Work it harder, make it better
Do it faster, makes us stronger
More than ever, hour after hour,
Work is never over.
Do it faster, makes us stronger
More than ever, hour after hour,
Work is never over.
— "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger", Discovery
In their nearly 30 year-long career, the legendary duo of Daft Punk has definitely made their fair share of absolute bangers. From their experimental debut Homework to their 70s funk-inspired Random Access Memories, there's something for everyone throughout their amazing discography.
- Their debut album, Homework, all of which was created in Thomas' bedroom. It's deconstructed house music that hits this sweet spot between "bursting with inspiration" and "minimalist".
- Most house producers would give anything to have bass grooves as strong as "Around the World".
- "Burnin'" builds up and builds up till the drop is like boiling over.
- To save some space, let's just say most, if not all, of Discovery, the album that made Daft Punk. Disco meets house meets 80s funk meets soul meets whatever the hell else they feel like throwing in. Maybe it should go without saying, but "Digital Love" is just wonderful. It's such a soulful, lush-sounding track that exemplifies all the best qualities of French house. It's a rare instance where all the hype surrounding it as one of the duo's greatest tracks is completely well-deserved.
- "One More Time" isn't a serious contender for the band's Signature Song for nothing! It's hard to resist getting up and dancing to the song's catchy as hell beat and joyful autotuned lyrics. The song always makes it to the top of lists of greatest dance songs of all time for very good reason.
- "Something About Us" is another beautiful, soulful song. It's a little mix of pop and electronic music relaxing enough to make you groove to the beat.
- "Veridis Quo" is such a chill, vibing tune, packing in the memorable synths and drums the duo's sounds are well-known for.
- Despite the reception Human After All initially received, most of the songs are actually really good, especially for an album that was recorded within six weeks.
- The Title Track manages to make something as simple as humming into a jamming tune, with its uplifting lyrics being the icing on the cake.
- "The Prime Time of Your Life", especially when accompanied by the music video, is one of Daft Punk's biggest sources of Nightmare Fuel, but it only adds to how heavy-hitting the song is.
- "Robot Rock" features one of the hardest-hitting guitar performances from the band, overlaid to a masterful usage of synthesizers.
- Considering the heaviness of the two songs that come immediately before and after it, "Make Love" is a beautiful moment of respite, proving that Daft Punk even knows how to make R&B work in their style.
- "The Brainwasher" is a particular standout track. Repetitive? Yes. A blatant ripoff of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man"? Maybe. Creepy Awesome? HELL YES!
- "Television Rules the Nation" might be Anvilicious, but it's one of the band's best low-key tracks that provides a very pronounced futuristic sound.
- "Technologic" was the album's biggest hit for a reason, as it manages to be a masterful blend of electronic and hip-hop.
- All 84 minutes of Alive 2007.
- The "Da Funk/Daftendirekt" remix in particular is just chill-inducingly awesome.
- In "One More Time / Aerodynamic", when that epic guitar riff pops in out of nowhere in the middle of the song.
- The intro "stutter" effect of the words "Robot" and "Human" repeating over and over, getting progressively faster and more rhythmic, not to mention extremely intense, eventually segueing into "Robot Rock". It's not just an intro to the show, it's an intro to Daft Punk themselves.
- The "Television Rules the Nation/Crescendolls" remix. The two songs go uncannily well together.
- The Grammy-winning mashup of "Around the World / Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"! Try NOT to bang your head while listening to this. It's impossible.
- "Superheroes / Human After All / Rock'n Roll". Three songs. Three different albums and styles of music. One decade. One absolutely, incredibly beautiful, epic track, and the perfect closer to Alive 2007.
- Except if you have the special edition, you know it's not the closer. They return for an encore, which features the heretofore unheard beat from "Revolution 909," segueing into a couple of unexpected detours from side projects earlier in their career. The build-up to the bass drop from "Together" (by Thomas Bangalter and DJ Falcon) is a moment, followed closely by house classic "Music Sounds Better With You" by Stardust. Add the vocals from "One More Time" and you have an intoxicating mixture that's over too soon.
- The official reviews for the TRON: Legacy soundtrack, recorded with a full orchestra, were mostly positive, but fan buzz was overwhelmingly in love with it. "Rinzler" and "The Son of Flynn" are just some examples on how godly the score can be.
- Random Access Memories, which uses the same semi-retro idea as Discovery but with a very different, more organic execution. Hell, it made Daft Punk all over again.
- "Get Lucky" is an awesome throwback funk track and their first Top 40 hit in the US and one that very nearly topped the charts.
- If you were to look up the meaning of the word "groove," "Lose Yourself to Dance" should automatically play.
- "Give Life Back to Music" has an awesome guitar section.
- "Giorgio by Moroder", particularly when the awesome drumming kicks in.
- "Beyond" lives up to its name as a truly transcendent track with a string section at the beginning, funky guitar, deep lyrics, and an amazing synth section near the end.
- "The Game of Love" is simple but quite sad and sweet with its chilled out beat and synths.
- "Contact," an audio equivalent of getting in a rocketship and taking off to the cosmos. They couldn't have picked a better way to close out the album if they tried.
- "Instant Crush". Julian Casablancas' vocals are an excellent accompaniment to Daft Punk's groovy beat, and that's even before the sudden guitar solo comes in...
- "Touch" was hauntingly beautiful even before it was played over the Epilogue video announcing their breakup. Now try to listen to it without tearing up.
