Best Kraftwerk Album

I first heard the majority of Kraftwerk through 'The Mix', so sometimes those original versions can sound a bit flat and lo-fi to me, even if the Mix's versions are pretty terrible. My problem with Kraftwerk, iconic and important that they were, is that sometimes their tracks go on just a tad too long. Like, for me listening to Autobahn can feel a bit like something I have to subject myself to out of self-improvement; like reading Moby Dick or something. It's not that I don't enjoy it, but it can feel like a bit of a slog after just a few minutes.

The only one I can't say that about is Radioactivity which is such a great understated record. Computer World works well too, as a pop album.

That Minimum-Maximum live disc is pretty much my go-to; for some reason the pumped-up, bass-boosted sound works for me there in a way that it doesn't on The Mix, even though the arrangements are basically the same

The live MinMax performance lives on my pad.

I went to Edinburgh a few years ago, and there was a street performer with his face painted silver dancing to 'Techno Pop', does anyone know if he was a regular feature?

My problem with Kraftwerk, iconic and important that they were, is that sometimes their tracks go on just a tad too long. Like, for me listening to Autobahn can feel a bit like something I have to subject myself to out of self-improvement; like reading Moby Dick or something. It's not that I don't enjoy it, but it can feel like a bit of a slog after just a few minutes.

Autobahn for me is best listened to horizontal with the headphones on... I love the way that the replicate the traffic on the synths during the middle section, it's almost like you can hear the cars creeping up behind you and zooming past.

If you think 22 minutes of your life is too long to sacrifice for a masterpiece like Autobahn, then seriously. You do not not deserve Kraftwerk.

the best time I ever had listening to autobahn was on the motorway, in fact. it works really really well with cars overtaking and changing lines in time with the synthy whooshes and whirrs

Oh, to have been a fly on the wall when they were recording these albums, just to see how they worked up a track from beginning to end and went through the process of finding the relevant sounds and what the general vibe and interaction between the band members was like. I could imagine them hitting upon that throbbing, pulsing bassline to 'Spacelab' and getting quite excited about it.

Did I ever tell you that my music teacher played "Autobahn" in its entirety in a music lesson one day? On a record player, that is! I don't have any real memory about it, other than it got played, no-one paid any attention in music lessons in the school I went to and none of the teachers expected you to tbh.

Just read another old thread where everyone’s talking about how much the Tour de France stuff sucks and I just want to say the Tour de France stuff might be my favorite Kraftwerk material, on the studio recordings and on the live collections. God I love it.

Aero dynamik!

tour de france sdtrk is in my top 4 or 5 kraftwerk albums, its so beautiful

The original 'Tour de France' is fantastic, but Tour de France Soundtracks is a bit of a slog for me. I very rarely listen to it, and when I do I wanna put on Trans-Europe Express or The Man Machine instead.

yeah Turrican otm, TdfS is tired in the extreme – not a patch on their 70s stuff.

It’s remarkable how they managed to do virtually the same live tour for 20+ years and with songs from 40+ years and still make it look cool.

Yeah - they really managed to make the most of what they have.

On Tour de France Soundtracks - I was kinda disappointed when it came out but it rapidly grew on me . The melodies are maybe not as memorable as on their classic stuff but the sound-design is amazing. Hearing that stuff live on the Minimum/Maximum tour was revelatory.
It's all good

My problem with Kraftwerk, iconic and important that they were, is that sometimes their tracks go on just a tad too long. Like, for me listening to Autobahn can feel a bit like something I have to subject myself to out of self-improvement; like reading Moby Dick or something. It's not that I don't enjoy it, but it can feel like a bit of a slog after just a few minutes.

https://www.discogs.com/Kraftwerk-Kraftwerk-2/release/215702?ev=rr

https://www.discogs.com/Kraftwerk-Kraftwerk-1/release/215693?ev=rr

You might like these then - Vertigo in Italy issued these two albums, basically each side has redux versions of one of the first four Kraftwerk albums. I can imagine Ralf/Florian having a fit ...

While I'm here:

Have you ever seen a less-likely appearance by Kraftwerk on any various artists album, ever?

https://www.discogs.com/sell/item/346250424

"Various Artists - "Be My Boogie Woogie Baby" - Featuring Winchester Cathedral by the New Vaudeville band, "I was Kaiser Bill's Batman", "Mouldy Old Dough", and "Autobahn"

mmmmm

Vitamin is a jam though, sounds beautiful played live too.

I can imagine Ralf/Florian having a fit

Perhaps but now their latest release is pretty much shortened versions of their 8 'pop' albums (or a sampler thereof.)

Don't get me wrong, I think the sound design and production on Tour de France Soundtracks is great - I've no doubt they spent a lot of time on it. For me, it's a case of the end result leaving me feel a bit cold. For all of their "we are ze robots"/"we're musik workers" schtick, their work from Autobahn to Computer World has a lot of warmth, humanity and emotion in it. Even Electric Cafe has 'The Telephone Call' ...

... which Ralf disliked because he thought the vocal was too emotional.

Wow, never seen a poll on here I disagreed with more.

For me Autobahn > Kraftwerk 1 > Trans Europe Express (> Concert Classics) > Man-Machine > Kraftwerk 2 > Radioactivity > Ralf & Florian (> Tone Float) > Computer World > Tour De France > Electric Cafe

Haven't heard The Mix or TDF Soundtracks but guess both are not for me. I know Concert Classics is a bit obscure but it's probably their LP I have listened to the most.

Cannot fathom people saying the tracks on Autobahn are "too long", I would be happy if they went on for hours.

My main issue with TdfS is that the tunes just aren't there. There's none of the heart-tugging melodies that made the run from Autobahn to Computer World so perfect. I put this down largely to the absence of Bartos, who was responsible for most of the music on those albums. xp

What albums?

the "truncated" version on the 3-D Katalog semi-live set they put out is better than the studio version, I think

agreed that the album didn't really come alive for me until Minimum-Maximum came out. the "Etape" thing really did not need 20 minutes. "Elektro Kardiogramm" still bores the piss outta me though

I meant Autobahn through Computer World but looking again I see he only has songwriting credits on The Man Machine and CW, my bad. Those two are definitely the most tuneful/melodic Kraftwerk albums though. xp

Yes, he wasn't even in the band yet when "Autobahn" was recorded!

My main issue with TdfS is that the tunes just aren't there. There's none of the heart-tugging melodies that made the run from Autobahn to Computer World so perfect.

Yes, this too! Some of the melodic passages on 'Autobahn', 'Europe Endless', 'Computer Love', 'Neon Lights' etc. are like a warm hug for the ears.

I think even at their brighter “pop gone electronic” there’s always been a more ambitious message going on.

Kraftwerk are very self-conscious about their aesthetic choices and I think they are actually embracing the idea of technology turning men into robots, not rejecting it. I haven’t read interviews to confirm it but to me the concept behind it all is to show how change is inevitable and how there’s positives of technology in our lives, of course it comes included with a very German style of humor in the delivery of the concept... so it’s hard to tell. To some people these ideas behind their music gives it a haunted emptiness, a sort of “brave new world” dread.

The wrong album won.

agree, but it did pretty well considering how long it's been suppressed for!

Bold #1 and #2 there. Totally dig Minimum Maximum, but Ralf und Florian, while really lovely and a solid record, lacks that laser focus of their late 70's early 80's peaks. I think if this poll was active I would lean towards Trans-Europe Express.

Ralf & Florian is definitely a Kraftwerk album, it's got the band name on it, record label, sleeve, all over.

I have one - a cheapie off ebay thanks to a mis-posting of it named "Rolf and Florian", £20 damn mint!

Fork it over.

Nooooooo

Radio Activity doesn't get much love here, does it? Since the first time I heard it (about a decade ago), it's been my favorite.

... 4th favourite album in this poll, not really unloved.

Yes, but that coupled with it not even placing on Alfred's list makes me think I'm a much bigger fan than the majority here.

4th out of 12, getting twice as many votes as the next option

I'm a much bigger fan than the majority here.

So, you are a bigger fan than most of an album that gets plenty of love on ILX.

Well seeing as most people voted for other Kraftwerk albums, he's right!

i'm listening to minimum-maximum for the first time hahaha this is fucking crazy!!!!!

computer world is the best kraftwerk album though, the poll is right

Die Mensch-Maschine hands down, perfect experimental - pop crossover.

Minimum-Maximum is so good, I bought it right when I got my subs installed and it was wild to hear these songs with pounding bass

I thought that album was what turned me around on Tour de France Soundtracks, but looking back that album was great all along

i f&cking love minimum-maximum.
i know hardcore KW fans who hate the revised versions and hate the album with a burning passion.
but for me, it's the best of all worlds.
classic tunes, revised sonics, and the sound of the best live gig ever.
i saw their 3d tour a few years back, and yeah, it was truly brilliant,
but it was not on the same level as the m-m versions.

Same. Seeing them on the Min-max tour in Prague remains my favorite concert ever. The Man-machine ticker intro, the sound, the visuals, the thrill at seeing those robots come back in for Robots.
Also saw them do TEE for a 3D show it somehow something was missing (perhaps lesser acoustics despite being in a modern classical venue)