Every Monday for the month of April I will be listing a few of my favourite bands and what I believe are their best songs. Although you may not agree with the list, I hope you can respect me for being able to make a call and not totally mess it up.
DAFT PUNK is an electronica duo, pioneers of French house and masters of synthpop, I can't think of a more important act for the electronica scene than them. For some reason they have released ONLY three official albums in their career: Homework (1997), Discovery (2001), and Human After All (2005). They also released two amazing live albums Alive 1997 (1997) and Alive 2007 (2007) and they also were responsible over the Tron: Legacy Soundtrack (2010).
10. Robot Rock - album: Human After All (2005)
[I'm sorry but this is the only version I can find]
Of course when DAFT PUNK decides to rock, they robot rock! This revolves around a single guitar riff that makes you want to bob your head the whole time.
The unrelenting snare-produced beat anchors you to the song as the very electronic sounds fill the rest of the space. The "scratchin'" noises are excitingly unique to make this song really stand out even without a proper chorus.
8. Derezzed - album: Tron: Legacy Soundtrack (2010)
The lone single from the Tron: Legacy Soundtrack was a monster that revolves around a single synthesizer riff and at less than two minutes long, your attention is captured for every second of it.
7. Digital Love - album: Discovery (2001)
This synthpop track is actually a duet between the singer and the guitar where the first half is about the singer while the last half about the instrument. The two even play off each other at the start of the third minute.
6. Revolution 909 - album: Homework (1997)
The song starts with ambient sounds of the crowd to set the tone for this party beat. Although it's really simple, it still is one of my favourite drum beats.
5. Around The World / Harder Better Faster Stronger - album: Alive 2007 (2007)
On Alive 2007 DAFT PUNK put together the best mix tape ever of all their songs (of course, they would be the ones most capable of doing that). On "Around The World / Harder Better Faster Stronger" they combined two of their most popular songs into one awesome track worthy of the Grammy for "Best Dance Recording" in 2009.
4. Da Funk - album: Homework (1997)
To many this is the definitive French House track. The wah-tinged noises really stand out to me but really all the little sounds just come together so well here.
3. Voyager - album: Discovery (2001)
I love the bass-line in this song! The bass moves so much but with the sustained synth chords in the background everything just slows down - an awesome effect.
2. Face To Face - album: Discovery (2001)
An absolute monster of a synthpop track that showcases DAFT PUNK's command over melody. With its strong vocals and catchy chorus, this song really puts the "pop" in synthpop. You wouldn't think so at first but this song can really get in your skull.
1. One More Time - album: Discovery (2001)
Yes, another one from 2001's Discovery, that album really had some unbelievable tracks and the opening track really was their best. The blaring horns and the heavily auto-tuned voice are just so iconic, I get goosebumps every time I hear the beginning of this track. Speaking of auto-tune, this is a prime example of it being used right, transforming the vocals into just another electronic instrument among the hullabaloo - so cool.
BONUS:
"Music Sounds Better With You" by STARDUST
While technically not a DAFT PUNK song, STARDUST was a one-time musical collaborative effort that included Thomas Bangalter, one half of the DAFT PUNK duo. This awesome song is still one of my favourite songs and DAFT PUNK still includes this in their live show.
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If you are curious about more songs from DAFT PUNK, here is their Alive 2007 live CD playlist (actually their best album):
"Robot Rock / Oh Yeah"
"Touch It / Technologic"
"Television Rules The Nation / Crescendolls"
"Too Long / Steam Machine"
"Around The World / Harder Better Faster Stronger"
"Burnin' / Too Long"
"Face To Face / Short Circuit"
"One More Time / Aerodynamic"
"Aerodynamic Beats / Forget About The World"
"Prime Time Of Your Life / Brainwasher / Rollin' And Scratchin'"
"Da Funk / Daftendirekt"
"Superheroes / Human After All / Rock'n Roll"
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