The Daily Spin II

Daft Punk | Random Access Memories (Drumless)

Welcome back to the Daily Spin. For the uninitiated, this is the series in which I review an album every day of 2025.

As was the case two years ago, my favorite song from each album can be found at the playlist linked here.

Album: Random Access Memories (Drumless Edition) (2023)

Artist: Daft Punk

Link:

Yes, Daft Punk took one of their best records and made it slightly worse after they broke up.

Yes, it still bangs.

Obviously, nothing quite touches the heights of Random Access Memories, but Drumless is an admirable effort and a really enjoyable take on a classic - sure, the lack of punchy percussion is a disservice and highlights some of the weaker dimensionality to the record, but it also gives understated songs a chance to shine and allows for a different sort of breadth to the record.

This comes truest for me in my favorite tracks - though I’m strongly allegiant to ‘Touch’ from the original, on this it’s not that nor my other perennial favorite in ‘Doin’ it Right’, but rather understated heroes in ‘Motherboard’ and ‘Beyond’, two songs that, in this new version, are given such glorious touches with the equalizer that the keyboard and subtler instrumental touches can finally expand and breathe.

Well worth a listen - though it rarely hits the high points of most of their discography, it shows the craftsmanship and style that carried Daft Punk to their status as legendary musicians.

Rating: 8/10

Best Tracks: Motherboard, Beyond

Worst Tracks: Get Lucky