the movie "Nightmare on Elm Street 2". Its annoyingly catchy and repetitive, much more focused on hard club-goers instead. A remix version (sought of) of "Saturate" is featured as EBW #8. It utilizes a rolling snare-drum over chewy synth samples rather sounding like a garage band drum solo rather than one of the Brothers more hi-tech songs. It is a track worth listening, but I doubt most fans will be pleased with the poor mixing.
"Midnight Madness" is the final on the list of EBW's. If many considered watching the music video, this time its a dancing elf, not a rapping salmon. The idea is original but lending ideas from previous work isn't gonna do them any good for a song with very little variation. It begins with a repeated female vocoder saying "Midnight Madness" in a drunk tone, slightly changing vocals for the second half to what sounds like a large diabetic man repeating the same. The beat bursts into action, presenting a much more flexable B-Boy rage. It uses a French bassline cleverly (similiar to Daft Punk). The bad side is the sample. Its an annoying chalkboard scratching sound (if thats the way to explain it) but focused on street dancers instead.
What the Brothers have tried, and failed, to do is combine the elements of music so that every listener will find something to relate to. Adding the great big-beat songs from "Dig Your Own Hole" to the pathetic sounds of "We Are The Night" wasn't such a smart move at all, and ends up just another typical collection of damaged memories and greatest hits.
To Conclude, "Brotherhood" is only really worth the Electronic Battle Weapons. The rest of the songs are nothing we haven't heard before from them (other than that Heroes song). Its clean creativity, dirty dancing and breakbeat bouncing, more of the same you would expect from Tom and Ed. The whole point of this album is a hit-and-miss, because their last greatest hits was released only five years ago. What was so important during that period of time that the Brothers considered releasing another one? The two albums that came out in the 5 years proved nothing. And so does this albums entire purpose.
Recommended tracks:
1. "Star Guitar"
2. "Freak of the Week"
3. "Acid Children"
4. "Keep My Composure"
