Push The Button
by The Chemical Brothers
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 54 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 54
  3. Negative: 2 out of 54

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  1. Decepticon_Pom
    Mar 2, 2005
    9
    Their best yet - and Surface To Air is a blinder of a closer.
  2. jsd
    Apr 15, 2005
    2
    The only track with any merit whatsoever is "Galvanise". The rest is incredibly bland by-the-numbers dance/rock or rock/dance depending on who the guest star is. The Chems have totally lost the plot, I'm afraid to say.
  3. EvanD
    Feb 1, 2005
    10
    I recently became a huge fan of the Chems...They don't just do big beat...If you listen to each album, they have very organic flows, and profound statements as a whole...This album is exceptional. I consider it to be a must-have, and recommend it to everybody
  4. MarcL
    Feb 10, 2005
    10
    I haven't been a great fan of Chemical Brothers earlier works, but this album truly won me over. They have travelled far since their "Block Rockin Beats". They have arrived in a sound that is truly emotional and intelligent. The album is Electronic music, but they have made a stand point and they are striving more towards experimental arrangements and I like it! They do keep the old I haven't been a great fan of Chemical Brothers earlier works, but this album truly won me over. They have travelled far since their "Block Rockin Beats". They have arrived in a sound that is truly emotional and intelligent. The album is Electronic music, but they have made a stand point and they are striving more towards experimental arrangements and I like it! They do keep the old Big Beat vibe, but I believe they are incorporating more 80's kind of sounds. What is amazing about the Chems are that they appeal to such a broad audience, an Indie kid and a hardcore Trance DJ could enjoy this album. My favorite tracks are Believe and Hold On Tight London. Awesome song writing and instrumentation! I truly hope they will come to the US for some live shows!… Expand
  5. JanJ
    Sep 4, 2005
    8
    Nothing short of a near miss of a successfull album.
  6. howiel
    Jan 30, 2005
    8
    can I give it a 7.5? I pretty much agree with what has been said so far. It's not a bad album (of course I didn't think that come with us was a bad album either), It just doesn't have the kind of soul that the first two albums, and to a lesser degree, Surrender did. The euphoric psychodelia quality that those albums had, (where you listened to the music and actually felt can I give it a 7.5? I pretty much agree with what has been said so far. It's not a bad album (of course I didn't think that come with us was a bad album either), It just doesn't have the kind of soul that the first two albums, and to a lesser degree, Surrender did. The euphoric psychodelia quality that those albums had, (where you listened to the music and actually felt something) is definitely there on Marvo Ging (ala Chico's Groove), and Surface to Air(Certainly not on par w/ The PPR, but really darned good nontheless). Hold Tight London and Close Your Eyes are also beautiful tracks in their own right. The real downfall (omho) is the lack of feel to the beat oriented tracks. Galvanize, though well conceived, never really gets off the ground and ends up sounding like a poor attempt to get a track into the Hip-hop oriented clubs that seem to be dominating the US. The BOxxer is probably the only thing thats really New, a nice vocal collaboration that has the feel of an electric indie/pop groove (like another pairing with the flaming lips but w/o the flaming lips if that makes any sense at all). The rest of it (excepting Left Right which is in the category of "WTF& btw it stinks"), doesn't really do much for me (Reminds me of the feeling, or lack thereof, i got from "It doesn't matter" or "under the influence"). Bottom line, It's still the chemical brothers, and what it lacks in inspiration, it makes up for in technical superiority.… Expand
  7. Joris
    Feb 1, 2005
    7
    Indeed, can't tip Exit Planet Dust, while the album is as a coherent whole better than Come with us, no single song can't tip the energy of the titletrack Come With Us, the beauty of Star Guitar or the trip of The Test... I prefer Come with Us therefor for its uotstanding songs. Push The Button is rather a mediocre album with no outstanding tracks (only Close Your Eyes and Hold Indeed, can't tip Exit Planet Dust, while the album is as a coherent whole better than Come with us, no single song can't tip the energy of the titletrack Come With Us, the beauty of Star Guitar or the trip of The Test... I prefer Come with Us therefor for its uotstanding songs. Push The Button is rather a mediocre album with no outstanding tracks (only Close Your Eyes and Hold Thight Londen are really good) and their worst album filler to date. I can't stand listening to the boring monotonous Marvo Ging, gives me a headache.... So good album, but you 'd better buy Come with us or exit planet dust… Expand
  8. [Anonymous]
    Feb 25, 2005
    10
    After long time, electronic music I can listen, and relax with it... Great
  9. TedH
    Feb 7, 2005
    9
    Surprisingly accessible, Push The Button pushes the Chem. Bro.s out of the senseless funk they've been in for the last few years back into the fluidity of their early albums. It's the same, but very different--the brothers have more soul and less beat, a balance which somehow meshes better with all that psychedelica. Unfortunately "Galvanize" is just too slow and dull for this Surprisingly accessible, Push The Button pushes the Chem. Bro.s out of the senseless funk they've been in for the last few years back into the fluidity of their early albums. It's the same, but very different--the brothers have more soul and less beat, a balance which somehow meshes better with all that psychedelica. Unfortunately "Galvanize" is just too slow and dull for this album to warrant a 10. It fits--but there's room for improvement. That's the only weak point I can see on the album--suffice it to say that I "Believe" in these brothers again.… Expand
  10. ChunkAhoyMr.Christie
    Mar 1, 2005
    7
    not as good as the other CDs from the Chemical Brothers but still a verry good disc. they have changed a bit i think and i got a little disapointed
  11. JJBartelds
    Jan 25, 2005
    9
    Very good indeed, the original inventers of so-called Big Beats are back!
  12. aland
    Jan 25, 2005
    8
    servicable. solid. a touch dated, but always enjoyable. better than the scarily un-ballsy mess that was 'come with us.'
  13. P*Flame
    Jan 26, 2005
    8
    Well, I must admit, despite being a die-hard fan of the Chems music, this aldum is far removed from their glory days as the purveyors of the so-called "Big Beat" movement, but its not terrible either. What it really boils down to is a bunch of tracks that seem mediocore and hackneyed, bookended by a furious lead single, and an ecstatic life-affirming closer. By the way, Tom is bald now.
  14. Joseph
    Jan 28, 2005
    8
    This is great stuff. I usually don't care for this kind of music (repetitive, beeps and whines) but the chemical brothers never seem to disappoint. It oddly has some soul.
  15. KarenB
    Jan 31, 2005
    9
    Excellent album
  16. SimonA
    Jan 30, 2005
    10
    The symphonic construction of this masterpeice is ehanced by a library of instrumentation that, whilst inimitably that of the Bro's, is paradoxically streets ahead of its time. This album is critically relevant and marks an important point in the mid-section of an otherwise historically vile and musically nihilistic decade. Don't believe me? Just download "believe" and listen to The symphonic construction of this masterpeice is ehanced by a library of instrumentation that, whilst inimitably that of the Bro's, is paradoxically streets ahead of its time. This album is critically relevant and marks an important point in the mid-section of an otherwise historically vile and musically nihilistic decade. Don't believe me? Just download "believe" and listen to it through headphones. A true labour of love.… Expand
  17. LennyB
    Mar 21, 2005
    8
    Like all of the Chemical Brothers albums, only the first 4 or 5 songs are worth listening to. However I give this album a high rating based on thier former albums. Thier unique style of music stills gets you moving.
  18. JackBlueberry
    Mar 24, 2005
    7
    Brothers have produced a decent album, to put the review in few wordz. I belong to those who expected something big from this one, however end up in a little dis. Where's the experimental atmosphere these guys used create in the past albums? Still it's a pretty good plate and there are few tracks that will nicely do the leg swinger in clubs.
  19. Tosh
    Mar 17, 2007
    8
    Some fantastic moments on this album: Surface to Air is just stunning, a beautiful heart-pumping sleek beast of a tune. You can live inside that track for eight straight hours. Galvanise and The Boxer are drop-dead Koool. Successful overall, by a long way.
  20. brian
    Jan 24, 2005
    6
    not as good as surrender or (especially) come with us, but still better than the prodigy album from last year. oh well. too many guest vocalists. too many songs that are totally boring. the one exception, 'the boxer' takes the tried and true chemical brothers sound and actually makes it sound like they are on their 5th album. otherwise, this is just unremarkable through and through.
  21. MatiasZ
    Feb 19, 2005
    10
    Este disco esta increible! me parece uno de los mejores de chemical! despues de surrender!! muy groso!
  22. Dave
    Dec 15, 2006
    6
    each song seems to be either a hit or miss. You may love a few, but you may hate others. I am now discovering why i should invest in an iPod so i can purchase the songs i like, and leave the others in the trash heap.
  23. andrelo
    Apr 2, 2012
    10
    Best money ever invested in my life, ive listened to it thousands of times and still enjoy it, still find new sounds. All the album is great. Listening to Marvo Ging and then Surface to Air is happiness.
  24. Dynamithix
    Apr 6, 2012
    9
    One of my most played albums on my iPod and I never get tired of it. Galvanize is probably one of my favourite songs and it's definitely the best track on the album. I also love the ambient style of most of the tracks. Good album, definitely buy it if you're into electronica.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Drowned In Sound
    60
    The problem with ‘Push The Button’ is that it’s all so predictable.
    Read full review
  2. The Guardian
    80
    It shows the Chemical Brothers, unlike their peers, are capable of adapting and surviving.
    Read full review
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    The Chems' mix of big-beat thumps and psychedelic swirls sounds a bit dated. [28 Jan 2005, p.84]
See all critic reviews »