Oblivion with Bells

Oblivion with Bells
Studio album by Underworld
Released 3 October 2007
Recorded 2000–2007 at Abbey Road Studios, Lemonworld Studios, and around the world
Genre Techno, progressive house, progressive trance
Length 58:12
Label Different Recordings, Traffic, Side One Recordings
Producer Rick Smith
Underworld chronology

Live in Tokyo 25th November 2005
(2005)		 Oblivion with Bells
(2007)		 Barking
(2010)
Singles from Oblivion with Bells
  1. "Crocodile"
    Released: 12 September 2007
  2. "Ring Road"
    Released: 6 July 2008
  3. "Holding the Moth"
    Released: 7 December 2008
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic (64/100)[1]
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [2]
Alternative Press [3]
Gig Wise [4]
Laute.de [5]
NME 8/10[6]
Pitchfork Media (6.0/10)[7]
Prefix Magazine (7.5/10)[8]
Release Magazine 9/10[9]
Resident Advisor [10]
Slant Magazine [11]
Tiny Mix Tapes [12]
URB [13]
Virgin Media [14]
Yahoo! Music UK [15]

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.

Critical reception

Oblivion 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

All songs by Karl Hyde and Rick Smith.

Side A

  1. "Crocodile" – 6:32
  2. "Beautiful Burnout" – 8:11

Side B

  1. "Holding the Moth" – 5:31
  2. "To Heal" – 2:38
  3. "Ring Road" – 4:33

Side C

  1. "Glam Bucket" – 5:48
  2. "Boy, Boy, Boy" – 6:07
  3. "Cuddle Bunny vs The Celtic Villages" – 2:24

Side D

  1. "Faxed Invitation" – 4:46
  2. "Good Morning Cockerel" – 2:30
  3. "Best Mamgu Ever" – 9:12

Additional track on the Japanese release (Traffic, TRCP10):

  1. "Loads of Birds" – 5:30

Book of Jam – Video DVD [UWR-00017-5 (UK) and SOR0001 (US) only]

  1. Crocodile (video) – 3:57
  2. Tokyo Makuhari (slideshow with "Boy, Boy, Boy") – 1:32
  3. Metal Friend (video) – 1:37
  4. Abbey Road Recording Session (slideshow with "Globe") – 1:31
  5. Good Morning Cockerel (video) – 2:31
  6. Rez Live (video) – 9:28
  7. Art Jam (slideshow with "Faxed Invitation") – 1:46

Release history

Country Release date
Japan 3 October 2007
Europe 15 October 2007
United States 16 October 2007

Appearances

To 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

Charts

Chart (2007) Peak
position
Belgian Albums Chart[17] 27
Dutch Albums Chart[18] 15
French Albums Chart[19] 134
German Albums Chart[20] 76
Japanese Albums Chart[21] 6
UK Albums Chart[22] 45
US Billboard 200[23] 169
US Billboard Electronic Albums[24] 1
US Billboard Independent Albums[25] 18

References

  1. ↑ "Oblivion With Bells Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  2. ↑ Oblivion with Bells at AllMusic
  3. ↑ Their eighth album, Oblivion With Bells, showcases a more refined approach. [Nov 2007, p.176]
  4. ↑ Hot right now:     (2007-10-16). "Underworld - 'Oblivion With Bells' (Vital) Released 15/10/07". Gigwise. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  5. ↑ ""Oblivion With Bells" von Underworld – laut.de – Album". Laut.de. 2011-11-16. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  6. ↑ "NME Album Reviews - Underworld: 'Oblivion With Bells'". Nme.Com. 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "Album Review: Underworld - Oblivion with Bells | Prefix". Prefixmag.com. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  9. ↑ "Underworld: Oblivion with Bells - Release Music Magazine review". Releasemagazine.net. 2007-10-30. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  10. ↑ "RA Reviews: Underworld - Oblivion With Bells (Album)". Residentadvisor.net. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  11. ↑ "Underworld: Oblivion with Bells | Music Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  12. ↑ Guerilla, Urban. "Underworld - Oblivion With Bells | Music Review". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  13. ↑ http://www.urb.com/2007/10/15/underworld-oblivion-with-bells/
  14. ↑ Bartholomew, Tony (2007-10-15). "Underworld: Oblivion With Bells review - Album reviews - Music". Virgin Media. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  15. ↑  8 mins ago. "Yahoo! UK & Ireland omg! - Celebrity Gossip | News | Photos | Videos". Uk.launch.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  16. ↑ Manning, Kara (2007-10-08). "Underworld Release New 'Physical' Album Along With Internet Offerings - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  17. ↑ http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Underworld&titel=Oblivion+With+Bells&cat=a
  18. ↑ http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Underworld&titel=Second+Toughest+In+The+Infants&cat=a
  19. ↑ http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Underworld&titel=Beaucoup+Fish&cat=a
  20. ↑ http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Underworld/?type=longplay
  21. ↑ Underworld discography
  22. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/underworld/
  23. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/underworld-mn0000807949/awards
  24. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/underworld-mn0000807949/awards
  25. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/underworld-mn0000807949/awards