The Prodigy - 'Take Me To The Hospital'
Post categories: Reviews
| 16:58 UK time, Friday, 28 August 2009
My Cousin Karen had always insisted she didn't like the Prodigy, being "too dancey and hardcore" for her delicate, refined, Snow Patrol-esque tastes. But when my dad (yes, really, my dad), convinced her not to go back to the comfort of her hotel but to hang around for their live performance at the Isle of Wight Festival earlier this year... well, let's put it like this: she threw shapes that you're definitely not taught in geometry.
You see, this is what the Prodigy do to people.
Even Cousin Karen.
So, with the festival season well under way, it's only fitting that the royal veterans (well, minus the walking sticks and cod liver oil) of live music choose to make their mark by releasing a single so explosive it'll leave wannabies Pendulum quaking in their festival-ready wellie boots.
'Take Me To The Hospital' is, like, the billionth single by The Prodigy (okay, it's their 21st; close...) and it's everything you'd expect. It's loud. It's epic as you like. It's got some serious beats. It's perfectly designed for festivals and it shows everyone just how electro/dance is meant to be done. There's just one problem with it... Err, haven't we heard it somewhere before?
(. Be warned, it's dark. And yep, it's shot on VHS: old school as you like.)
You see, this sounds like the Prodigy I discovered back in the day, when Fat Of The Land was the, erm, cassette to own - in fact, with it's characteristic Prodigy beat, big, larger than life drops and dark feel, it'd not really seem out of place wedged between 'Firestarter', and 'Smack My B***h Up'. It's dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century with the "Push Up Your Hand If Your Lovin My Style" line; but this, dare I say, is only because it sounds remarkably like the "I'll take your brain to another dimension" of their 2005 remixed single, 'Out of Space'.
Don't get me wrong though, this isn't all old hat - Liam's growly vocals do well to give the lyrics such as "along came a spider/he was creepy like dracula" an even darker feel, whilst the discordant ambulance sound effect and the massive breakdown add to this and make the song sound more fresh and current. There's no doubt that this song will go down well at this weekend's festivals, but it's still hard to shake the feeling that this is a half-hearted attempt from the guys, designed purely to keep the Prodigy cogs turning.
Indeed, the Prodigy always were ahead of their time... but with this song, it almost feels they're now stuck in that time. 'Take Me To The Hosiptal' is actually a great song; but the question is, is it really necessary? Live, maybe so. But in terms of a new single? Well, I think I'd rather listen to that old cassette.*
Download: Out now
CD Released: August 31st
³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Music page
(Vicki Lutas)
*Having said that, on Saturday I'll be down the front, probably with Cousin Kaz. I just hope she can teach me those smooth moves in time...
Comment number 1.
At 28th Aug 2009, spirit wrote:Ha ha , Vicki , get ready for some interesting comments....
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 28th Aug 2009, spirit wrote:If ever there was a song that you would need to review after hearing it loud in a nightclub , then this is the ONE !
Led in bed , with a cup of Horlicks beside you , whilst covered in a Perry Como cardigan , listening through headphones and complaining about the bass making your teeth chatter , would simply not take the digestive biscuit !
The Prodigy are one of my favourite live bands , and this song was inevitably gonna be a single.
It sounds awesome over a loud system , so , so powerful !
Omen , and Warriors Dance both went TOP TEN , from the NUMBER 1 album INVADERS MUST DIE , and they are certainly bringing in a new generation of fans with this album .
The album is still NUMBER 26 , AFTER 26 weeks on the chart .
Compare this , to their last studio album , Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned ,going to NUMBER 1 but only spending 5 weeks initially in the top 75 .
As Vicki says , Take me to the hospital is a great song .
This is part of a successful comeback of brilliant proportions .
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 28th Aug 2009, spirit wrote:Interesting fact .
THE PRODIGY have now had 5 NUMBER 1 albums in a row !
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 28th Aug 2009, spirit wrote:I was meant to go to an 18TH birthday party after Comment 1 , but I since got distracted and look at me...
Bye !
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 28th Aug 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:This track is monumental. I don't care if it sounds like all their other songs squashed into one. And I got this just from watching the video in my living room.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)
Comment number 6.
At 29th Aug 2009, BloggingLiam wrote:Epic song, love it. Not much to discuss really about the song. Its everything expected from the masters.
However I do think -
"single so explosive it'll leave wannabies Pendulum quaking in their festival-ready wellie boots."
Not much leaves Pendulum quaking these days and branding them wannabies is perhaps a little off :p
Complain about this comment (Comment number 6)
Comment number 7.
At 29th Aug 2009, spirit wrote:I was hoping someone was gonna say this , especially after Vicki's brilliant improvement ,(in my mind ) to the lyrics of Dizzee Rascal's Holiday
Changing loco to local , works on so many different levels. lol
Now for the Prodigy , we have "Liam's growly vocals ...give the lyrics a darker feel .. "
Liam Howlett is the musical mastermind behind The Prodigy , and those lyrics are brought to life by the unmistakeable (or so I thought ! ) Keith Flint .
However , after hearing you sing and play guitar , and give an excellent live performance , you are instantly forgiven .
Complain about this comment (Comment number 7)
Comment number 8.
At 31st Aug 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:Although watching the video, it does appear that Liam actually has some vocals on this one.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 8)
Comment number 9.
At 31st Aug 2009, spirit wrote:Yeah interesting , but who do you think growls the Dracula line ?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 9)
Comment number 10.
At 31st Aug 2009, MozFoz wrote:Not sure, but this track is amazing live. Pendulum have nothing on them, I don't get the big hype with them. Had 3-4 good songs and all of a sudden they're the 'Best Live Act In the World' just because everything's fast and loud. You're bound to dance to it because it's got a beat and energy. Doesn't stop it being cheap though. Prodigy have better lyrics, basslines and more of a range of sounds in their songs. I swear every single Pendulum song has the same drum and bass line. The album bored me. This song is a bit run-of-the-mill but I'd choose it over Granite anyday.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 10)
Comment number 11.
At 1st Sep 2009, Sagna Is Predator wrote:It's no "Invaders Must Die" though.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 11)
Comment number 12.
At 3rd Sep 2009, flatknees wrote:yea i can see exactly what you mean fraser.. and yes, it was amazing live. there is something about the prodigy that make people go mental but not too much (ie slipknot/manson mental). saying that, during their reading set i lost my shoes and had my t-shirt ripped off me by my mate who was wearing a gingerbread man costume...
Complain about this comment (Comment number 12)
Comment number 13.
At 6th Sep 2009, flatknees wrote:i mean viki
Complain about this comment (Comment number 13)
Comment number 14.
At 13th Mar 2010, free beats wrote:It was a great album, it felt more like there original old skool stuff, im glad they didnt start following everyone else in music at the minute and try to make mainstream pop/club rubbish. cant wait until their next single!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 14)
Comment number 15.
At 13th Mar 2010, spirit wrote:Yeah , as I said about six months ago Dizzee Rascal is teaming up with The Prodigy for their next album .
As collaborations go , how good is that ?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 15)
Comment number 16.
At 13th Mar 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:Dizzee and the Progidy, sounds like the british answer to Rage Against the Machine! Which would be amazing!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 16)