Top 10 Chemical Brothers Songs

This particular album didn’t get a ton of recognition compared to their earlier work, but this song was probably its most successful one, considering. A continuation of their trademark big beat sound, “Swoon” peaked at #85 in the UK, but still got good reviews from critics and reached the top 20 on the UK Dance charts. Whether you’re into the 3-minute radio edit or the twice-as-long album version, it’s certain got the Chemical Brothers’ name written all over it.

Sampling David Bowie can be risky, but this song’s combination of a riff from “Starman” with trademark Chemical Brothers drum machines works way too well. “Star Guitar” did well commercially too, at least in the dance world: it made it to number two in the States and topped the UK Dance charts in 2002. Standing out with its electronica, ambient house and trip hop vibes, the Come with Us track was also accompanied by a Michel Gondry-directed music video.

This track from their first album is an early example of what we now know as the Chemical Brothers’ signature sound. Featuring spacey synths, intense drum rhythms and spoken word vocal samples, “Leave Home” was a sign of things to come in every release the Brothers would give us after it. With its big beat and electronic rock sound, the Exit Planet Dust track has also been used in movies and video game soundtracks.

With collaborations from members of New Order and Primal Scream, this is one of the Chemical Brothers’ most techno-influenced songs, as it features a fast tempo and synths that sound like they were pulled straight from the ‘80s. Its accompanying music video also added to the Brothers’ love for high quality productions, using the backdrop of a fake soft-drink ad to showcase conflict between the government and a revolutionary group.

This track is dark, frantic and full of percussive rhythms - and the rapping by Keith Murray later on only adds to its intensity. But perhaps even better than the song itself is its music video. Helmed by Spike Jonze and considered to be one of his finest short films, “Elektrobank” has Sofia Coppola showing off her moves in a rhythmic gymnastics competition. It was a top 20 smash on the UK Singles charts and can be enjoyed as a 4-minute radio edit or in its original format, as an 8-minute album version.

One of two tunes on this list to feature vocals from Noel Gallagher of Oasis fame, “Let Forever Be” has got a Gondry-directed video that’s just as trippy and as good as the song itself. With the drums resembling The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows”, this song is also one of the Chemical Brothers’ most successful in the States, making the top 30 in the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks charts.

Backed by a Moroccan string sample and with rap verses from A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip, this track was the band’s most successful one since 1999 in many countries. It also got some attention in the States, winning a Grammy for Best Dance Recording and being used in various multimedia formats. With its unconventional time signature, “Galvanize” hit the top 3 of the UK Singles chart and topped the Spanish charts for two weeks.

Just listening to that intro tells you you’re in for a treat. This song has become a staple at festivals and clubs around the world, and it’s pretty easy to see why. Its spoken word sample from Rock Master Scott and the Dynamic Three’s “The Roof is on Fire”, plus its trance-y synths and massive drums make “Hey Boy Hey Girl” one of the biggest anthems of the Chemical Brothers’ career. It was also a top 10 smash on the UK Singles chart.

It’s not often that mostly instrumental tracks make it to number one on the charts, but this Dig Your Own Hole single did just that in the UK. “Block Rockin’ Beats” is just way too good not to make it. With a Schoolly D sample, noisy sound effects and chaotic drums, this song represents the big beat sound the Chemical Brothers helped make famous. Winning a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, it also hit the top 40 of the American Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- “Do It Again”
We Are the Night (2007)
- “Believe” feat. Kele Okereke
Push the Button (2005)
- “Life Is Sweet”
Exit Planet Dust (1995)
- “It Began in Afrika”
Come with Us (2002)

This is another song clearly inspired by “Tomorrow Never Knows,” which is a favorite of both the Chemical Brothers and Gallagher, who guests on the track. As much as it might sound like The Beatles during their Revolver era, “Setting Sun” works so well because it mixes influences from the past with the Brothers’ signature sound – which made for the perfect recipe for a chart-topping song in the UK and our list.

Do you agree with our list? Which Chemical Brothers track is your all-time favorite? With new top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.