#295 Daft Punk, 'Random Access Memories' (2013)
New Entry
When I undertook this new list, I wondered if this album would be included. It came to mind as an album that was released after the original list, an album that I consider one of the greatest albums released in recent years. Taylor Swift (#393) and Beyoncé (yet to feature, but surely she will) were obvious entries, but for the updated list to carry any weight, I would expect this album to feature. I guess the list carries weight. I was never a big fan of Daft Punk. Why? Because they weren’t my “genre.” For some reason, when I was in high school, each kid had their genre of music. Rarely did you stray from Rock to Hip Hop to Electronic Music. You picked a box and stayed within its confines. It was only much later on that I realised that I didn’t have to be bound by that. In 2013, one of my housemates was a major Daft Punk fan. He turned me onto them shortly before this record came out. And I’m glad. This wasn’t just an album release. It was an event. It had been 8 years since the duo’s last studio album and 5 since their last live performance. The band teased their return on social media with an image of their famous helmets and the Columbia logo, signalling their new label. True to Daft Punk, they never released any music or did any interviews. Reported first single, a song called ‘Get Lucky’ was leaked online but there was doubt as to whether it was a real song or a very good fake. I remember triple j announcing that they had a premiere of the song after that. They’d teased it all week and it was a major build up. Finally, they played it and much to everyone’s surprise, the leak was real. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers had teamed up with Daft Punk. Just like I learnt I wasn’t bound to my genres, Daft Punk too had decided their weren’t either. The electronic duo had returned with a disco record.
The album randomly had its worldwide launch in the rural Australian town of Wee Waa (population 2,080). Tickets to the 79th Annual Wee Waa Show sold out in 13 minutes. It was announced that Daft Punk wouldn’t be attending but those ticket holders held out hope for an appearance (they didn’t come). It was all part of a master marketing campaign. Every moment was considered. Album release day was an event in our sharehouse. We all listened together. And then we listened again. We couldn’t believe what we had heard. A masterpiece. Daft Punk featuring Giorgio Moroder, Julian Casablancas from The Strokes, Pharell Williams and Nile Rodgers (x2), and even a sample from classic Aussie band, Sherbet on ‘Contact.’ The album won 5 Grammys, including ‘Album Of The Year,’ and ‘Record Of The Year’ for ‘Get Lucky.’ Almost 8 years later, and the elusive duo still hasn’t toured this album.
#rs500albums