[neekomax]

I'm just starting to listen to this album, which was hyped a fair amount (and 'leaked' at one point). What do you guys think of it? One thing I will say is that these guys understand sound production and mixing like few others. Their sound is so warm and smooth, yet it uses electronic sounds (although not everywhere), with the clarity and precision that goes with that. Not an easy feat.

I would argue that these cats are in the top 5 producers working today, in terms of sound.

So here's a place you can leave your impressions of this important (?) album.

[WC]

I listened to it on MOG. It was OK, better than most House type dance music, but I didn't like it enough to put it on my Amazon wish List.

[sharpsuxx]

I got lucky, (pun intended) and amazon sent me two copies of this CD.  I agree with you the production quality is of the highest quality, unrivaled by any Techno/Dub/Dance artist out there.  It is a really cool throwback to the disco era and some of the songs take a few listens to grow on you.  I don't like that this album has more lyrics than most Daft Punk albums but I have to admit the first single 'Get Lucky' is probably going to be the song of the summer.  My 2 channel system is deconstructed right now but the album sounds great in my card and on my headphones so I can't much speak to sound stage of the album but I am sure based on what I have heard on my headphones it is going to be fairly good for electronic music.  Overall I love the direction they are going, it is nice every now and then to poke your head out of the depressing gray emo music that all genres have become and have just a happy dance music track for once.  It is really a welcome change, I don't know that I am ready for disco to come back.  I love the samples but I hope they go in a funkier direction for there next album more like discovery.

I look forward to there years and years of remixes on these tracks though, we all know how DP does it.  Make a song once and release B sides and remixes for years on it until it is exhausted.

[neekomax]

I got lucky, (pun intended) and amazon sent me two copies of this CD.  I agree with you the production quality is of the highest quality, unrivaled by any Techno/Dub/Dance artist out there.  It is a really cool throwback to the disco era and some of the songs take a few listens to grow on you.  I don't like that this album has more lyrics than most Daft Punk albums but I have to admit the first single 'Get Lucky' is probably going to be the song of the summer.  My 2 channel system is deconstructed right now but the album sounds great in my card and on my headphones so I can't much speak to sound stage of the album but I am sure based on what I have heard on my headphones it is going to be fairly good for electronic music.  Overall I love the direction they are going, it is nice every now and then to poke your head out of the depressing gray emo music that all genres have become and have just a happy dance music track for once.  It is really a welcome change, I don't know that I am ready for disco to come back.  I love the samples but I hope they go in a funkier direction for there next album more like discovery.

I look forward to there years and years of remixes on these tracks though, we all know how DP does it.  Make a song once and release B sides and remixes for years on it until it is exhausted.

Interesting.

I think it's cool how they somehow infuse this genre with a certain emotional weight. The different tracks really have their own specific moods. I'll agree that some of the songs are easier to dig on first listen - arguably 'better' - than others.

What are you doing with that extra CD? Did someone say 'karma'? 

[sharpsuxx]

It is going to my little brother, he is an equally big DP fan as me.  I get that sense of nostalgia listening to DP, although they didn't get much radio play stateside, I was in Mexico during their peak of popularity and the radio in Mexico gave them lots of spins during the late 90s.  I agree they manage to get a lot more emotional weight out of electronic music than most.  I think the guys know a lot more about major minor and have a lot broader musical swath to draw from than most electronic artists.  Not to mention they have the clout to introduce paradigm shifts in the musical landscape without having to worry about having a lot of financial success (because they almost automatically will, whether the album is good or not).

It is nice to hear what an un-tethered artist can do.  I much preferred the TRON soundtrack for content, I really liked their pairing with orchestral music over this predominantly disco-like record.  But the recording quality of this one is far better.  Some of the live drum tracks are recorded unlike anything I have ever heard before, great extension and dynamic range and you can really hear all of the different pieces of the kit. 

[neekomax]

It is going to my little brother, he is an equally big DP fan as me.  I get that sense of nostalgia listening to DP, although they didn't get much radio play stateside, I was in Mexico during their peak of popularity and the radio in Mexico gave them lots of spins during the late 90s.  I agree they manage to get a lot more emotional weight out of electronic music than most.  I think the guys know a lot more about major minor and have a lot broader musical swath to draw from than most electronic artists.  Not to mention they have the clout to introduce paradigm shifts in the musical landscape without having to worry about having a lot of financial success (because they almost automatically will, whether the album is good or not).

It is nice to hear what an un-tethered artist can do.  I much preferred the TRON soundtrack for content, I really liked their pairing with orchestral music over this predominantly disco-like record.  But the recording quality of this one is far better.  Some of the live drum tracks are recorded unlike anything I have ever heard before, great extension and dynamic range and you can really hear all of the different pieces of the kit.

Great post, mate. Fully agree, that's a good analysis. And yes, the live drum tracks are incredible. I fell like it's pretty rare to hear/experience a superbly produced recording/mix, and done by some of the best in the business. It's a clinic that way. I'm thinking of the drums on track 4 'Within'.

But for real, Giorgio by Moroder (track 3) is an incredible piece. The buzz of listening to him describe the birth of a whole musical era from a personal perspective is just awesome, and the way the music tells the story along with him... Just wow. That's fucking ART, dude. <insert 'arty' emoticon>      shit I don't know

...UPDATE...

Check out this awesome vid: http://www.last.fm/music/Daft+Punk/_/Giorgio+by+Moroder

[neekomax]

In the that video ^ Moroder mentions that Daft Punk took about a week to find a single vocoder sound for this album. 

Now that's how you do it when you're all about the sound.

[trackball02]

Michael Fremer rated the Music as a 9 and the Sound Quality as a 10.

http://www.analogplanet.com/content/daft-punks-random-access-memories-retro-disco-ear-candy

I just got the Columbia 2 LP 180 gram release from Amazon. Fun to listen to and incredible production. Worth ever penny. If your turntable set up does not sound great with these LPs, there is something drastically wrong. This is a great reference work to evaluate equipment.

[shahed]

I've rarely heard any mainstream album having such good recording - that includes all the classic rock album from 60s/70s etc.

[JonnyFive]

Daft Punk's Tron Legacy Soundtrack was a game changer for me personally.  I loved it.  This current album, while excellent recording quality, just sounds all like Vegas lounge music to me.