Released June 30, 1997
Recorded Earthbound Central
Genre Electronica
Length 52 min 21 s
Record label XL Recordings
Producer Liam Howlett
Track listing
"
Smack My Bitch Up" (Howlett/
Kool Keith/
Miller/
Randolph/
Smith/
Badar -
vocals) - 5:42
"
Breathe" (
Flint/Howlett/
Maxim) - 5:35
"
Diesel Power" (Howlett/Kool Keith) - 4:17
"
Funky Shit" (Howlett, feat. sample of "
Root Down" from the
Beastie Boys) - 5:16
"
Serial Thrilla" (
Arran/Flint/Howlett/
Skin) - 5:11
"
Mindfields" (Howlett) - 5:40
"
Narayan" (Howlett/
Mills - vocals) - 9:05
"
Firestarter" (
Deal/
Dudley/Flint/
Horn/Howlett/
Jeczalik/
Langan/
Morley) - 4:40
"
Climbatize" (Howlett) - 6:36
"
Fuel My Fire" (James/
Knight/Sparks/
Walsh, back-up vocals by
Saffron) - 4:19
The album charted #1 in
Canada and the
Billboard 200, and topped out in various other listings.
Released by
XL Recordings on June 30, 1997.
A clever mix of
techno,
trip-hop,
punk,
electronic music, and something completely
out of this world. This album clearly smacks of influence by
Young Gods,
Sex Pistols and
Damned, but in a way that makes the music completely different. Samples and influences from
Ozric Tentacles,
Art of Noise,
Scunk Anansie and
Primal Scream can also be spotted throughout the album.
A word of
caution. This
CD isn't for everyone. The sound is mainly
synthetic, the search for
musicality here is absurd. The album is best played on a
HiFi system. A low powered amp and small speakers are not for this album, as blown speakers and
burnt amps lie in the wake of this
LP. The music should be listened with the volume control nob turned all the way
clockwise. High powered beats, explosive
dynamics, and ridiculous bass lines combine into a unique
eardrum-pounding experience.