I was convinced that a jaunt through electronic music would drive me up a wall (dancing isn’t my thing), but the trip was worthwhile. And a hell of a trek: the album clocks in due north of an hour. Two masked men feature a parade of guest artists, explore a variety of genres, and score an interview with electronic pioneer Giorgio Moroder. None of these tracks (save the ubiquitous “Get Lucky”) are intended for radio. It’s homage to the album-as-art ideal that was dismantled by iTunes. For that alone Daft Punk deserves praise, even when cuts that are “Beyond” overblown make a strong case for single-song purchases. Intrigue is the magnet that will draw me back to the album, maybe soon. Full disclosure: “Lose Yourself to Dance” had me tapping my foot a little too enthusiastically. Bastards! Quick, back to the wall!
[“Give Life Back to Music,” “Lose Yourself to Dance,” “Get Lucky,” “Fragments of Time”]
8
2013, Columbia