Dig Your Own Hole

After the Chemical Brothers' successful debut album, Exit Planet Dust, released in June 1995, the duo continued to tour but quickly sought to record new material. Following the release of "Life Is Sweet", the final single from that album, the duo had changed labels from Junior Boy's Own to Virgin, with Virgin getting credit on their album Exit Planet Dust as well under the liner notes. The duo released an EP, Loops of Fury in January 1996, consisting of new material and a remix of one of the band's earliest and signature tracks, "Chemical Beats".

The songs "It Doesn't Matter" and "Don't Stop the Rock" were released in June 1996 on vinyl as "Electronic Battle Weapon 1" and "Electronic Battle Weapon 2" respectively as promos for DJs to test in clubs. The duo met up with Noel Gallagher. They were interested in collaborating for a track. The Chemical Brothers had reportedly given him an instrumental track and he then wrote lyrics for the track.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}} The song was released as the single "Setting Sun" on 30 September 1996.{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=57|date=28 September 1996}} The song entered the UK Singles Chart at number one. Stereogum said that "the combination of rave sirens and psych-rock far-outness [on Exit Planet Dust] was probably what convinced people like Noel Gallagher and Mercury Rev to jump onboard".{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1811829/exit-planet-dust-turns-20/franchises/the-anniversary/ |title=Exit Planet Dust Turns 20 |publisher=Stereogum |date=26 June 2015 |access-date=8 July 2015 |last=Tully |first=Gabriela}}

"Where Do I Begin" was released as a promotional single in early 1997. "Block Rockin' Beats" was released on 24 March 1997{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=45|date=22 March 1997}} and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the duo's second number one single.{{cite web|url=http://zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_C.HTM |title=Chart Log UK: Chris C. – CZR |publisher=Zobbel.de |access-date=8 July 2015}}

Dig Your Own Hole was released on 7 April 1997 by record labels Virgin and Freestyle Dust.

"Elektrobank" was released on 8 September 1997 and reached number 17 in the UK Singles Chart. "The Private Psychedelic Reel" was released on 1 December 1997.{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=35|date=29 November 1997}} A numbered release, it was ineligible for the UK Singles Charts. Further physically released promotion for the album include a DJ mix and interview set.

The album was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 21 January 2000. In 2004, the album was packaged with 1995's Exit Planet Dust in a limited edition box set as part of EMI's "2CD Originals" collection.

Dig Your Own Hole was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album, at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1429679/no-spice-plenty-of-age-in-grammy-announcement/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728011952/http://www.mtv.com/news/1429679/no-spice-plenty-of-age-in-grammy-announcement/|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 July 2014|title=No Spice, Plenty of Age in Grammy Announcement|access-date=29 April 2010|date=6 January 1998|publisher=MTV}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dig-your-own-hole-mw0000100074 |title=Dig Your Own Hole – The Chemical Brothers |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=18 September 2011 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}

| rev2 = Chicago Tribune

| rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/04/11/chemical-brothersdig-your-own-hole-astralwerks-star/ |title=Chemical Brothers: Dig Your Own Hole (Astralwerks) |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=11 April 1997 |access-date=15 June 2013 |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = A{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1997/04/18/dig-your-own-hole/ |title=Dig Your Own Hole |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=18 April 1997 |access-date=18 September 2011 |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist)}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |title=A Chemical reaction |newspaper=The Guardian |date=11 April 1997 |last=Bennun |first=David |author-link=David Bennun}}

| rev5 = NME

| rev5score = 8/10{{cite magazine |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000153reviews.html |title=The Chemical Brothers – Dig Your Own Hole |magazine=NME |date=5 April 1997 |access-date=7 May 2016 |last=Mulvey |first=John |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000412154011/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000153reviews.html |archive-date=12 April 2000 |url-status=dead}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 8.4/10{{cite web |url=http://pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/c/chemical-brothers/dig-your-own-hole.shtml |title=Chemical Brothers: Dig Your Own Hole |website=Pitchfork |access-date=18 September 2011 |last=Schreiber |first=Ryan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011119152804/http://pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/c/chemical-brothers/dig-your-own-hole.shtml |archive-date=19 November 2001 |url-status=dead}}

| rev7 = Q

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.q4music.com/nav?page=q4music.artist.review&fixture_review=137856&fixture_artist=142112 |title=Whistlable |magazine=Q |issue=128 |date=May 1997 |access-date=15 July 2024 |last=Collins |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Collins (broadcaster) |pages=116–117 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041101014421/http://www.q4music.com/nav?page=q4music.artist.review&fixture_review=137856&fixture_artist=142112 |archive-date=1 November 2004 |url-status=dead}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thechemicalbrothers/albums/album/103705/review/5945617/dig_your_own_hole |title=The Chemical Brothers: Dig Your Own Hole |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=3 April 1997 |access-date=26 May 2012 |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419130136/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thechemicalbrothers/albums/album/103705/review/5945617/dig_your_own_hole |archive-date=19 April 2009 |url-status=dead}}

| rev9 = Spin

| rev9score = 8/10{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I4irI6O3Ko8C&pg=RA1-PA109 |title=The Chemical Brothers: Dig Your Own Hole |magazine=Spin |volume=13 |issue=2 |date=May 1997 |access-date=7 May 2016 |last=Aaron |first=Charles |author-link=Charles Aaron |page=109}}

| rev10 = The Village Voice

| rev10score = A−{{cite news |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv497-97.php |title=Consumer Guide |newspaper=The Village Voice |date=15 April 1997 |access-date=7 May 2016 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}

}}

In Rolling Stone, David Fricke wrote that Dig Your Own Hole "burns the whole rock vs. techno argument into a fine, white ash", calling it "a wild beauty of a record" that "rocks, rolls and surges without factionalist prejudice or fear of genre." Entertainment Weekly reviewer David Browne found that the Chemical Brothers manage to turn sounds and "recycled voice snippets" into "alluring hooks in and of themselves, bringing the record as close to pop as techno has come so far", while The Village Voice{{'}}s Robert Christgau attributed the album's effectiveness to the duo's "spirit—generous, jubilant, unfazed by industrial doom, in love with energy and sound."

In 1998, Q readers voted Dig Your Own Hole the 49th greatest album of all time, and it was also included in Q TV's "Top 100 Albums of All Time" list in 2008. In 2000, the same magazine placed it at number 42 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} NME ranked it at number 414 in its 2014 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/the-500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-500-401/323975 |title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 500–401 |journal=NME |date=25 October 2013 |access-date=21 August 2015}} Rolling Stone included it in their list of the "100 Best Albums of the Nineties",[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-nineties-20110427/the-chemical-brothers-dig-your-own-hole-20110516 The Chemical Brothers, 'Dig Your Own Hole' | 100 Best Albums of the Nineties | Rolling Stone] as did Spin.{{cite magazine|magazine=SPIN|author=SPIN|title=The Chemical Brothers Dig Your Own Hole|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bGjsvmNt8UgC&pg=PA123|date=September 1999|publisher=SPIN Media LLC|page=123}}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, except where noted

| total_length = 63:22

| title1 = Block Rockin' Beats

| note1 = Rowlands, Simons, Jesse Weaver

| length1 = 5:14

| title2 = Dig Your Own Hole

| length2 = 5:27

| title3 = Elektrobank

| length3 = 8:18

| title4 = Piku

| length4 = 4:54

| title5 = Setting Sun

| note5 = Rowlands, Simons, Noel Gallagher

| length5 = 5:29

| title6 = It Doesn't Matter

| note6 = Rowlands, Simons, Paul Conly, John Emelin, Tom Flye, Rusty Ford, Kim King

| length6 = 6:14

| title7 = Don't Stop the Rock

| length7 = 4:50

| title8 = Get Up on It Like This

| note8 = Rowlands, Simons, Quincy Jones

| length8 = 2:47

| title9 = Lost in the K-Hole

| length9 = 3:52

| title10 = Where Do I Begin

| length10 = 6:56

| title11 = The Private Psychedelic Reel

| note11 = Rowlands, Simons, Jonathan Donahue

| length11 = 9:22

}}

Sample credits{{cite AV media notes |others=The Chemical Brothers |year=1997 |title=Dig Your Own Hole |type=liner notes |publisher=Virgin Records |id=724384295028}}

• "Block Rockin' Beats" contains samples of "Gucci Again", written and performed by Schoolly D.
• "It Doesn't Matter" contains samples of "It Comes On Anyhow", written by Paul Conly, John Emelin, Tom Flye, Rusty Ford and Kim King, and performed by Lothar and the Hand People.
• "Get Up on It Like This" contains samples of "Money Runner", written by Quincy Jones and performed by John Schroeder.

Credits for Dig Your Own Hole adapted from album liner notes.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

The Chemical Brothers

• Tom Rowlands – production
• Ed Simons – production

Additional musicians

• Noel Gallagher – vocals on "Setting Sun"
• Beth Orton – vocals on "Where Do I Begin"
• DJ Kool Herc – vocals on introduction of "Elektrobank"
• Keith Murray – sampled vocals on "Elektrobank"
• Ali Friend – bass on "Elektrobank" and "Dig Your Own Hole"
• Seggs – bass on "Lost in the K-Hole"
• Jonathan Donahue – clarinet on "The Private Psychedelic Reel"
• Simon Phillips – drums

{{col-2}}

Additional technical personnel

• Cheeky Paul – compiling, editing
• Steve Dub – engineering
• Jon Collyer – engineering (assistant)
• Jon Dee – engineering on "Setting Sun"
• Tim Holmes – engineering on "Get Up on It Like This"
• Mike Marsh – mastering

Design

• Negativespace – design

{{col-end}}

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Australia|certyear=2023|award=Platinum|access-date=7 July 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Canada|artist=The Chemical Brothers|title=Dig Your Own Hole|award=Platinum|certyear=2002|relyear=1997}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Dig Your Own Hole|type=album|artist=The Chemical Brothers|relyear=1997|region=Italy|nocert=true|salesamount=30,000|salesref=|access-date=27 August 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Dig Your Own Hole|type=album|artist=The Chemical Brothers|relyear=2000|region=Japan|award=Platinum|certyear=1998|certmonth=12|access-date=27 August 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Dig Your Own Hole|type=album|artist=The Chemical Brothers|relyear=1997|id=1998-02-13|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|region=New Zealand|award=Platinum}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Dig Your Own Hole|type=album|artist=The Chemical Brothers|relyear=1997|region=Spain|nocert=true|salesamount=35,000|salesref=|access-date=27 August 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=The Chemical Brothers|title=Dig Your Own Hole|award=Platinum|certyear=2000|relyear=1997|id=1801-223-2|refname=BPI|salesamount=308,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2002/Music-Week-2002-02-09.pdf|publisher=Music Week|title=Album Factlife|page=17|date=9 February 2002|accessdate=24 November 2021}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Dig Your Own Hole|type=album|artist=The Chemical Brothers|relyear=1997|region=United States|award=Gold|salesamount=756,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1452207/got-charts-beans-bleek-beatles-synch-up-soundtracks/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104210559/http://www.mtv.com/news/1452207/got-charts-beans-bleek-beatles-synch-up-soundtracks/|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2016|title=Got Charts?|publisher=Mtv|first=David|last=Basham|date=2 July 2002|access-date=27 August 2019}}}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|nocert=true|salesamount=775,000|salesref={{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nA4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA76|magazine=Billboard|title=Travis doubles up on new IFPI Platinum list|first=Paul|last=Sexton|date= 18 March 2001}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|nocert=true|salesamount=2,000,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/better-living-through-chemistry-6358089|title=Gold/Platinum|work=Miami New Times|first=Jenny|last=Shank|date=16 September 1999|access-date=27 August 2019}}}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true|streaming=true}}

{{reflist}}

{{The Chemical Brothers}}

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Category:The Chemical Brothers albums

Category:1997 albums

Category:Virgin Records albums