Surrender [Import]

The Chemical Brothers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 22, 1999)
• Original Release Date: June 22, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B00000J8EK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (237 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,772 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #29 in Music > Dance & DJ > Big Beat

Editorial Reviews

CD > POPULAR MUSIC > ELECTRONIC

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of 1999's best, January 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Surrender (Audio CD)

What do you do when everyone tries to sound like you? What no one would expect, that's what. The Chemical Brothers' third album "Surrender" recaptures the same vibe they found mining old-school hip hop on the "Loops of Fury" EP, only this time they find it in mid-1908s house. And, midway through the disc, you'll find some of the most adventurous psychedelic electro-pop ever assembled--even a collaboration with Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval that'll leave you feeling buzzed all day long.

With the Chems forsaking their trademark block-rockin' beats for the traditional 4/4 of the dance floor, it shouldn't come as that much of a surprise to anyone who bought DJs Tom Rowlands and Ed Simon's mix album "Brothers Gonna Work It Out"--this is just the boys going back to their roots here. Only, instead of simple club-ready retreads, they lay down some impressive sonics that simultaneously seem dated and futuristic, familiar yet not too accessible. Even the blatant Beatlemania of "Let Forever Be," with Oasis's Noel Gallagher, is forgivable since it's such a wonderful reminder of what these three did when they attacked us with that trippy ditty "Setting Sun" two years ago.

The Chems fancy themselves as album-making artists, not merely single-pressing DJs. At the expense of underground credibility, what the Chems have done here is bold and enticing. Track after track unfolds almost delicately, without the industrial onslaught of "Exit Planet Dust" or the heavy funk of the gold-selling "Dig Your Own Hole." The bottom line is, any Chem album is going to be bliss, but this time they've created something that absolutely commands repeated listenings to fully appreciate--that's not a chore, but a gift that keeps on giving.

Alas, one small complaint: "Out of Control," a collab with New Order's Bernard Sumner, is the only cut that's out of place here--it sounds a lot like one of New Order's weaker cuts, "Fine Time." Since this session was released as a single anyway, it would've been a wiser marketing and arranging move to keep it off the album--since it's lumped in with other, more mature-sounding tracks, the song just comes off as dull. Still, a small price to pay for such otherwise crafty and creative, pop-based musicmaking.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Kudos to the Chemical Brothers, January 26, 2000

By 

Little Moonboot (Mars) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surrender (Audio CD)

I think it's too bad that customers buy a new album, like Surrender, and expect it to be another Dig Your Own Hole, and trash it if it's not. I take my hat off to the boys for trying something new rather than stay with the same old Block Rockin' Beats routine. I enjoy "Hey Boy" because it seems more sarcastic than egotistical (their references to 'superstar DJs' and the cheerful 'here we go!'.. sounds like they are making fun of the hype rather than basking in it) I also enjoyed the retro 80s flavor of music:response. My favorite song on this album is Got Glint?... it's a simple song but there's something fresh about it and the 80s flavor about it really appeals to me. Some of the melodies in this album also have a nice eastern ring to it that is subtle but refreshing. Someone who prefers the older chemical brothers might come away dissappointed but if you're willing to listen to something new and different, give this one a try! P.S. See them live if you can. They are wonderful and the concert's what got me into them!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Chemical Brothers Best Album! Vastly underrated., May 9, 2005

By 

Dan (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Surrender (Audio CD)

I don't understand why this album gets panned by critics and fans of the Chemical Brothers. In my opinion this is their best CD. So many styles of music were explored here with many having their roots in other genres (shoegaze, house, acid, trance). Overall this is a much more varied album than both Exit Planet Dust and Dig Your Own Hole combined. I was tired of those two albums years and years ago but this one still gets played while hundreds of albums I own don't.

Favorite tracks: Asleep From Day, The Sunshine Underground, Surrender, Dream On