Daft Punk - Human After All

Boo hiss, I love ‘Human After All’ and ‘Absence’ but have to agree there are parallels between them (ones I like) such as the use noise, the abrasiveness, and the rock dynamics (Dälek’s ‘Ever Somber’ sounds like a hip-hop MBV).

“Human After All” is just fantastic. Its been a long time since I’ve been this smitten with a new album.

Sorry to maybe read too much into what you were saying, but it's a pretty loaded term. It's also probably true.

Mmm, I remember hatboy saying in De:Bug that Discovery was "like intellectual music." "Well, yeah compared to Shitty," I thought. Never really trusted the Jaxx after that.

(glad to see that Stevo likes it, a reassuring sign.)

I really like Dan comments re. those Christian songs.

(Not to denigrate Limp Bizkit or Korn. I'm just trying to come up with an example of what would sound like Robert Smith just deciding to toss off an album in the studio for three days.)

to be fair, big stretches of this album sound like the soundtrack work bangalter's done recently and the ultra-repetetive tracks shouldn't be a surprise if you've been following bangalter's work with dj falcon or guy-manuel's work on the crydamoure label.

after being surprised at how much this album sounded like their solo work i've switched to being surprised at the break that "discovery" made with their solo work. the hardest loopy bangalter tracks on roule were before "discovery".

also thx for following me on ratatat.

i wonder if i am the only person who liked the two crydamoure compilations better than either "discovery" or "homework".

I read your reaction as the same reaction I had to Cranes going from _Beloved_ to _Population 4_.

xpost: I was just taken aback that someone would level that reading of the word "religious" at me! Sorry for getting kind of shrill. A stronger form of the concept came up on the eternal DMB thread in the form of "drink the Koolaid" bands, ie groups with whom you have become so infatuated that you cannot find fault with almost anything they do. I don't see that as an inherently negative description largely because I view all of my favorites that way.

I liked the first Crydamoure comp (didn't even know there was a second one till now) more than Homework, but probably not more than Discovery. I'll have to give them both a listen again.

Donut: I really, really dislike Sea Change. So yeah. The comparison sprung from the fact that both artists' previous records were hooky, campy ridiculous fun to the point of absurdity, with follow-ups that, despite the occasional "pretty" moments and about two decent songs, was all gothy as fuck (albeit the polar-opposite Nick Drake sensitive-poet/Trent Reznor animal-fucker ends, respectively).

Which is why it doesn't surprise me that Dan likes Human After All better.

I'm starting to beleive this, particularly the aspect that if you don't have the connection, you can't get it by someone explaining it to you. Most of the reviews here (even the lukewarm ones!) make it sound like my favourite album ever, but they don't sound like the album I've heard.

I'm giving myself a few days before listening again...I can't imagine that i will have grown to hate it so much when out of the gate I couldn't stop listening to it.

"What kind of questions is 'One More Time' raising? Like, "why bother"?" *Further comments involving laziness and boredom* (It's from THE FACE in summer 2001)

I mean, there are bits on the Chems album I like but the entire thing is SO FUCKING PREDICTABLE. Indie guest vocalist? Check. Dreamy folky thing? Check. Old-skool rapper? Check. Psychedelic stylings? Check. There's nothing on that album to even suggest the Chemical Brothers had even the slightest flash of inspiration while recording the whole thing.

I can understand liking Discovery and disliking the new one, but at least it doesn't sound like an act going through the motions, which Push The Button certainly does.

I prefer both Crydamoure albums to any DP album, but DP have higher highs.

This is true, I think, and is possibly what's making this an easy record for me to like but a difficult one to love.

That Eden's Crush album! Oh, and O-Town's first album, too.

(I'm not helping, am I?)

I think that's key. I wouldn't mind so much if it hadn't been a four-year wait.

Sandinista!, I think.

In the 60s of course, all albums were recorded in four hours.

On a different note, Ned, I'm envious that you got a MIA ticket. I tried to get one for the Knitting Facotry (NY), but sold out. I'm always too slow. But anyway, MIA is exciting, Daft Punk are not (how's that for a pointless comparison?)

Are you afraid Mark will dump you in an alley somewhere?