Customer Reviews

Brother's Gonna Work It Out - The Chemical Bros.

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Brothers Gonna Work It Out - A DJ Mix Album by the Chemical Brothers

Hands down the best, most consistently amazing mix album I've ever heard. Sure, I listen to Sasha, Digweed, ATB, Oakenfold, DJ Micro, and all that other stuff, and although I enjoy material by those artists immensely (especially DJ Micro, he's my favourite DJ of all time), BGWIO blows anything away that those folks have ever done. I scorn people who consider the Chemical Brothers to be "upstarts" of the electronica industry and think that other artists are better; this album is undeniabe perfection, and although the Chemical Brothers do not even make my top 5 musicians/bands, they are still some of the best artists in the electronic industry. Ask anyone; just because they are "commercially palpable" doesn't mean they are "prefabricated" or "artificial" or lacking in quality in any way. Unlike my usual cd reviews, though, I will not list and review each of the five main tracks, or even the 23 tracks those 5 main tracks are divided into. That is strictly unnecessary when dealing with mix cds (usually, at least). Another great feature about this cd is the pamphlet has a brief but informative description of the Brother's career up until this cd was first published. (Therefore, it does not mention
I the best way to describe this mix cd is. . . unrelenting. Once the cd gets started, the momentum only grows and does not stop until the very last song, which, in itself, is by far the greatest remix the Brothers have ever done and quite possibly the very best song they've ever created/remixed. (Keep in mind, that in this review, the term "song" will refer one of the 23 blended songs on the cd, not one of the 5 main tracks).
If you, the reader, are an electronica fan, or are looking into electronica, this is, hands down, an essential and highly unnoticed mix album that is easily likable, and highly addictive to listen to. If you, the reader, have heard this cd before, the entire thing, then you will no doubt agree with my opinion, and that I am not in the least exaggerating the greatness in this review, but if not, therefore you are not a true fan of quality electronica. (Just listen to the cd and you'll believe that what I say is undeniably true!)
There is not a single weak part on the entire album, except, perhaps, the beginning, which is slow to start, but begins nonetheless with surprising rythm and mixing proficiency which the Chemical Brothers are completely capable of.
In fact, believe it or not, if I could only keep/buy/listen to one of the Chemical Brother's albums, this would be the one, even though it is not really their own stuff, only a DJ mix album. That's OK, though, since it's quality is almost unbelievably outstanding.
The songs on the cd are favourites of the Chemical Brothers, I suppose, and they are very well selected and arranged, I must say. (Almost none of the songs, or artists, even, I have heard of.) In fact, every fan of this cd has their personal favourite songs. I actually don't have any favourites myself : EVERY SONG ON THIS CD IS EQUALLY ENJOYABLE, AND THERE IS NOT A SINGLE UNREMARKABLE OR WEAK MOMENT ON THE ENTIRE 61 MINUTE ALBUM.
And for those that think this cd is monotonous? Well, maybe, in some's ears, it is, but if you think THIS is monotonous, I'd like to see you listen to the world's top dj's like John Digweed or Paul Oakenfold and not DIE of boredom! The Chemical Brother's and their mix cd is almost pure "big-beat", which, in my opinion, is a lot more moving, fast-paced, and harder, than the "progressive [house]" style that most dj's go with. Furthermore, this cd is incredibly hard NOT to like. It proves instantly that the Chemical Brothers know how to please a crowd. This is a great party cd.
Brothers Gonna Work It Out is nothing short of a masterpiece. When compared to the Chemical Brothers, artists like Sasha and Paul Oakenfold seem bland and boring, with their repetitive and unchanging rythm. BGWIO is consistently intense throughout. Of the five tracks, and I can't really decide between which is the best. Just listen to it for yourself.

This is the quintessential Chemical Brothers album. "Brothers Gonna Work it Out" relives where the Chems came from - all night raves. This is a 69 minute disc that doesn't stop for a bottle of water. It rocks out for over an hour. The mixing on the album is unbelievable and covers any and every sound the Brothers are capable of. This album may not have the sound of mainstream techno, but for hardcore Chemical fans, you better Work It Out and buy this album.

Like many of the other reviewers below me, I "rode the wave" of electronica along side the CBs. I purchased Exit Planet Dust on a friend's recommendation, a full couple of years before the electronic music scene really hit in America. I have been a huge CB fan (and a studying electronica fan) since first listening to that amazing disc.

Which is why I find it strange that many are panning this album, recommending purchases of EPD or DYOH instead. I admit that I do not know a lot about the mix scene, but what I do know, and from what I've heard, this record is top notch. It blows away the mix record by the other most successful "popular" electronica group (Prodigy's Dirtchamber Sessions), and I believe is far superior to many other, lesser known mix albums I have heard.

There have also been complaints that the record is monotonous. I disagree entirely with this. I have thrown many parties in which it was simply necessary to throw on this CD and let it loop, and the sheer energy and consistency from the first minute to the seventieth is enough to keep things bouncing. Tracks 3 and 5 are the strongest on the record, with the 18-minutes of 5 being among the best in electronic music, mix or otherwise. I have listened to this album dozens of times, and always hear new things. I have yet to tire of the record.

It may not be a sweaty hardcore underground mix like you would hear in some emerging rave club in NYC or London, but for those of us with a mixture of tastes, from popular music to the alternative scenes, and with a steadfast love for anything energizing (without caring about whether or not the artists have "sold out"), this record clearly does the trick.

If you approach this disc expecting Exit Planet Dust then this disc may not be for you. Some reviews tried to compare it to Prodigy discs and other CB joints, but this is a mix recording. It's different!! I've heard the CB in action in D.C. and I didn't stop movin till the end of the set!! BGWIO was exactly what I bought it for, a fairly good disc with tight mixing and a good variety of sound track to track. Only four stars because it's about as good as you can get on disc. The best are still bootleg tapes.

This is a bit of a different mix-up album. Be warned it only has five tracks, which makes a big difference how you approach after hearing it once. While most discs like this would have about four times the tracks (going through every break, etc) this one breaks the whole mix down into five distinct parts, lending each track its own specific feel. Sometimes it's funky and pumped up like the first track, then it settles into some extremely repetitive beeps and blips and whoops and becomes almost two much at one point, but thankfully differs up later on after 'Mars Needs Women'.

I don't tend to think of this disc in individual track terms, I can barely remember who they mix up on here, though several Chemical tracks appear given a serious makeover.

Recommended for fans of the Brothers, others might opt for the Crystal Method's Community Service discs.

this chemical brothers release may disappoint some puritans, but it is hot. is that some wink i hear??

This is one of the very rare places you can hear the Chemical Brothers remix of "Everything Must Go" by the Manic Street Preachers. The Manics best-of CD release "Forever Delayed" came out without this track - so the only other place to hear it is on the Manics' original 12" vinyl release (mega rare) of the single "Everything Must Go".

Enjoy!

Ok, you like the Chemical Brothers. Great. You bought their excellent Dig your Own Hole album after hearing 'Block Rocking Beats' on MTV. Super. You loved it, right? The build of the tracks, the swell of rock-style swagger and the 'big-beat' thing, correct? Fab, really.
Now what you need to understand before tackling an album like this is that it is NOT one of the Brothers' regular albums. As they say so often in interviews, they enjoy fusing the structure of the tradititional rock album (the sequencing of tracks, the logical ebb and flow of the tune, etc.) with electronic funk gurgles and a pounding beat over the decontruted guitar-work that has become 'their particular sound'. Doesn't take a genius to figure out when they've created or remixed something. It just sounds like them. And that's no slam, just the way it is.
Now, having said this, this is NOT one of their ALBUMS. This is what they started with, cut their gums on, it's what they still do best. This is the sound of The Chems live, spinning records, taking them apart, figuring what best to do with the pieces and putting them back together in a mashed-up mural of breakbeat that is both stunning and absorbing and makes one shake their money-maker regardless of how they were feeling before-hand.
And this will give you an idea of the aural assualt that is Tom and Ed's live show, should you ever be blessed enough to see them live.
Brilliant stuff, just know how deep it is before you step into it, Eh?

This is the Zodiac speaking. This album blew my mind. I was so thrilled when I first heard the whole cd. The tracks mix greatly into one another. I love it!

Yours Truly,
Zodiac

This is an excellent mix that delivers nonstop big beat rhythms by the truckload. Many different styles are represented, but there is plenty of funk, big beat, and hip hop all with that Chemical Brothers signature style to give it a big beat, techno feel. Always a great listen, especially the second track which launches into a particularly funky beat, and the last track which slows down and gets rather euphoric sounding. After a few listens, some sections seem a little repetitive, but it makes great music for a party as the good parts come and go amidst the steady beat. In all, this is a very finely crafted DJ mix album, that leaves several lasting themes with you. Should be considered a legitamate CB album, well worth the purchase.