Oblivion with Bells is the seventh studio album from Underworld, released on 3 October 2007 in Japan, 15 October 2007 in the EU and 16 October 2007 in the US. Due to the success of lead single "Crocodile" and the use of "To Heal" as a central theme in the film Sunshine, Oblivion with Bells has sold over 93,000 copies worldwide, as of 23 May 2008.
Oblivion with Bells | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 3 October 2007 | |||
Recorded | 2000–2007 at Abbey Road Studios, Lemonworld Studios, and around the world | |||
Genre | Techno, progressive house, ambient, downtempo | |||
Length | 58:12 | |||
Label | Different Recordings, Traffic, Side One Recordings | |||
Producer | Rick Smith | |||
Underworld chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Oblivion with Bells | ||||
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 64/100[1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Alternative Press | [3] |
NME | 8/10[4] |
Pitchfork | 6.0/10[5] |
Q | [6] |
Record Collector | [7] |
Release Magazine | 9/10[8] |
Resident Advisor | [9] |
Slant Magazine | [10] |
URB | [11] |
Critical reception
editOblivion with Bells received mostly positive reviews from most music critics. The album has a score of 64/100 on Metacritic based on 24 reviews. AllMusic gave the album 3 out of 5 stars saying "The acid techno is firmly in place, with little or no regard for developments in the form after the '80s. Still, unlike other electronica mainstays who have occasionally revealed a little weariness – either from trying to change or trying to stay the same – Underworld never sound particularly tired on Oblivion with Bells". NME gave the album 8/10 saying that "Oblivion With Bells is less the comedown than the sound of the party still going 10 years on". Drowned in Sound gave the album 6/10 saying that "After an auspicious introduction Oblivion With Bells has disappointingly descended into an irreconcilable docile abyss".
Track listing
editAll songs by Karl Hyde and Rick Smith.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Crocodile" | 6:32 |
2. | "Beautiful Burnout" | 8:11 |
3. | "Holding the Moth" | 5:31 |
4. | "To Heal" | 2:38 |
5. | "Ring Road" | 4:33 |
6. | "Glam Bucket" | 5:48 |
7. | "Boy, Boy, Boy" | 6:07 |
8. | "Cuddle Bunny vs The Celtic Villages" | 2:24 |
9. | "Faxed Invitation" | 4:46 |
10. | "Good Morning Cockerel" | 2:30 |
11. | "Best Mamgu Ever" | 9:12 |
Additional track on the Japanese release (Traffic, TRCP10):
- "Loads of Birds" – 5:30
Book of Jam – Video DVD [UWR-00017-5 (UK) and SOR0001 (US) only]
edit- Crocodile (video) – 3:57
- Tokyo Makuhari (slideshow with "Boy, Boy, Boy") – 1:32
- Metal Friend (video) – 1:37
- Abbey Road Recording Session (slideshow with "Globe") – 1:31
- Good Morning Cockerel (video) – 2:31
- Rez Live (video) – 9:28
- Art Jam (slideshow with "Faxed Invitation") – 1:46
Release history
editCountry | Release date |
---|---|
Japan | 3 October 2007 |
Europe | 15 October 2007 |
United States | 16 October 2007 |
Appearances
editTo Heal appears as part of the score for the movie Sunshine. Glam Bucket and To Heal both appear in the video game Need For Speed Undercover.
Translation
edit- The word "mamgu " (pronounced "mam-ghee" ) from the track "Best Mamgu Ever" is the Welsh word for grandmother[12]
Charts
editChart (2007) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums Chart[13] | 27 |
Dutch Albums Chart[14] | 15 |
French Albums Chart[15] | 134 |
German Albums Chart[16] | 76 |
Japanese Albums Chart[17] | 6 |
UK Albums Chart[18] | 45 |
US Billboard 200[19] | 169 |
US Billboard Electronic Albums[19] | 1 |
US Billboard Independent Albums[19] | 18 |
References
edit- ^ "Oblivion With Bells Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ Oblivion with Bells at AllMusic
- ^ Their eighth album, Oblivion With Bells, showcases a more refined approach. [Nov 2007, p.176]
- ^ "NME Album Reviews – Underworld: 'Oblivion With Bells'". NME. 12 October 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ [1] Archived 8 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Expansive opener, 'Crocidile' finds them locked into the pulsing techno groove that made 'Born Slippy' so maddeningly addictive. [Nov 2007, p.148]
- ^ "UNDERWORLD – OBLIVION WITH BELLS". Record Collector.
- ^ "Underworld: Oblivion with Bells – Release Music Magazine review". Releasemagazine.net. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "RA Reviews: Underworld – Oblivion With Bells (Album)". Residentadvisor.net. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Underworld: Oblivion with Bells | Music Review". Slant Magazine. 17 October 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Underworld – Oblivion with Bells | URB". Archived from the original on 6 May 2013.
- ^ Manning, Kara (8 October 2007). "Underworld Release New 'Physical' Album Along With Internet Offerings – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "ultratop.be – Underworld – Oblivion With Bells". ultratop.be. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ "Underworld – Second Toughest In The Infants". dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "lescharts.com – Underworld – Beaucoup Fish". lescharts.com. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche – musicline.de". musicline.de. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ Underworld discography
- ^ "UNDERWORLD | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ a b c "Artist Search for "underworld" | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 August 2016.