Brotherhood

2008年リリース、ザ･ケミカル･ブラザーズの2枚目のベスト･アルバムのLPが取扱い開始。過去の膨大なアルバムの中から大ヒット曲13曲、そしてSpank Rockをフィーチャーした新曲「Keeping My Composure」を収録。

Billboard (p.42) - "[A] snapshot of the duo at work. Now, fans can track how 'Weapon 3' became the tauter, more relentless 'Under the Influence'..." Mojo (Publisher) (p.119) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "15 out-and-out floor-fillers. Included are 'Galvanize', 'Block Rockin' Beats' and 'Out Of Control'..." Blender (Magazine) (p.85) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands sold themselves as fun-loving weird scientists, concocting a bright, booming mix of hip-hop break beats, trance whoosh and psychedelic-Beatles whimsy..." Paste (magazine) (p.67) - "This high-impact compilation, brimming with sirens, hortatory drum rolls and spine-tingling stereo pans, helps us imagine what it might feel like to be a pinball....The quality is indisputable..." Record Collector (magazine) (p.84) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Here the Brothers run free with unbridled dancefloor destruction rather than charts in mind, while trying out prototypes which were then developed into full-scale releases..." Clash (Magazine) (p.112) - "[T]his BROTHERHOOD compilation should introduce younger listeners to their near stadium dance sounds whilst rose tint their elders through near two decades of inescapable raving. An essential compendium of new millennium musical milestones." URB (p.86) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Geared for DJ play in the clubs, these beats, breaks, minimal loops and experimental arrangements prove the duo's ability to continually top themselves."

The Chemical Brothers' second career-spanning compilation is basically a substitute for the first, including nine of the same tracks first reissued on 2003's Singles 93-03 and then making room for a few of the touchstones released between 2003 and 2008 (two of which are new to this collection). The early classics "Chemical Beats" and "Leave Home" are still among the best of their career, while "Block Rockin' Beats" and "Setting Sun" (featuring Noel Gallagher) found the mature Chemical Brothers quickly growing comfortable with a stadium-sized sound and profile. From there, the duo appeared to merely refine their approach, gathering in further psychedelic and house influences while they scored gradually more popular guests over the subsequent ten years. Brotherhood's track listing could easily be quarreled with, but it includes most of the approved highlights from each album, early or old, innovative or orthodox. One of the new tracks features an intriguing matchup, with Spank Rock's Naeem Juwan joining the ChemBros for "Keep My Composure," a rather clever piece of acid hip-hop. ~ John Bush