The Chemical Brothers: Further

Title: Further

Release date: June 22

Label: Astralwerks

I knew it would happen sooner with this electronic music genre. I figured that if I listened to enough of it, I would find something that I liked (and I'm not counting LCD Soundsystem because that's more a rock record than an electronic one).

My friend Ben keeps pushing this stuff on me and I keep disappointing him with my disinterest in most of it. But he finally may have struck gold with the new Chemical Brothers record.  

I know these guys have been around forever and are considered both a commercial and critical success, but I couldn't tell you the name of a single song of theirs.

The thing I like most about Further, as opposed to most of the other electronic records I've heard this year, is that it sounds like it constructed by guys with an ear for songcraft. In other words, it seems less random than much of what I've heard in the genre. Now, perhaps that's more a statement on their accessibility -- maybe C.B. are the "pop" electronic band -- than it is about their creativity or willingness to take chances. Regardless, this is a genre I don't have much use for, but Chemical Brothers have created a record I don't mind listening to. 

Chemical Brothers - Escape Velocity by beerinbrain

Best song: "Escape Velocity," with an underlying synth line that sounds more than a little like that in The Who's "Baba O'Riley." Maybe it's even a sample of it. I can't tell.

Rotation: Medium

Deja vu: A trip to the future

I'd rather listen to: "Baba O'Riley"

Grade: B+

March 30 -- Local Natives: Gorilla Manor (B)

March 29 -- The Bird and the Bee: Interpreting the Masters: Hall & Oates (C)

March 18 -- jj: jj no. 3 (C-)

March 16 -- Drive By Truckers: The Big To-Do (B-)

March 4 -- Gorillaz: Plastic Beach (A-)

Feb. 22 -- Shearwater: The Golden Archipelago (D+)

Jan. 28 -- Priestess: Prior to the Fire (B)