Kraftwerk

[Canadiens1131]

Continuing to ignore the fact that I should be digging up the old, already created threads for artists, this thread is about Kraftwerk

What are you guys listening to? I am digging Trans-Europe Express right now. It's crazy how you can hear what seems like the origins of early hip-hop beats in this record.

 

[Zoots]

wir sind die roboter...

I only have Man Machine and it's pretty sweet!

 

[phanan]

I'm a huge fan. My favorite albums are Trans-Europe Express and The Man Machine. Both are absolutely incredible.

I'd say Autobahn and Computer World are just a notch below those two, but still excellent.

 

[LemonMelon]

Any particular place to start?

 

[phanan]

I'd go with The Man Machine.

 

[Aygo]

I listen to Kraftwerk since 5/6 yrs-old because of my father's vinyls he used to play.
Today they have made some of my favourite music ever.

 

[hardyharhar]

fun fun fun on the autobahn

 

[Aygo]

^ It's think it's more something like... «Wir fahr'n fahr'n fahr'n auf der Autobahn» than "having fun on the autobahn"

 

[phanan]

Yeah, considering it's in German.

 

[hardyharhar]

Yeah, I know. That's what it sounded like to us gringo's

Still.............. liked the first one when it came out. Haven't heard them much in a long time

 

[phanan]

They haven't exactly done that much lately, which is unfortunate. I'd like to see one of their shows.

 

[Salome]

start with the Minimum/Maximum live album

it's the best Kraftwerk best of there is

 

[Aygo]

^ Minimum-Maximum is fucking awesome. A very good double live album. Specially if we put aside the prejudice of being an electronic group in concert. A must-have.

 

[Canadiens1131]

They haven't exactly done that much lately, which is unfortunate. I'd like to see one of their shows.

Tour de France Soundtracks is excellent, if you haven't already listened to it

 

[phanan]

Oh, I agree. Great album. But that was five years ago now. I'm really hoping it doesn't take as long for the next one to appear.

 

[phanan]

How did I not know until yesterday that Kraftwerk has FINALLY remastered and reissued all of their classic albums?

This is awesome. They've only been on the shelf for five years.

 

[indigo tree]

I have to admit, I have heard barely any Kraftwerk songs, but I recently discovered The Robots and I love it. Can't believe this song came out in the 70s.

 

[phanan]

If you liked The Robots, you'll really enjoy the rest of The Man Machine.

 

[phanan]

So, it seems like the reaction to the Kraftwerk remasters has been mixed thus far.

Here's probably the best and most in-depth review:

5 against 4: Kraftwerk - a remastered retrospective

What I like about this review is that it compares the aborted 2004 remasters as well. A couple of years back, when it looked like the remasters would never come, I went and purchased one of those rare promotional copies of The Catalogue on eBay. I can't remember the price, but it was somewhere around $300. The whole idea was to make direct copies and then resell the thing and get my money back (I think I actually made about $20 when all was said and done).

I'm not sure if I'll buy any of the 2009 versions or not. Apparently the difference isn't that great between that and the 2004 copies, although the review does note that the earlier albums tend to sound great, while the later ones more or less suck. It also mentions that the 2009 editions are hampered by the loudness war, where the 2004 ones were less so.