Album Review: Daft Punk's "Random Access Memories"

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First it was "Homework." Then came the now beloved "Discovery." And before taking a hiatus (besides the Tron: Legacy soundtrack) came "Human After All." Now Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter, who most of you know as Daft Punk, are finally back after five years. They left us wondering if we will ever hear another sound from Daft Punk. After all the speculations, the fake leaks, SNL ads, interviews, and collaborator videos, "Random Access Memories" is finally in our hands to listen to. Well kind of at least. Ahead of the official May 21st release of the album, "RAM" was streamed for free on iTunes and with that the album was leaked to the public. I'm not going to post the link to the leak here because I feel like if you really want to listen to it you'll find the means to find it (hint check the Daft Punk Sub-Reddit). Now all the speculations of how the album will sound has come to an end. And with that all the drama and debate surrounding the album has come to an end too right? Well now things have gotten even more interesting since the release of the album. Before diving into a song by song review, I just want to voice my opinion on the album and how I hope people will interpret the album as a musical masterpiece. This is just my opinion so there is no wrong or right answer to any of this.

First off, I'm no music critic or musician myself. I'm just a fan who loves Daft Punk and music in general. Through my journey with electronic music, my understanding, appreciation, taste, and love for music has grown in a positive way. I remember first listening to Daft Punk's "Discovery" wondering what the hell it was. I didn't fall in love with it immediately to be honest, but it exposed me to a new sound that I found intriguing. The more I listened to it the more I started to like it until I fell in love with it. Same went for "Homework" and "Human After All." When Daft Punk first made their albums, the majority of people didn't love it and critics seemed to think not much of it. But now Daft Punk is one of the biggest names in electronic music. Changing the way live electronic performances were done with their iconic Pyramid rig and changing the trend of electronic music with their unique sound. It just proves that Daft Punk was just ahead of their time. Now that "Random Access Memories" is finally here, not much has changed for Daft Punk when it comes to releasing new material. There's a lot of people who don't like the new album saying it's boring and not innovative. Most critic reviews I have read thus far are saying similar things, expressing boredom or disappointment. But hasn't Daft Punk faced this kind of negativity with their previous albums? And now they are beloved by most electronic music lovers and music enthusiasts in general. This may mean one thing... Daft Punk is probably ahead of their time once again. Daft Punk is known for making the sounds of the future. But this album isn't about future sounds. It's about the sounds that got us to where we are today. It's about bringing soul and funk back to the music. It's about having love for the music. It's about losing yourself to dance once again. I feel like many people overlooked that about the album and Daft Punk's intentions in making this.

If you watched the collaborators videos on Youtube then you knew exactly what to expect from the album. If you didn't watch them, well it may explain why you might not like the album in the way that you thought you would. If you expected Discovery 2.0 then it's clear you would be disappointed. If you expected drops, a deep bass, and bangers all around, well you obviously don't know too much about Daft Punk and their history. This album is meant to listen to in full. If you skip around it'll just make it hard to understand the music and what Daft Punk is trying to show through the music. It took me several full listens of the album in order for me to fully grasp the magnitude of the album. Some songs take longer than others to fully enjoy and appreciate. There were some songs that I admit had to grow on me before I fully enjoyed it and loved it. But it's refreshing to finally hear an album that makes you actually have to listen and focus on the music to fully get it. It's clear simply by the title, "Random Access Memories," the goal Daft Punk had in mind for this album. It wasn't about using machines to create a futuristic sound, but using real instruments in making a sound that came from the past but can very well be the sound of the future. They brought us back to the roots of electronic music before synthesizers and vocalizes (though it's used in some of the songs). It's a clear tribute to disco and the inspirations that gave Daft Punk the motivation for their music. One can simply see the producers and artists that they chose to collaborate on the album and realize this was going to be something completely different. And the sound is different than the "Discovery" Daft Punk, but it's still the same Daft Punk influence. Artists are supposed to evolve and challenge what is comfortable. I don't want to hear the same artists making the same sound over and over again. And Daft Punk knew they had to get away from "Discovery" in order to reinvent themselves and the music world. So when you listen to this album, open your mind and listen with no expectations. It will make your listening experience that much better and take several full listens. I recommend, for your first time at least, only listening to the album from start to finish with no interruptions. It will take time to fully sink in, but if it does it will hit you harder than any bass drop. And with that here are my song by song reviews.

Give Life Back To Music

As an opening song to "Random Access Memories," "Give Life Back To Music" sets the bar high for the album and sets the expectations right away of what's to come. The song starts out with drum beats and a guitar, but quickly flows into a groovy guitar hook by non other than Nile Rodgers. Then the robot voices begin singing "give life back to music." The Daft Punk sound is evident, but this song pretty much sums up how the rest of the album will pan out. It's evident that this isn't your typical album. Daft Punk sets the mood quickly and established the clear message of the album, giving life back to the music.

The Game Of Love

Daft Punk quickly takes a more chill turn with the second song "The Game Of Love." The funky guitar playing is present once again with a groovy mellower bass line. The robot voices come in once again singing about the game of love and the heartbreak of love. What stands out is how life like the robot voices sound. In previous Daft Punk songs the robot voices sound like actual robots. In this song the robot voices evoke emotions in an almost creepy but amazing way. Daft Punk is able to connect robots and Humans on an emotional level in this song.

Giorgio By Moroder

The third track of the album, "Giorgio By Moroder," is a clear experimental song as well as a tribute to one of the most influential musician in music history. The song starts out with Giovanni "Giorgio" Moroder talking in a documentary style while having a discoesque tune playing in the background. He reminisces on his musical career and the use of the synthesizer. For those who don't understand this song, it's important to look at Giorgio's history. In short, Giorgio was Italian musical, producer, and composer who was at the forefront of the Disco era and he also was a big influence in the popularity of the synthesizer. This song is a clear tribute to him and the roots of the synthesizer. Right after Giorgio says, "My name is Giovanni Giorgio, but people call me Giorgio," the music drops into a funky synthesized groove. The track lasts about 9 minutes, making it the longest on the album. But it is an utter masterpiece and one of my instant favorites on the album.

Within

If I had to choose my least favorite song on the album it would have to be "Within." The song starts out with a mellow piano and about a minute into the song the robot voices are back. This song is definitely one of the slower tracks on the album. But this track didn't stand out to me as much and honestly the robot voices wasn't really doing it for me. They do sound very human which I like as it adds more emotions but I just didn't find the song as a whole enjoyable. Foe me personally something just didn't feel right about the song. It's worth a listen to make an assessment for yourself.

Instant Crush (ft. Julian Casablancas)

"Instant Crush" is the first song on the album with a distinguished vocalist. When I heard Julian Casablancas was singing on this song I was very eager to take a listen. At first I didn't know what to make of the song. I liked it but didn't instantly love it. The more I listened the more I enjoyed it however. The song is filled with a smooth guitar rhythm, even having a quick guitar solo in the middle. Julian's voice flows well with the melody even with all the vocalizer effects added to his voice. It's one of the catchier songs on the album and after listening to it more and more it became one of my favorites as well.

Lose Yourself To Dance (ft. Pharrell Williams)

If you loved "Get Lucky" when it was released as a single then you'll love "Lose Yourself To Dance." This is my favorite track on the album. It starts out with the funky guitar playing of Nile Rodgers once again, instantly becoming a groovy dance track. Pharrell Williams voice just flows so well with the melody. And then the robot voices in the background singing "come on" and other lyrics just makes the song easy to want to dance to. And the clapping sounds just adds to good feeling this song gives you. It's obviously a disco influenced song. For me it's the summer tune I have been waiting for.

Touch (ft. Paul Williams)

When I first heard "Touch" I'm going to admit I thought it was kind of cheesy. The song starts out with bloops and beeps like a sci-fi movie and a dark robot voice comes in saying things about wanting something more than touch. It gets kind of creepy until it suddenly drops into a piano and Paul Williams' Broadway sounding voice. The song picks up into a joyful melody, like something you would hear in a Broadway show or Disney movie. The mixture of piano, spaceship like sounds, and the robot voices makes it a clear Daft Punk song. The robot voices singing in a chorus has never sounded so life like. This is a track that at first listen will sound cheesy but will grow to be something unique and most enjoyable. It did for me at least.

Get Lucky (ft. Pharrell Williams)

The lead single off of "Random Access Memories" is "Get Lucky." Most people already heard the released radio version of this song, but the album version is even better. It starts off once again with Nile Rodgers signature disco guitar playing. This is the version of the song we have been hearing in all the collaborator videos. It's the second song featuring Pharrell Williams' smooth vocals. In my opinion this is the catchiest song on the album with "Lose Yourself To Dance." It will make you want to dance and the lyrics are so easy to learn. And once you do it will be the only thing you want to sing... Well that's what happened to me at least. It's another definite summer tune for me and one I'll be listening to for a while.

Beyond

The intro to "Beyond" sounds like an intro to a Disney movie to be honest. I had no idea what to expect, but the song quickly dropped into another groovy guitar hook and the robot voices come in once again. And what's been a theme in the album thus far, the robot voices once again sound life like and emotion filled. It's another mellower track but still has a funky kick to it. I like "Beyond" more than any of the other songs that only have those Daft Punk robot voices. Everything flows well in this song.

Motherboard

"Motherboard" is another mellower track on the album. Unlike most of the songs on the album, this one isn't as disco or funky sounding. This is one of the more electronic sounding songs on the track. It's honestly hard for me to describe how this song sounds like. But every time I listen to it I feel like I'm taking a tour of like a mother ship or something. I guess what I'm trying to say is it's a unique piece of music with a sci-fi feel to it. Nonetheless it's a very impressive sounding song.

Fragments Of Time (ft. Todd Edwards)

Todd Edwards and the Daft Punk's melody flow so perfectly in "Fragments Of Time." It's a good feel song with another groovy guitar chord and smooth piano notes. I really did enjoy this song from the start and I only grew to love it even more. With the drum and guitar solo breakdown in the middle, this song got me dancing from the first listen.It's like the perfect song to listen to on a late afternoon drive. I'm very interested to see how this song gets remixed with Todd Edwards voice.

Doin' It Right (ft. Panda Bear)

"Doin' It Right" has probably the deepest bass sound than any of the other songs on the album. It starts of the with the robot voices singing a catchy verse "everybody will be dancing and be doin' it right." This song instantly sounds catchy with the robot voices and the kick drum. As soon as Animal Collective's Panda Bear begins singing I fell in love with this song. It has a catchy simple rhythm with easy to learn catchy vocals. Panda Bear's voice surprisingly fits perfectly with Daft Punk's sound. It's a song that just makes you want to dance all night with a huge smile on your face. I'm probably most excited for a remix of this song over any other song on the album.

Contact

"Contact" starts out with a recording of one of the Apollo space missions. You get an instant otherworldly feel with this song. The drums and guitar kick in to make it sound like an epic song for a space mission of sorts. This is another more electronic sounding song on the album. It's hard to describe how this exactly sounds. Whenever I listen to it I feel like I'm flying through space and I'm about to make "contact" with another world or species. It is definitely an epic way to close the album. Maybe the robots are telling us that humans have finally made "contact" with something otherworldly... or we already have in the past without knowing it.

Conclusion

"Random Access Memories" is not your typical electronic album. Well that's because it's not really electronic given every song was made with the use of real instruments. It's an album you will either love or hate. As you can see, I had to warm up to most of the songs on the album. Not because they were bad, but because it was just so different than what you might expect from Daft Punk. That's why I say listen to "RAM" with no expectations. I had an idea what to expect but it still caught me off guard. Many will hate this album because of the strong disco influence, others will love it instantly, and some like me will like it but grow to love it with every listen. Daft Punk has once again reinvented themselves. They have pushed the boundaries and made music people aren't willing to risk on producing in today's mainstream culture. For that they at least deserve respect even if you did not enjoy the album. All I ask of you is to listen with an open mind and make an assessment for yourself. And listen to every song in full before liking or hating it. Don't let me or someone else tell you what to think of it. And if you don't like the album as it is, don't worry Daft Punk and others will be remixing the songs and make them more "festival" and "dance" friendly. 

So is Daft Punk saving Electronic Music with this album? Most likely not since it's not really electronic music to begin with. Will it bring soul, emotion, and purpose back into music? I sure hope so since so much of the music today is lacking those elements. We will see in due time the impact of this album in the music world. Until that time, I'll continue to enjoy the album. To close this review out I want to say I'm glad Daft Punk is back and making music they love. The robots have got me dancing once again.

Album Review: Armin van Buuren's "Intense"

(Photo Credit: http://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000047077681-0n22rs-original.jpg?c96936e)

When Armin van Buuren announced that he was releasing a new artist album the Trance and Electronic Music world started buzzing like crazy. The number one DJ in the world was finally releasing another full album with new material and surprises. As Armin slowly revealed the album bit by bit, the anticipation and expectations for the album grew. After Armin told interviewers that he experimented with new sounds and he revealed certain collaborations, I didn't know what to expect from this album. Was it going to be the same Armin who made "Mirage" or a whole other side we have never seen from the God of Trance? With "Intense" finally out and in my hands, I can assure you it's the Armin we all love with very new and fresh material. It took me several listens to fully grasp the magnitude of "Intense." However, the wait was worth it and the expectations were exceeded once again by Armin van Buuren.

 Intense 

Sharing the album title, "Intense" is the opening song on the album. With a name like "Intense" the song must be exactly that, right? The song opens with beautiful violins, soothing to the ears and the soul. It was refreshing to hear actual instruments in a trance song. but things quickly get "intense" when Armin flawlessly leads the violins into a trance breakdown. Typical of an Armin song, the melody quickly picks up into a trance tune. But what makes this song so unique, setting the bar high for the rest of the album, is the breakdown back into violins. The flow of this song from violins to electronic sounds is just pure bliss. It's over eight minutes of an "intense" ride between trance and orchestral sounds, flawlessly done. "Intense" lived up to it's name and certainly put high expectations for the rest of the album. I hope this isn't the last time we hear the use of beautiful instruments in Armin's music.

 

 This Is What It Feels Like (feat. Trevor Guthrie)

Having been circulated and remixed throughout various DJ sets, "This Is What It Feels Like" is the lead single from the album. Starting off with a beautiful piano sounding melody, Trevor Guthrie voice quickly comes in putting you in instant awe of the song. Though this is one of the pop sounding progressive house tunes, the production quality is still there. Once you learn the lyrics it quickly becomes a song you sing every time you hear it. It is no wonder why DJs loved playing this in their sets as they heard everyone sing along.

 Beautiful Life (feat. Cindy Alma)

Armin always chooses the best vocalists for each song and the emotions he wants to portray from those songs. "Beautiful Life" has the voice of Cindy Alma. Her voice is perfect for portraying life as a beautiful and wonderful thing. The melody and her voice flawlessly flow together. The vocal splicing Armin uses early in the song is pretty magnificent. The song quickly drops into a classic Armin trance tune. You can hear the sound Armin used in his album "Mirage" in this song. It never gets old.

 Waiting For The Night (feat. Fiora)

I first heard this song in one of Armin's ASOT set. This song left me wanting more as I tried to figure out what song it was. When I quickly learned the name of this song I fell in love with it. "Waiting For The Night" features Fiora's magnificent voice. A typical love driven song by Armin, it's one of the slower Trance tunes of the album but definitely one of the high points of the album. It's just pure good old Armin van Buuren. The vocal and the melody are just perfect for each other.

  

Pulsar  

One the few non-vocal tunes from the album, "Pulsar" is a high energy trance tune. It's high energy melody and grindier sound it perfect for those ASOT sets Armin is famous for. Not much to say about this track besides the fact that it showcases Armin's talent and will for sure have you bobbing your head. Just listen and see for yourself.

Sound Of The Drums (feat. Laura Jansen) 

"Sound Of The Drums" quickly became one of my favorites from this album. I'm a sucker for emotional trance tunes and this is exactly what this song is. Having one of the slowest starts from any song of the album, it opens up with Laura Jansen's innocent voice. The lyrics really stand out and the emotion is clearly felt as she sings to nothing more than a piano playing. But don't let the opening deceive you into thinking this song is slow throughout. As soon as her verse finishes, you can hear the trance buildup. With a classic trance breakdown after the vocals and the quick buildup, this song is purely emotional. A feeling of emotions and euphoria fell over me with this song. It's definitely one of my personal favorites from the album.

  

Alone (feat. Lauren Evans)

Another beautiful vocal tune by Armin and this time Lauren Evans. After a slower tune with "Sound Of The Drums," Armin quickly picks up the tempo once again with "Alone." Lauren Evans voice is full of soul and emotion as the lyrics bring out emotions while you listen. The mixture of lyrics questioning the state of human connections with an uplifting melody just makes you smile and makes you want to be a better person . And that's what music is all about, making the world a better place starting with yourself. Just a beautiful song to hope for a loving world.

Turn This Love Around (feat. NERVO & Laura V)

When I heard Armin was collaborating with NERVO on his new album, I had no idea what to expect. Though I do like NERVO, I knew they weren't trance producers. I was quickly surprised to hear a trance sounding progressive house tune. It is evident NERVO worked with Armin on this as you can hear their influence in the song. Laura V's voice compliments the melody quite well, making it an easy summer tune. My expectations for this NERVO collaboration was easily exceeded, and I am thankful for that.

Won't Let You Go (feat. Aruna)

One of the more emotional driven songs on the album, "Won't Let You Go" is powered by Aruna's voice. You can clearly hear the emotion behind her voice. The Trance breakdown is just perfect for this kind of emotional song. Here is some background behind Aruna and the song: "It was written in the final stages of my relationship with Myon, when we were essentially on our deathbed and fighting to make it work, a battle which we ultimately lost, so yes there's definitely a huge emotional charge in this lyric."As you can see Aruna poured her heart and soul into this tune. And it clearly paid off.

Last Stop Before Heaven

Any song by Armin with the word "Heaven" in the song name quickly grabs my attention. "Last Stop Before Heaven" is actually one of the mellower tunes of the album. Don't expect some "heavenly" drop but rather just a constant "heaven" sounding melody. With a pure trance sound, if this is the last thing I hear before heaven I wouldn't complain.

  

Forever Is Ours (feat. Emma Hewitt) 

Any combination between Armin van Buuren and Emma Hewitt automatically has high expectations for me. "Forever Is Ours" was one of the songs I was most excited to hear on the album. Emma Hewitt's voice is always perfection to my ears. Armin made the ideal melody to compliment her voice. With the slow breakdown in the middle and Emma's voice flowing with emotion is exactly what I wanted from this song. The melody after the first chorus just gives me chills as it builds back up with Emma's voice. This song is easily one of my favorites from the album.

Love Never Came (feat. Richard Bedford)

"A song with Richard Bedford?! The same Richard Bedfor that sang on 'Sun and Moon?!'" This was my exact thought when I first heard of this collaboration. Before the album even came out I knew this was going to be my favorite song on the album. I was not disappointed. "Love Never Came" is probably the darkest and maybe saddest song on the album. Richard Bedford's voice perfectly portrays the strong emotions of someone who lost a love. Even the melody is eerily dark and sad. To top it off, the piano during the breakdown is pure genius. This is definitely my favorite track on the album.

Who's Afraid Of 138?!

The song title speaks for itself. "Who's Afraid Of 138?!" is the highest energy trance song on the album. Not much to say about this song except get your dancing feet ready because this song will have you moving to that 138 BPM.

Reprise

Probably my least favorite from the album, "Reprise" takes the album on interesting turn at the closing of the album. This song isn't really electronic as is it has a lot of instruments in it. Musically it is a very well produced. I guess the fact that it doesn't really go with the rest of the album is why it's my least favorite. Nonetheless respect is due for the fact that Armin tried something different. This is just a showcase of his talents as a producer and musician.

Humming The Lights (feat. Gaia)

If you purchased the "Intense Bonus Album" then you were fortunate enough to also get "Humming The Lights." I knew this song sounded familiar as it's been played in Armin's sets lately. This is another high energy trance song. It's probably my favorite non-vocal track on the album alongside "Intense." The melody and breakdown is classic of Armin. There is no better way to end the album than with a high energy blissful trance tune.

Conclusion

Let's take a moment and be grateful Armin van Buuren chose to make another album. It's hard to say anything negative about this album as to me it's everything and more I expected from the number one DJ in the world. Then again I am a little bias considering I'm a huge fan of Armin van Buuren and I'm just a fan not an actual critic. The album just flowed from track to track perfectly. Armin's choice of collaborations and sounds was just purely magic and you can feel the passion he had making this album. This is why Armin is the best, he does this for the love of the music and you can feel it in every song. His talents and versatility were showcased throughout the album. "Intense" is easily one my favorite albums of the year thus far. I just hope it isn't Armin's last artist album.

The Return of the Robots

(Photo Credit: http://www.bhmpics.com/walls/silver_daft_punk-other.jpg)

DAFT PUNK. The two words that have been creating debates, anticipation, confusion, rumors, and much excitement in the Electronic Music world. With little less than a month until the official release of Daft Punk's newest album, "Random Access Memories," the excitement and anticipation of the Robots' official return has never been greater. The release of their single "Get Lucky" from the album has only added to the hype of the album. But now the question is, does Daft Punk deserve the hype? Will the hype end up being satisfied or will it fall short of the such high expectations?

How can a duo that makes simple, melodic electronic music disappear for over five years and then suddenly announce an album which creates an uproar of excitement and high expectations for new music? Well Daft Punk is the duo that can do that. When I first heard Daft Punk's music it was unlike anything I have ever heard. Given I started listening to them way after they became huge in the music world. But the simplicity of their music was something that really hit me, in a good way. They changed the game when it comes to electronic music and even music in general. So why are they deserving of the hype? Because they did something no one else was willing to try. And they are doing that again in 2013. I do agree that not until the album is out we can't for sure say the hype was worth it, but to me it's looking that way. The problem with hype though is that people begin to imagine how they want an album to sound. And this could bring a lot of disappointment to those not familiar with what Daft Punk is all about. If you're expecting an album full of bangers and festival style songs, then yes you will be greatly disappointed. I'm afraid that's what may happen to many people who say are "fans" for the sake of trying to fit into the electronic music scene. But the reason I personally am hyping this album because I know no matter what Daft Punk decides to do it will be new and fresh. I'm not expecting anything like their old albums because that's not what Daft Punk does. They don't replicate, they create. So if you're expecting another Discovery album then you will also be disappointed. Just from reading and listening to interviews and reviews of the album I know that Daft Punk is bringing the disco funk back in order to move music forward.

What I believe and truly hope this album will do is spark new creativity among electronic and music producers in general. There is a great lack of creativity and originality in the more "mainstream" electronic music. Everything is starting to sound the same. Daft Punk will hopefully bring that spark producers need to start creating new sounds instead of replicating old ones. Daft Punk isn't afraid to take risks and create music that feels right to them. That risking taking has gotten them to where they are today. Hopefully rising artists will follow their example and be willing to take risks other artists aren't willing to take. I also hope this album will bring into the spotlight new music for the mass audience. There are so many people that are told what to like and what to listen to not just in electronic music, but in every genre of music. Too many people only enjoy the music that's popular instead of trying to find what they personally like. Hopefully with the popularity of Daft Punk, they introduce a new side of electronic music to those who aren't willing to dig past the surface for better, lesser known music. I hope Daft Punk sparks a wave of new interest into new music. If anyone has the power to make French and Disco House popular it's Daft Punk. Only time will tell if any of these hopes of mine come true.

So why should we be excited about the new album and how is Daft Punk changing the game again? Daft Punk is known for pioneering. Now they have the opportunity to do so again and I don't expect anything less of them. Like I said earlier, they are bringing the funk back into music. I believe this album is going to bring a much needed breath of fresh air to music. Right now electronic music is becoming bland and similar. Now that electronic music can easily be made with computers, it seems that stagnation has come with it. The way I see it, Daft Punk is bridging the gap between the electronic and human side of music. They are using live instruments and soulful vocalists to add that much needed human aspect to electronic music.They are opening a world of new possibilities in music. Those possibilities were always there. Daft Punk is just exposing them. It will be interesting to see how this album reforms the world of music in the coming years just like Daft Punk's older material did in its time.

Before you buy the album and go crazy listening to it nonstop, make sure you listen with an open mind. Don't expect certain things or sounds, it will only lead to disappointment. Let the music take you on a new journey rather than expecting certain things. It's not going to be the sound of Discovery but it will still be Daft Punk. There's a reason they are where they are today, because of the music they produce and the love they have for it. If there's anything to take away from Daft Punk it's that rather than being a replicator be a creator. Don't be afraid to take risks in anything in life because you never know what could have been unless you take them. Let's be grateful that Daft Punk has taken those risks and created something beautiful out of it. I'm just happy and thankful the Robots decided to use their powers once again. And use those powers for the good of music.