The Chemical Brothers - Exit Planet Dust

The Brothers on the decks...

The Chemical Brothers break it down with some old school scratchin' and thumping beats. While not quite the peak of the Brothers' sound, this album offers a glimpse of things to come and the beginnings of the signature Chemical style. "Leave Home" starts things off with a bang, quickly dropping mad beats with heavy bass guaranteed to make you move. The album really finds its stride midway, beginning with "Three Little Birdies Down Beats" and transitioning through to "Chemical Beats". Several lyrical tracks culminating in "Alive Alone" round out the set. A must for any fans of the big beat U.K. sound. February 9, 2008

Not Bad, Not Great Either

Context: probably my favorite urban/dj/mix artists are Thievery Corporation, and I also like several others like K&D and some stuff from Crystal Method. Someone recommended this CD to me after a discussion where I mentioned I really liked the Fight Club Soundtrack from the Dust Brothers. I was told these guys are in a similar groove to the Dust Brothers (and in fact some of the reviews point this out I think), but to me it's almost apples and oranges. The Dust Brothers' sound is less urban-electronic sounding and in general less repetitive than many of the sounds mixed into this work. Even though it's electronic, it sounds more organic on a certain level more like something akin to human extreme human emotion put to sound

I don't regret having Exit Planet Dust in my collection, but if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't buy it. May 26, 2007

Quite an experience

This is a good cd. I bought this cd shortly after i bought Dig Your Own Hole. Dig Your Own Hole had its own highlights but this isnt about DYOH. This is about the beginning. The death of dust and the reincarnation of pure elation. About Chemicals man! To get you to buy this CD i will run you through the first 6 tracks.
First track: Leave home: Its always difficult to start off new but its also chance for a fresh start. The Chemical brothers knew this. 'The brothers' gonna work it out' they chant over and over again working tirelessly puting time, effort, love and creativity into this track to build your soul up. Slow but reassuring. You know that something bigger is going to come.
Second track: In Dust We Trust: A roller coaster in the dark. A bit shakey and a little unsettling but the Chemical Brothers know what they are doing. They have a plan. The ride is a little rough and your skin calluses but its okay. Youll be fine in the long run. This is training.
Third track: Song to the Siren: a sweet voice serenades you but you realize that there is still danger ahead. The siren lulls you towards the unconscious yet you hear another siren from the oncoming police. You're caught between the two. you want to run, you want to dance, but you can't decide. Its too late though. It doesnt even matter anymore. Its okay. Its okay because the siren says so. You delve into your head and you are lost. Nothing is guiding you anymore. your soul swims in murky waters.
This is a sign that you are currently on the Fourth track. Three Little Birdies Down Beats. The world is not yours anymore. Nothing is tangeable. People, things, spirits pass you and you call out but nobody hears you. You cant do anything but then again, why would you want to? This is enlightenment. Don't try to stop it. Just go with it. And suddenly the ground starts to shake.
Fifth track. F*** up Beats. The earth is torn out from all around you. There's nothing left to stand on. What The F*** is going on!?? you ask. And god notices you. What The F*** are you doing here? He says. but you do not understand his speech. His language is foreign and you realize that you're not even dead yet. The large hand belonging to whom you recognize to be god engulfs you and there is nothing but darkness for a period of time.
Sixth track : Chemical Beats: Awake. Alive. You realize that before this moment you were dead. But now you live. Chemicals flow through your veins. Your heart pumps adrenaline throughout your body. Your chakras are unlocked. The pineal gland releases enlightnment fluids that touch every cell of your being. And you are complete. All of mankinds potential has come together and has been crammed into your fragile human body. The entirety of the suns energy has been pounded into you and you look like you might explode at any moment but you dont.
And just like that its over. Well not really. There are still 5 tracks to go. And they're good tracks let me assure you. But you will know them soon enough. Music really shouldn't be written with words anyways. September 27, 2006

Chemical Brothers fans will probably hate this review

I recently went back to this one after losing my copy a couple of years ago. I have to say that this album blew my mind then and still does now.

This album was my personal progression from the "old" order of electronica to what we know and enjoy today. "Song to the Siren" in particular is one of the most amazing tracks in my collection, even all of these years later. (especially impressive because it is a LIVE track. Listen and you will be amazed) There really isn't a bad track on this album. It holds up surprisingly well , even in 2005 when only the greatest of electronic albums can age more than a year or two without sounding horribly dated.

I eagerly awaited all things Chemical from the moment I bought this one waaaay back in the day (95 or 96 , I forget, as anyone in their 20s during that time probably would have, heh-heh)
This is the part that the fans will probably hate- I never heard anything that they did that was half as good as this album. Seriously. If you are a big fan of "Dig your own Hole" or any of the newer albums I don't know if you will dig this one. It almost sounds like a fluke to me compared to everything else they did. I was so stoked on this album I was buying every single they put out , every other band on Astralwerks , everything possible in hopes of matching this milestone album. ( at a time when I didn't have two pennies to rub together , mind you. )

Bottom line, I don't think the Chemical Brothers ever lived up to their potential, based on this album. I think they sold out with their electronic/rock crossover thing (Noel Gallagher vocals on the following album? Huh?) and ran with it. Good for them.

Buy this album, which should be an exhibit in some sort of museum - "Progression of Modern Electronica- early to mid 90's" with The Orb's Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld , Freaky Chakra's Low Down Motivator, Single Cell Orchestra's self titled debut and Children of the Bong October 17, 2005

:)

Chico's Groove and One Too Many Mornings make this cd. Without them it would be a good cd, but with them this cd is great. October 9, 2005

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