Daft Punk: Random Access Memories

Does The New Daft Punk Album Live Up To The Hype?

Daft Punk returns with their fourth studio album today, the highly anticipated Random Access Memories, and we delved into the 13-track offering from the mysterious French duo. In an age when EDM has been played to death, Daft Punk offers an interesting, nostalgia-driven album.

1. "Give Life Back To Music"

A fitting track kickoff to the album. The feel-good '70s-inspired song, care of Nile Rodgers, makes you want to dust off your dad’s old John Travolta suit, à la Saturday Night Fever, and hit Studio 54.

2. "The Game of Love"

A robotic, emo song. Is that an oxymoron? Nevertheless, a sad, down-tempo track that quickly extinguishes the fun of the first song. If Sade was auto-tuned, then maybe she would sound something like this.

3. "Giorgio by Moroder"

Electro-god Giorgio Moroder gives an audio interview on this song about making “the sound of the future” and dance music. Part homage to the forefather, part music history lesson. Daft Punk then jumps in to finish off the track with their whirring synths.

4. "Within"

Like “The Game of Love,” another down-tempo number. “There are so many things that I don't understand," a melancholy robotic voice bemoans on a song about longing and finding oneself. “I've been, for sometime/Looking for someone/I need to know now/Please tell me who I am,” he cries. Even robots need love.

5. "Instant Crush" feat. Julian Casablancas

A Daft Punk rock song. Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas joins the robots for “Instant Crush.” Vocoder effects aside, it’s actually a sweet little love song.

6. "Lose Yourself To Dance" feat. Pharrell Williams

If you can’t get enough of "Get Lucky," Pharrell graces the album again with “Lose Yourself To Dance.” The bright number swims in a similar '70s soundscape with claps and fun guitar riffs to boot.

7. "Touch" feat. Paul Williams

Legendary singer-songwriter Paul Williams (Peep his Wikipedia. He’s kind of a big deal) joins the robots for what starts as a spaced-out song and then quickly plummets to Earth with Williams’ unaltered human voice.

8. "Get Lucky" feat. Pharrell Williams

Do we really need to mention this song? “Get Lucky” is the warm-weather-ready smash featuring Pharrell and Chic’s Nile Rodgers. Recently, we saw Pharrell perform this about four times in a row in Brooklyn; even he couldn’t get enough of it. Get ready to get your two-step on to this one all summer long.

9. "Beyond"

A gorgeous instrumental, fitting for the beginning of a George Lucas flick, sets off “Beyond.” Unfortunately, Daft Punk jumps in with their trademark vocals and synths, which corrupt the elegance of the opening. The song then sweeps into an instrumental breakdown.

10. "Motherboard"

A full-on instrumental track that scampers through different ambient-inspired soundscapes, including flutes and percussion. About halfway in, the song distorts into a thunderstorm, eventually trickling into oblivion.

11. "Fragments of Time" feat. Todd Edwards

Todd Edwards returns after his "Face To Face" contribution on Discovery. “And it's crystal clear that I don't ever want it to end/If I had my way, I would never leave/Keep building these random memories,” Edwards sings, a nod to the album’s title.

12. "Doin' It Right" feat. Panda Bear

Animal Collective’s Noah Lennox, aka Panda Bear, lends his sweet vocals to “Doin’ It Right.” It’s a simple song, and Lennox’s vocals provide a nice contrast to DP’s robot sounds. One of the prettier tracks on the entire album.

13. "Contact"

The album’s finale features an astronaut saying, “There’s something out there.” An influx of organs give the song a cinematic feel until the crazy synths take hold. Like a rocket on a collision course, the song screams out of control, and with that, it’s all over.