Random Access Memories Album Review
Pt.2
Continued from Pt. 1
7.
Touch Feat. Paul Williams - Like Giorgio By Moroder, this song has
alienated many fans and listeners. I will be the first to say I believe
this to be the best song of the album, and for many reasons. The song
features Paul Williams, easily the oddest collaboration in music
history, but also one of the most genius. Williams sings the most
emotion bits of music on the entire album, while the robots also have a
vocoder duet, and a full choir. The collaboration crafted the most well
constructed piece of music to be released in the past 10 years, and I
would like to challenge anyone to find a worthy competitor...go ahead,
I'll wait. The pieces all gel together effortlessly, combining styles of
music that I never thought I'd ever get to hear together. The climax of
the song combines; a full child choir, multiple synthesizers, snare and
bass drums, bass guitar, and an intensifying buildup into a solo
section by Williams. Best song on the album without question. 5/5
8. Get Lucky Feat. Pharrell Williams - The song of the summer... that everyone who listens to FM radio is probably sick of. Get Lucky which was released in phases during SNL before the albums release is the definitive single off the album. Remove the problem all singles encounter in being overplayed, and you are left with a brilliant song. The highlight of this track lies in the mid-way point in which the listener is treated to a fantastic robot breakdown into a Pharrell duet. This is comparable to Discovery's "One More Time" in it's simple yet catchy nature, however like all of R.A.M., Get Lucky feels much more alive and warm. This is by no means the best song off the album, and arguably not even top five, but that is more a testament to the album than a knock on Get Lucky. 5/5
9. Beyond - After the almost overwhelming whimsical feel of Get Lucky, Beyond kicks off the final third of the album with a dramatic symphony over score. The listener is then treated to the third and final slow ballad on the album. Keep an ear out for the very subtle acoustic guitars in the background, a top notch compliment to the funk bass line and guitar plucking. The robots again come in with a perfect balance of human and machine, not coming off like a terrible auto-tuned T-Pain song. Daft Punk has perfected the vocoder, and this track is one of last to showcase their art. Beyond doesn't really go beyond in any way, but instead is a perfect transition for the more down-tempo final third of R.A.M. 3.5/5
10. Motherboard - Welcome to the most interesting song of the album. Not because it is the best song, or even a top five song. Motherboard takes you down a journey into what you would expect inside of TRON to sound like. The opening alone is one of the most musically unique segments I have ever heard spanning all decades of music. Cue: acoustic guitars, clarinets, maracas, grand symphony, drums, cymbals, etc. you get the idea. Mid-way is when things get interesting. The listener is taken into what sounds like the equivalent of a black hole, and the end result is just what you'd expect, violent. However when the song brings back an upbeat tempo from the first sections the song ends in perfect melancholy complete with rain and water droplets. 4/5
11. Fragments Of Time Feat. Todd Edwards - The apparent successor to Discovery's Face to Face in which Todd Edwards also worked on, is unfortunately not up to par with his previous outing. While it has multiple elements of a good song, it just simply teeters on the boundary of good or mediocre. Edwards singing, and the pacing of the lyrics just seems slightly off with the rest of the music. The composition and usage of the individuals instruments are all good in theory, but the end result just plays off as a very average song, especially for Daft Punk. This is my most skipped song on the album. 2/5
12. Doin' It Right Feat. Panda Bear - Animal Collective's Panda Bear, whom is known for percussion usage, creates one of catchiest songs on the entire album. The percussion buildup transcends into the perfect amounts of further percussion, and a Daft Punk operated drum machine adds the finishing touch. This was one of only two songs to use a drum machine on the album, and it was used perfectly to fit the rest of the album. Panda Bears lyrics work in perfect harmony with the music and the robots melody, creating the final piece to this track. This is becoming one of the most beloved tracks on the album, and it can definitely develop into a hit. 5/5
13. Contact Feat. DJ Falcon - Originally made in 1993 by Thomas Bangalter and DJ Falcon. The demo was released to the public early this year, after it had been confirmed by those who had early listens to the album that the track was "nearly identical" in almost every way. Fast forward 20 years, and Contact finally sees the light of day as the closing track to R.A.M. This however isn't simply a 20 year old song being released today. Daft Punk incorporate rock elements, and a constant buildup that can't be described as anything but frenzied and chaotic. The opening begins with tape from Capt. Eugene Cernana from the Apollo 17 mission to the moon. His description of what he sees is quite the introduction for the song, and sets the mood. Not a fantastic song, but definitely a fitting ending for R.A.M.
An Interview with Paul Williams
8. Get Lucky Feat. Pharrell Williams - The song of the summer... that everyone who listens to FM radio is probably sick of. Get Lucky which was released in phases during SNL before the albums release is the definitive single off the album. Remove the problem all singles encounter in being overplayed, and you are left with a brilliant song. The highlight of this track lies in the mid-way point in which the listener is treated to a fantastic robot breakdown into a Pharrell duet. This is comparable to Discovery's "One More Time" in it's simple yet catchy nature, however like all of R.A.M., Get Lucky feels much more alive and warm. This is by no means the best song off the album, and arguably not even top five, but that is more a testament to the album than a knock on Get Lucky. 5/5
The First SNL Ad for "Get Lucky"
9. Beyond - After the almost overwhelming whimsical feel of Get Lucky, Beyond kicks off the final third of the album with a dramatic symphony over score. The listener is then treated to the third and final slow ballad on the album. Keep an ear out for the very subtle acoustic guitars in the background, a top notch compliment to the funk bass line and guitar plucking. The robots again come in with a perfect balance of human and machine, not coming off like a terrible auto-tuned T-Pain song. Daft Punk has perfected the vocoder, and this track is one of last to showcase their art. Beyond doesn't really go beyond in any way, but instead is a perfect transition for the more down-tempo final third of R.A.M. 3.5/5
10. Motherboard - Welcome to the most interesting song of the album. Not because it is the best song, or even a top five song. Motherboard takes you down a journey into what you would expect inside of TRON to sound like. The opening alone is one of the most musically unique segments I have ever heard spanning all decades of music. Cue: acoustic guitars, clarinets, maracas, grand symphony, drums, cymbals, etc. you get the idea. Mid-way is when things get interesting. The listener is taken into what sounds like the equivalent of a black hole, and the end result is just what you'd expect, violent. However when the song brings back an upbeat tempo from the first sections the song ends in perfect melancholy complete with rain and water droplets. 4/5
11. Fragments Of Time Feat. Todd Edwards - The apparent successor to Discovery's Face to Face in which Todd Edwards also worked on, is unfortunately not up to par with his previous outing. While it has multiple elements of a good song, it just simply teeters on the boundary of good or mediocre. Edwards singing, and the pacing of the lyrics just seems slightly off with the rest of the music. The composition and usage of the individuals instruments are all good in theory, but the end result just plays off as a very average song, especially for Daft Punk. This is my most skipped song on the album. 2/5
12. Doin' It Right Feat. Panda Bear - Animal Collective's Panda Bear, whom is known for percussion usage, creates one of catchiest songs on the entire album. The percussion buildup transcends into the perfect amounts of further percussion, and a Daft Punk operated drum machine adds the finishing touch. This was one of only two songs to use a drum machine on the album, and it was used perfectly to fit the rest of the album. Panda Bears lyrics work in perfect harmony with the music and the robots melody, creating the final piece to this track. This is becoming one of the most beloved tracks on the album, and it can definitely develop into a hit. 5/5
13. Contact Feat. DJ Falcon - Originally made in 1993 by Thomas Bangalter and DJ Falcon. The demo was released to the public early this year, after it had been confirmed by those who had early listens to the album that the track was "nearly identical" in almost every way. Fast forward 20 years, and Contact finally sees the light of day as the closing track to R.A.M. This however isn't simply a 20 year old song being released today. Daft Punk incorporate rock elements, and a constant buildup that can't be described as anything but frenzied and chaotic. The opening begins with tape from Capt. Eugene Cernana from the Apollo 17 mission to the moon. His description of what he sees is quite the introduction for the song, and sets the mood. Not a fantastic song, but definitely a fitting ending for R.A.M.
Overall, Daft Punk's Random Access Memories isn't exactly what many expected from the duo, but the style shouldn't come as a complete surprise. Daft Punk in 2001 released Discovery, which also featured lots of funk, disco, and soul roots. However unlike Discovery, R.A.M. was primarily recorded with live instrumentation, bringing the music to life. They literally gave life back to music, especially in a genre in which all music is made on computer programs in airplane terminals, hotels, and on the road. R.A.M. is a much needed revisit to an era that promoted happiness and good times, and thankfully the style doesn't overstay its welcome. This could become the Album of the Year by award season. A new box set of R.A.M. is on the way, as well as remixes by Daft Punk. Let's just hope the Robots don't disappear for another eight years between projects. Album Score 4.5/5
Fun Fact:
Daft Punk tours once every ten years, with Alive 1997 and Alive 2007 being their only tours of their career. The next possible tour would be Alive 2017, and would feature songs from Alive, Discovery, Human After All, R.A.M., and it has been confirmed by Daft Punk that they will use music from their Tron score as well.
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