Daft Punk: Random Access Memories Album Review

Everyone’s been banging on about the latest Daft Punk album, Random Access Memories, recently, and I have to admit, I was really looking forward to its release—but is it actually any good? It’s the fourth studio album from the French duo and the first to feature recordings by live session musicians. It has collaborations with Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, among others, and you’ve probably heard the album’s first single, “Get Lucky,“ a lot recently. If you’re anything like me, you’re actually sick to death of it by now. The video clip included here is a sort of remix called Goat Lucky and has some amusing bleating goats in it. Well worth having a listen!

As for the album, then, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. I really did want to like it, but I don’t think it flows together very well and some of it is totally pretentious art-wank cock piss. Take track 3, “Giorgio“ for example; it is merely a very dull monologue. Fuck off, Daft Punk. “Touch“ is also dreadful and sounds like a number from Bugsy Malone. The tracks that are good are very good, however. “Instant Crush“ has vocals by Julian Casablancas from The Strokes and is a real highlight, as is “Lose Yourself to Dance“, featuring Pharrell Williams. My favourite track is the last one, “Contact,” which sounds more like the old Daft Punk we know and love. I think, on the whole, the album was a nice try, but it’s just not my bag. Everyone else in the world seems to be going mad for it, but fuck that—I’m a music journalist—my opinion is worth more than yours!

Track rundown:

1. Give life Back to Music—good opener

2. The Game of Love—not bad

3. Giorgio by Moroder—bollocks of the highest order

4. Within—dreary but ok

5. Instant Crush—really very good

6. Lose Yourself to Dance—another really good ‘un

7. Touch—complete and utter gash

8. Get Lucky—bored of this now, but I did like it to begin with

9. Beyond—pretty good

10. Motherboard—top tune

11. Fragments of Time—funky

12. Doin’ it Right—ok-ish. Nothing special

13. Contact—fucking wicked