Daft Punk

On Tuesday, Daft Punk released their newest studio album, Random Access Memories.  This was their first new and original album since 2007...waaaay too long in my opinion.  These two French revolutionaries (Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter) helped shape what we now know as electronic music, starting with their first album, Homework in 1997.  Although, this time, it's not exactly the Daft Punk that we all remember, known for their electronica and house beats, but more so a Daft Punk bent on integrating all types of musical sounds ranging from actual instruments, incorporating a lot of funk, to actual interviews in their songs.  Overall, I honestly think that this is one of their best albums by far.

I really enjoy a lot of the songs of this album, so it will be somewhat hard to pick a few to show off.  But, I'd like to start with a song that just so happens to be the first song on the album, "Give Life Back to Music." It starts with a great guitar solo-ish thing that I never would've expected off a Daft Punk album, which is soon followed by a funk groove straight out of the 70's but with some auto-tuned lyrics to go spice it up a bit.  Another one of my favorite songs is called "Giorgio by Moroder," explaining the story and background of Italian producer, songwriter, and recorder Giovanni Giorgio Moroder.  Many of the songs off this new album feature rapper and singer-songwriter, Pharrell Williams, (who also was the lead vocalist and drummer of the hip-hop "band" N.E.R.D) my favorite being "Lose Yourself to Dance."  The last track, "Contact," is also one of my absolute favorites, sounding more like a Daft Punk song from the early 2000's that we all know and love.

When recording this album, Daft Punk stated that they wanted to help and bring back some elements of disco, which honestly, before hearing the album, sounded like a hideous idea, yet being the masters that they are, they did it and they did it well.  Great Album!

-Brooks Gonzales