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 CafeHaven'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.
― mfktz (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Friday, 12 October 2018 12:35 (five years ago) link
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
― the word dog doesn't bark (anagram), Friday, 12 October 2018 12:39 (five years ago) link
What albums?
― Zach Same (Tom D.), Friday, 12 October 2018 12:51 (five years ago) link
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
― frogbs, Friday, 12 October 2018 12:54 (five years ago) link
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
― the word dog doesn't bark (anagram), Friday, 12 October 2018 12:54 (five years ago) link
Yes, he wasn't even in the band yet when "Autobahn" was recorded!
― Zach Same (Tom D.), Friday, 12 October 2018 13:12 (five years ago) link
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.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Friday, 12 October 2018 13:21 (five years ago) link
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.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 12 October 2018 14:42 (five years ago) link
The wrong album won.
― Your sweetie-pie-coo-coo I love ya (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 23 December 2018 02:41 (five years ago) link
agree, but it did pretty well considering how long it's been suppressed for!
― errang (rushomancy), Sunday, 23 December 2018 20:11 (five years ago) link
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.
― octobeard, Monday, 24 December 2018 06:14 (five years ago) link
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!
― Mark G, Monday, 24 December 2018 11:53 (five years ago) link
Fork it over.
― Your sweetie-pie-coo-coo I love ya (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 24 December 2018 12:11 (five years ago) link
Nooooooo
― Mark G, Monday, 24 December 2018 12:12 (five years ago) link
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.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Monday, 24 December 2018 14:32 (five years ago) link
... 4th favourite album in this poll, not really unloved.
― Once in Rahul Dravid's City (Tom D.), Monday, 24 December 2018 14:41 (five years ago) link
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.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Monday, 24 December 2018 18:40 (five years ago) link
4th out of 12, getting twice as many votes as the next option
― sans lep (sic), Monday, 24 December 2018 18:50 (five years ago) link
I'm a much bigger fan than the majority here.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Monday, 24 December 2018 20:33 (five years ago) link
So, you are a bigger fan than most of an album that gets plenty of love on ILX.
― Once in Rahul Dravid's City (Tom D.), Monday, 24 December 2018 21:07 (five years ago) link
Well seeing as most people voted for other Kraftwerk albums, he's right!
― Mark G, Tuesday, 25 December 2018 02:56 (five years ago) link
i'm listening to minimum-maximum for the first time hahaha this is fucking crazy!!!!!
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Friday, 22 July 2022 13:34 (one year ago) link
computer world is the best kraftwerk album though, the poll is right
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Friday, 22 July 2022 13:38 (one year ago) link
Die Mensch-Maschine hands down, perfect experimental - pop crossover.
― Nabozo, Friday, 22 July 2022 13:47 (one year ago) link
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
― frogbs, Friday, 22 July 2022 18:15 (one year ago) link
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.
― mark e, Friday, 22 July 2022 19:40 (one year ago) link
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)
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Sunday, 24 July 2022 19:29 (one year ago) link