Number 2: Alive 2007 by Daft Punk
Release: November 19th, 2007
Genre: Electronic, French House
Favorite Tracks: Prime Time of Your Life/Brainwasher/Rollin' & Scratchin'/Alive, Human After All/Together/One More Time/Music Sounds Better With You, Television Rules the Nation/Crescendolls
Where I heard it:
Daft Punk is a group that has managed to transcend each phase of my life as a constant musical force. From as early as 2006, I heard Aerodynamic featured in Adobe flash animations I'd watch on Newgrounds, and I actually saw the music videos for Around The World and One More Time in the early days of YouTube. Although I was well aware of Daft Punk by the start of high school, my content consumption didn't hit until music streaming became increasingly available. I first downloaded Spotify on my cousin's computer around Christmas of 2012 while visiting family, and my listening habits have only exponentially grown since then. Having a massive music library at the tip of my fingers wasn't something I was used to (legally...), so I browsed to my heart's content with reckless abandon. With the impending release of the highly anticipated Random Access Memories around this time, I found it best to begin combing through Daft Punk's library around the spring of 2013, starting with their 1997 debut Homework. I quickly grew an obsession with the dynamic duo, and rushed to purchase Homework on vinyl for my newly developed collecting hobby. I'd finish off the trilogy throughout the rest of 2013 with copies of Discovery and Human After All, and proceeded to play the ever-loving shit out of these records. I remember playing Discovery in my room with a couple cute girls while my mom wasn't home. There were multiple sessions in my garage with friends listening to the deep house of Homework. Any chance I had to give these albums a spin, I took advantage. These three releases were some of my most played material throughout my late childhood and early adulthood. As Daft Punk began to grow commercially through artist collaborations like The Weeknd, my interest only seemed to grow more and more. Aligning with this interest, I began craving new Daft Punk material to dissect, which led me to Alive 2007. For years, this album was framed to me as one of the greatest concerts to ever be recorded. As a long time Daft Punk fan with a desire to see them perform in-person, the prospect of a live album was incredibly enticing. By mid 2021, I was compelled to finally crack this one open and give it a listen for myself. I wasn't able to ingest it all in one sitting, and instead broke each segment into small chunks to follow along episodically over the course of a couple days. I remember looking at the titles of each mash-up and thinking there was absolutely no way Daft Punk could pull them off, only to be completely blown away at their successful integration. I probably listened through this album for two weeks straight after finishing it for my first time. I was instantly hooked, and I don't see myself jumping off this bandwagon anytime soon. I initially debated submitting a studio album for this list, but none of them truly compare to the dazzling spectacle this album provides. Alive 2007 lives up to its legendary reputation, an unparalleled musical experience that's a treat to revisit every time.
~ Rolling Stone
What to expect:
Attempting to specifically designate electronic music into categorized subgenres can be a hassle. Without going too far into detail, Daft Punk have ceremoniously been crowned the kings of French house music, defined by its influences in Euro disco of the late 70's and early 80's. Founded by Thomas Bangalter and the painfully French Guy-Manuel de Hommem-Christo, these two assume the alter egos of robotic DJs that conceal their identities behind trademark masks, prominently featured on the cover of Random Access Memories. Daft Punk stormed onto the EDM scene in the late 90's with the progressive, repetitive, and aggressive groves of Homework that dominated the underground clubs of Europe and the east coast of the United States. Tracks like Da Funk and Around the World earned the pair mainstream appeal, exploding in popularity with their 2001 follow-up Discovery. With hits like One More Time and Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, Daft Punk officially became a household name. By the time 2005's Human After All made waves with Robot Rock and Technologic, public reception for the group began to stagnate. To many, Daft Punk were seen as a 'been there, done that' sort of act that didn't have much left to offer. That all changed in 2006, following an announcement that Daft Punk would be performing in the U.S. for the first time since 1997. Entitled the Alive tour, Daft Punk embarked on a worldwide venture spanning over 40 shows in 22 different countries. Notable for its use of a giant LED pyramid on stage, this run of concerts is seen as one of the most innovative and influential moments in 21st century music. The duo decided upon their June 14th home show in Paris, France as the location to document the occasion with their first live album in a decade: Alive 2007. You might guffaw at the idea of a live EDM show due to the inherently synthesized material being played, but Daft Punk silences critics with their setlist that serves as a love letter to any devoted fan. Rather than perform songs in their entirety, the two DJs playfully fuse together notable riffs from both iconic tracks like Around the World/Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger and underrated deep cuts like Television Rules the Nation/Crescendolls. Focusing on songs from the group's first three releases, Daft Punk delivers a nearly continuous stream of musical bliss that revitalizes their beloved discography into an entirely reimagined experience. Bangalter even slips in snippets from side projects like his remix of Gabrielle's Forget About the World and Stardust's Music Sounds Better With You. Each amalgamation seamlessly flows into the next like a mad science experiment, each ingredient interjecting its pungent aroma into the mix to conjure wonderous and marvelous creations. Each roar of the crowd as the next beat kicks in acts like a studio audience, guiding the energy of the performance with every peak and valley. Some of the genius of Alive 2007 may be lost to a casual fan, but those with extensive knowledge of the Daft Punk catalog will squeal in delight upon each transition. This album demands a bit of prerequisite listening to fully realize its potential, but I promise the payoff from Alive 2007 is worth every second. Daft Punk uses their setlist as a musical playground to bounce ideas between each other in synchronous harmony, setting the precedent for live electronic shows going forward.
~ Pitchfork
Why it's my favorite:
On the morning of February 22nd, 2021, I awoke to check my phone and see that Daft Punk's social media team had released a promotional video entitled Daft Punk - Epilogue, published only 45 minutes prior. My heart froze with anticipation - could this be the announcement of a long-awaited farewell tour? Was this finally my chance to see one of my favorite artists of all-time with my own eyes? I couldn't hit play faster on that video, and sat patiently in the quiet of my room as the video played. As the seconds ticked, it became apparent to me this may not be declaration I thought it was. I was wrapped in both denial and anguish as this shot appeared, confirming the dissolution of Daft Punk. It couldn't have been earlier than 9:30 AM, and I was already bawling in bed. I was in utter disbelief. My dreams of seeing Daft Punk live were suddenly dashed with little to no explanation. It's crushing to know you'll never have something you've always wanted in life. There's always hope of a reunion tour down the line (and you better believe I'll be first in line), but until then...Daft Punk is effectively no more, due to the creative differences between Bangalter and Hommem-Christo. That's that. It's still a tough pill to swallow nearly three years later. Since then, Alive 2007 has been invaluable to me. It's the closest thing we'll ever get to seeing Daft Punk in our lifetime, and it's as close to perfection as we could ask for. This set throws a bone to fans of every album, from the hardcore heads that adore Homework to the new-age crowd that prefers Human After All. Some of my favorite moments in this album occur when three or four beats from different songs are layered over each other in a chaotic clash of rhythm that washes over you in pure euphoria. I'd say the best moments happen in the end of Prime Time of Your Life/Brainwasher/Rollin' & Scratchin'/Alive, as well as the encore finale that sends things off with a bang. As I've grown older, I've realized how much of an impact Daft Punk has had on my generation that I now get to share in. Those moments are few and far between, but I'll drop everything to discuss the intricacies of Alive 2007 with somebody else. Every time I run through this album, I pick up on a subtle cue that I must have missed before. It's the same exact performance, but it's handled so beautifully that I can't help but immerse myself into the lore. From beginning to end, Alive 2007 spares no expense and goes out of its way to build stunning statues out of spare parts. I wouldn't necessarily say the Alive 2007 mixes have ruined standalone Daft Punk songs for me, but there always seems to be something missing from them now. I can't listen to Da Funk without waiting for the Daftendirekt crossover to kick in. Around the World feels woefully incomplete without Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger to bookend it. These remixes have now become my definitive standard to experience these songs under. I'm not sure any other live album has done that for me. Alive 2007 is special beyond measure, and words fail to describe the significance it has on my life.
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