Top 13 Favorite Albums of 2013 #3 - Random Access Memories by Daft Punk
UPDATE (10/8/2016 8:18 PM): Replaced broken link.
From the second that epic electric guitar intro kicks in on the opening track “Give Life Back to Music,” you know that Daft Punk means some serious business with Random Access Memories. The record is a Daft Punk lover’s paradise, with Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter pulling all kinds of tricks and blending together all kinds of influences. Songs like “The Game of Love” and “Give Life Back to Music” harness a smooth Jazz style rhythmically. The lead single “Get Lucky” is drenched in old school funk with snappy bass lines supporting Pharrell William’s soothing falsetto and slick guitar riffs (and has been the cause of multiple late night dance breaks with my college roommates). Then, you have the emphasized vocals and subtle instrumentation on “Doing It Right” and “Instant Crush” which venture into a contemporary indie territory. Some of the tracks literally feel like an impromptu jam session caught on recording because of how they progress from one stylistic influence to the next. “Touch,” for example, begins with a cinematically creepy and goes from New Orleans style jazz to a 60’s sounding interlude. Yet with all the various influences and genres incorporated, everything flows seamlessly with every track adhering to this awesome futuristic disco theme. I wasn’t aware that futuristic disco could even be a thing (Didn’t disco die?), but Daft Punk does no wrong. They brought disco back from the dead with Random Access Memories and I am 100% okay with that.
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