Reviews (page 5 of 8)
It was weird, but about what I expect.
Standard pioneer euro synth. Don't these guys write about non European nations too?!?!
A highly rated album, this feels like the precursor to Radiohead. It has a lot of interesting things going on, but the songs seem to labor on longer than they should. Very repetitive in both the lyrics, which are minimal, and the melodies from the synths. I can see why, back in 1977, this was a ground breaking album but listening to it today isn't the easiest thing to do.
Legalll! Meio Bowie meio Talking Heads. Não tem muita alma mas gostei mesmo assim. :)
If Zoolander and Autobahn had a baby they would make it listen to this album
I've heard better Kraftwerk albums but they're simply nice with it
Weirdly enjoyable
Knien geborgen, Arme gestrecht, Ra ra ra.
3.75
This is a fine Kraftwerk album, but I didn't find it nearly as compelling as The Man-Machine. It's still a fun ride and it is very easy listening, and it honestly does give the feel of sitting on a train and just endlessly staring out of a window and just vibing out. Not my favorite by them, I'd rather return to some of the other albums by them instead. trans-Europe Express, Metal on Metal, and Europe Endless were probably my favorites.
i didn‘t dislike this as much as i‘d have expected
I appreciate Kraftwerk's sound and their influence on so much of modern music, from electronica to techno. But their sound is so chilly and emotionally distant that it doesn't resonate for me. I like the sonically and lyrically detours like "The Hall of Mirrors" and "Showroom Dummies" but, like all of their music, it gets monotonous and dull. "Trans Europe Express" is a great song that could have been 3 or 4 minutes long. Instead it morphs into a suite of songs that just go on...and on. The dream of a new, streamlined, sleek and beautiful Europe is cool and all...but it doesn't make for an album's worth of good or interesting songs.
This is another album where, i get why it was important to music. IT reflects the beginnings of synths in music. It's not amazing, but it lead to amazing things. Literally after this album, my music app played an 80's new wave song and it was the "Kraftwerk had to walk so others could run" moment.
Non è malaccio, però un po' noioso. Penso che sia perchè è uno dei primi album di musica elettronica.
Album 1065 of 1089 Trans Europe Express - Kraftwerk (1977) Rating : 3 / 5 Now this is a bit of electronica I can get behind. Instead of feeling like noise for noise’s sake, this one settles into a groove and stays there. It’s laid back. It’s controlled. It moves forward steadily without trying to overwhelm you. The tracks just kind of glide along - mechanical in concept, but oddly smooth in execution. Nothing here is begging for attention. Nothing is screaming for approval. It simply exists in its own space and lets you ride with it. And honestly, that’s something more albums could strive for. Not every record needs to hit you over the head. Sometimes it’s enough to create a mood and maintain it. It didn’t provoke a deep emotional reaction from me one way or the other, but I never once felt the urge to turn it off. In this genre especially, that’s saying something. A cool, steady listen that does exactly what it sets out to do — and does it well.
3,5
I get it as needing to be on the list, but way to repetitive.
Electronic Avant garde not really my bag
Pretty good, not easy listening but oddly addictive
I love the opening track and the final two, but the rest meanders a bit. Some songs, like Hall of Mirrors, are a particular slog. One thing the midsection has going for it is the influence on dungeon synth. 5/10
Maybe the weakest of Kraftwerk? Still very good.
Different, appreciate their talent and creativity
I understand the importance of Kraftwerk to music. I'm happy many others took it from them and massively improve electric music and its many subgenres, and many, many others. That said, Krafwerk is not for me.
Not a fan but not abrasive. Mid/high 2
I love how retrofuturistic this album feels. When this album came out people were definitely saying that this is the kind of music that people will dance to in clubs in the future. They weren’t exactly wrong either.
Pretty fun - i think I prefer a couple of the others, and i definitely prefer Neu! and Can when it comes to their peers from the time...this feels a little bit novelty value to me, as much as I get their importance.
I like the simple clean sound of Kraftwerk. Not an everyday listen but I find it quite soothing and relaxing
Legenden. 2-3, würde jetzt nicht alles andauernd hören
Grown on me since my first listen. 9 minute long electro music isn’t my thing in general but I was able to hear more of what people love.
"Europe Endless" is itself seemingly endless, but bonus points for being well ahead of their time. Maybe 3 Kraftwerk albums in the top 1001 is a little much?
Was that the extended theme song for “Knight Rider”?
Well it is a classic Kraftwerk album, of course. But you really have to want to listen to Kraftwerk. Really want to.
Quality work here, a worthy addition. 3.5 stars
Although repetitive electronic music isn’t usually my thing, I understand how ground breaking this was for the time and can hear the influence of so many artists within this album.
Trans-Europe Express (the song) was very repetitive. Really most of the main songs were. But there was enough here to keep it interesting. I was surprised to see this came out in the 70s because it really feels newer than that. It's original, simple, and creative.
Kraftwerk- trans Europe express- some cool synths. repetition and minimalism is cool but I wish there was more variation and development. I could do without the vocals too.
I don’t know. The songs are just so long and repetitive
Very interesting, just not my thing
Express, Trans Europe
Trans Europe Express
Favourites 1. Europe Endless 2. The Hall of Mirrors 3. Franz Schubert Least Favourite Showroom Dummies
Klinkt een beetje als een moeilijk level van mario bros
Honestly dees heeft mij echt verast. Der is altijd een goeie vibe en tis minder hard dan ik had gedacht. Nog steeds een beetje te repetitief wel ma wel gwn enjoyable.
Great electronic album. Little bit repetitive with simple lyrics but great production
As much as these German lads gave birth and pioneered my favourite musical genre and in this decade it was (hate the expression) “groundbreaking” it’s not something I go to as it sounds a little naff these days….but a 3 because they inspired so many!
Just got their 1978 album two days ago. I liked this one better.
I thought it was okay. A little repetitive, but I liked how the songs segued together. In retrospect, I enjoyed “Autobahn” more than I realized. 3/5 Might listen again
Trans europe express me podseca na twerkulator od city girls jedino zato 3 zvezdice al realno 2.5
Pretty good
Though still a fun experience, it sounds incredibly dated by today's standards to me. Good to experience once, but I don't see myself returning to it.
An acquired taste, but Spiegelsaal is a terrific song
I thought I’d like this a lot more than I actually did. It was alright, but I can only really remember one of the tracks and all the rest just seemed to zip on past me like cars on the autobahn with no speed limit. Shame, had hopes for this one.
Not quite a four. Pioneers of a kind of music I really like but not something I'm going to play very often. I know it's pretty sparse already but I like the bits without the melody or singing best.
Early on in the opening "Europe Endless" heard the same synth stab and despondent vocal delivery that can be heard in "Your Silent Face" by New Order and I couldn't help but be lulled into a blissful, relaxing listening state. I know this whole album can easily be seen as rigid and repetitive, but not to my ears. What I hear is hopeful, futuristic-for-its-time, and thoughtful. I love the eerie chiptune-quality arpeggio on "The Hall Of Mirrors" so much. It gives the whole song a jagged, uneasy atmosphere. "Abzug" was pretty cool in the ways it continued the "Trans-Europe-Express" motif and built on it all. "Franz Shubert" brought back that romantic arpeggiated New Order synth/key sound which I just genuinely could never get enough of. I think Kraftwerks genius here isn't just in their use of electronics, but the way they shaped this album. Personally it's a firm 3/5 but I respect this record immensely, anyone who rates it higher is all good in my book
I respect Kraftwerk’s innovations so much that they earn a 3 by default. If I’m going just by whether I enjoy listening, it’s a low 3, sometimes a 2. The title track, “Trans-Europe Express,” is a classic.
Timeless.
"Endless Europe" is amazing, the rest of the album is variations on it.
8 songs 43 minutes futuristic sounds and ideas Nice but maybe not the whole album after each other Metal in metal flows nicely into the next song
Interesting at times, but a large part of the appeal to me is the historical significance of Kraftwerk to electronic music.most of the songs don’t grab me at all.
I didn’t expect to actually like this Kraftwerk album, but I did. Listening to it I heard a lot of influence into later bands like Oakenfold and Depeche Mode, and even at one point during the Trans European Express, I felt like I was listening to the Never-Ending Story soundtrack. I was familiar with the song, the Hall of Mirrors, because of the later Sousxie and the Banshees cover of it, but it was fun to listen to the original, which was also good. There is definitely a lot of redundancy on this album leading the listener to kind of melt into a world of their own consciousness. I would actually like to listen to this at home with headphones some night when I can just lean back and enjoy the music. Again, surprising, I’m coming back here.
Think it’s my second Kraftwerk album on the list and found them pretty good last time. Maybe similar to last time, find it a bit of a steady gait that doesn’t grab me too much. Yeh, pretty flat and basic. Nothing too exciting or inspiring for me. I imagine more significant in the 70s? But just not my bag.
I really liked the vibes, but the songs were too long and repetitive.
Kudos for being innovators and basically inventing a genre, but these songs just too damn long.
Not bad. Kind of boring though. Some of the songs are too similar to each other. Probably would of thought differently about it in the 70's though.
Fav: Europe Endless Least Fav: Endless Endless Heartbreaking: the first song on the album is by far the best one
3 1/2.
Innovative and the blueprint for most electronic music to follow. More of a reference point than an album though.
It's OK. A bit experimental, but rather boring to me.
A trippy semi dancy album.
Timeless.
I have officially received all the Kraftwerk albums available on this list, and I honestly don’t know how I feel about this band. Sometimes I’m like, “wow this is great!” and then other times after the 800th mention of the words “Trans Europe Express” across multiple songs, I start to wonder if I’m even going to finish the album. I think I preferred Autobahn to this, but I greatly preferred this to The Man Machine. Less words in the songs the better, I think.
This makes the old SNL Sprockets skits make WAY more sense. 2.5* rounded. . . up? I guess? Yeah, let's go with up. It can be playing in the background and I can happily ignore it. Mostly.
Interesting but too repetitive. Mostly the songs went no where. James Murphy probably loves this. Me, not so much..,
Anyone can see how influential this album is, however, it's not one that I want to go back to and listen all the time. 7/10
Delightful until it got boring
I appreciated how unique and weird this is, but that didn't translate to massive enjoyment.
While Autobahn primed me to appreciate this more, it appears to me a little self-indulgent with the vocals. Just when I start getting into it, the vocal intrudes, and then in the other songs seems to not belong at all. Title track works; wish the others had followed suit.
Undeniably the Werk of Kraft.
I mean, it’s more Kraftwerk, which I don’t love, but it’s relatively short. It was the exact amount of Kraftwerk that I can handle.
I like Kraftwerk but this is far from their best. I was eleven when this came out and was listening to Darts and 10cc and had no idea this sort of stuff even existed!
Den er fin og kraftværket, dog ikke et mesterværk.
I hear the influence this had on later electronic music, but compared to what we're used to now for this genre it's slow, odd, and pretty boring.
I don’t dislike Kraftwerk, or this album in particular, but it is a little too repetitive and samey to be an enjoyable listen. I get the fact that it’s a concept album, but it didn’t land anywhere near as well as The Man-Machine.
Certainly the pioneers of electronic music, techno whatsoever but not my thing...
I was instilled with a healthy respect for Kraftwerk when I was in highschool. I never really listened to them, but I understood that they were the seed from which modern electronic music grew. Listening to this in the same week as that Les Rhythmes Digitales album (Darkdancer) really highlights how much this genre developed from 1977 to 1999. By comparison, Kraftwerk sounds like a collection of demos still looking for a producer/collaborator to step in and punch them up. This album has “good bones” but just feels undercooked by modern standards. The vocals in particular feel like placeholders. Where you’d use a sample or bring in a real singer to belt out your vocal tracks today, Kraftwerk vocals are mostly just a guy speak-singing in a flat-toned German accent. It’s charming, for sure, but not a recipe for pop success. Have you seen that viral clip from the show X Factor where the guy (Beck Martin) sings the “It’s Friday Night” song? Go look it up. Kraftwerk vocals feel kinda like that. A few tracks, "Europe Endless" and "Endless Endless" do feature more distorted/digital/robotic vocals, but the rest of the album feels very unfinished in this respect.
You can hear in this album the sounds of what would become 80s New Wave and Electronica -- "Abzug" illustrates my point. The synthesizers, the manipulated vocals, etc. Flock of Seagulls seem to have picked up where Kraftwerk left off. Bands like Tangerine Dream might owe a debt of gratitude to Kraftwerk for tracks like "Franz Schubert". 80s New Wave and Electronica are not my thing; but I can appreciate trend-setting artists.
Listened to this in English, think it would be better in the og Deutsch. Still, boundary-pushing bleeps and bloops.
Eh, fine for what it is, but tiring after a while. 2.7
On the one hand, I want to award Kraftwerk for their individualism and their pioneering work in experimental electronic music. There are some interesting moments on here. On the other hand, I want to throw one star at them for never really taking the songs anywhere and the simplistic compositions. But maybe that's the point? Each song is like a piece of electronic equipment doing it's one simple task until it's batteries run out. Literally, I guess, since it's all keyboards and synth. Or maybe it's like sped-up footage of a European business centre at rush hour. The more I listened to this today the more I felt myself connecting with the music. I felt almost entranced and sucked in by the beats, much like some more modern IDM. I stopped thinking of it as individual songs and more one large piece of work as there are little call-backs to earlier motifs throughout the album. It's cool to be able to draw the dots and feel how this influenced electronica. It will still only be a 3.5 from me but I appreciated my time with the record.
Nie wiem co o tym myśleć. Ciekawe plumkanie. Może 3
interesting listen.
Lyssnade både på engelska och tyska versionen och föredrar den sistnämnda. Även om det inte förekommer mycket text sitter de tyska fraserna bättre ihop med musiken. Alla låtar känns spännande de första 2-3 minutrarna, men sedan blir minimalismen lite för endlos. Det leder inte riktigt någonstans. Samma rytm samma melodistrofer hela vägen. Kanske saknas det ein grosse Knüller som The Model, Radioactivity eller the Robots. Showroom dummies/ Schaufensterpuppen är närmast.
Stilbildande och välljudande. Blir lite enformigt i längden. Stabil trea.
Mesmerizing and repetitive, but I kinda liked it? Maybe even a 3.5.
I feel like they put a curse on me. 2.7.
My hopes were low since I wasn't a fan of Autobahn, but this one wasn't too bad. Still slightly repetitive, but enjoyed the early sound of electronic.
Better than the prior album from Kraftwerk, but still wasn't a huge fan. Given how important they were to the foundations of genres I really like, I'm surprised I'm not enjoying them more. Rounding up for this rating.
I think German electronic music is one of my favourite “niche” music genres (as a non-German), but I found this one to be subpar to the others I have listened to. Still pretty good, beep boop and stuff.
It’s good! Definitely ahead of its time. I think ‘Man-Machine’ was more compelling overall, so I’ll score accordingly. But boy did these Germans know how to synth.
The simple beats and loops were a little bland and annoying at times but I have to remember this was a new style in the 70s, so I can’t expect it to come out like a Daft Punk album. Good work music at times, could’ve went without the vocals.
Interesting, innovative, and decent music to put in the background. But definitely a little dated, little repetitive, and very cold, austere European, trance-y communist synth vibes. That aspect kind of scares me. You can hear all the ways this influenced other artists from Bowie to Radiohead (and Afrika Bambaata) and it’s pretty easy on the ears. I appreciate it more than i like it but i like it enough
son muy freak estos alemanes, 3 de 5. Siento que una vez que escuchas un disco de kraftwerk ya escuchaste todo lo que teniai que escuchar de kraftwerk
Not their best imo
It was okay. Not my usual vibe but I feel like there's a certain mood that's needed to appreciate it entirely. But for what it is, I'd say it's alright
Not my taste, but I don't hate it. It sounds ahead of its time and not outdated yet.
Yeah! 🤩 Finally some Kraftwerk in here! I've been going through almost 500 albums without using this, but now is its time: 👉 "Overraaaated" 👈 That felt good. Because, you see - and I'm German, my opinion on Kraftwerk is twice as right here, I don't make the rules - I've always felt like all they did was to take what Krautrock had created before them and to strip the fun and soul from it and turn it into sterile, rather dumb and consumable pop music - but electronic. Which was, uh, oh, fancy, new to most people apparently. For which they do deserve some credit, I guess, with regards to music's history, but without the quasi boygroup spectacle of the costumes and the performances and everything about their act, they would have had no business becoming so highly revered. But now people see a recording of their alleged first public performance and are over the moon about the drummer's fantastic, unmatched skill to /𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 not mess up a four-to-the-floor kickdrum!? Both Kraftwerk's music and legacy has no right to overshadow the likes of NEU!, Can, Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Cluster or, for a different flavour of pioneering, Laurie Spiegel the way it does. Is what I'm saying. And yes, I was thoroughly bored here. "Franz Schubert" was nice.
what a ride. enjoyed more than expected. good headphones helps. probably a 3.5
I didn't love it. It wasn't terrible by any means, probably a 2.5 if I could. I'm going to give it three stars because I respect that it's very, very influential, but I think it was a bit boring.
This isn't totally my jam, but I have to give it props for being as futuristic as it is in 1977. Kraftwerk definitely influenced a lot of stuff, some of which I like better than others, but you certainly can't deny their impact. I was really taken aback how modern it sounds for the time too. Even on songs I don't love, there's some really cool, beautiful elements. Highlights for me are probably "Europe Endless", "Abzug", and "Franz Shubert". 3.5 stars.
I didn't love this one as much as some of the others on this list. Maybe there are fewer unique sounds? I'm not sure. It's good, not great.
Very listenable early electronic music album, reminds me of an SNL skit though, so in a way it is difficult for me to take it too seriously.
first beat on fl studio core kind of cool but feels a bit too primitive to keep my attention. like why are all of the songs so long?
I'm on a train, going around in circlez
ugh, more electronica
Not my kind of genre but some songs on this album are smooth enough to enjoy either way. Not to many random noises or strange sounds inserted which can be the case in more modern songs in the genre.
Completely incredible for its time and influence on dance and electronic music can’t be overstated. I’m very glad to have listened to it.
Never liked…v influential hence 3 but not for me
One of the most influential bands ever, from a listening point of view it was fine, not for me
Focus music.
I wasn’t very impressed by this album, but also didn’t hate it. Fun to experience some 70s electronic music, and I appreciated the theme the album and inclusion of German, English, and French. Another album that may be no doubt influential but a bit lost on me.
The influence is clear on later electronic bands but judged solely as a listening experience this gets a bit dull 2.5*
me if i was the first person to discover special effects on a keyboard
Needless to say, an incredibly unique sound, so very "electronic". While it's not something I would listen to every day, I enjoyed as such a very different sound.
I took a music theory class in college. One of the first things we learned was the definition of music. "Organized sound." This sound is organized as fuck. Filed away. Collated. Properly alphabetized. Kraftwerk are massively important for electronic music and technology in the music industry, but I can't seem to get into them.
I see why this would be highly influential, and the idea of an album about trains is pretty cool, but ultimately this is not something I need to listen to multiple times.
I didn't think I was going to enjoy this album when I started it, but the more I listened, the more I dug it. It was such a fascinating insight into where so much of modern music has come from - even something like video game music from the 8 and 16-bit eras.
beep boop. kinda somber
I guess it is a pivotal album for electronic rock music and it's not a bad listen, however it lacks variety and the melodies are fairly forgettable. Give me Can instead of Kraftwerk any day of the week. 3 stars
Minimalistic Electronica. The mechanistic repetition, the (subdued) pop melodies and sequenced electronic sounds and rhythms create the image of a trains mechanics as well as the movement and action limited passangers inside. Still feels a bit monotonous.
Can absolutely hear the influence on darkwave / goth, techno, trance, electro, industrial etc - ominous and yet futuristic and almost hopeful in places. I liked it, but with more atmospheric music it might take a few listens - I can see it growing on me
Definitely not their best album
Fun but sometimes repetitive
3 1/2 - respect and admiration for kraftwerk, but not something I would find myself craving on the day to day.
Pretty interesting album overall enjoyed
Kind of fun synth
Yep that's kraftwerk. Sounded like it was somewhere between autobahn and the more poppy one we had, and I think I'd put it there in terms of enjoyment too. Clearly groundbreaking to the point that they didn't need to do much more than repetitive electronic beats to stand out, felt like most the songs started well but never properly kicked on. Enjoyed it and reminded me I should listen to more kraftwerk but probably not this album, 3.5 but more a 3.
These guys really like an inter country railway hey, and why not! I don't mind kraftwerk, but I don't think it's as impactful now as it would've been when it was released. Something cool about it though
★★★⅓
Classic electronic album
I did like this one better than the other Kraftwerk album we've had so far, it's very vibes, and was a nice listen while I was working. That being said, it was a little simple.
The first song was really fun! And Franz Schubert sticks out in my mind as being really good. Unfortunately the rest of it I wasn’t vibing as much.
I really enjoyed this but can’t say I loved it
teško mi je uopće ovo rejtat objektivno onak jednostavno mi je dosadno
liked it. less jarring and more melodic than I was expecting
First half of the album: Even for someone who is usually pro-drone (musically, sorry Obama), The Hall of Mirrors made me hate Europeans. Legitimately, I started to think maybe we should exit NATO listening to some of these songs. And why does the album artwork for the German version of the album look like it unironically used a first grader to perform photoshop? Second half of the album: I am starting to see what they are doing here. I feel like I'm trapped 20 hours into a 24 hour turn in the steel mills at the turn of the 20th century, with a villainous Manager staring down at me. The transition from Trans-Europe Express -> Metal on Metal -> Abzug was pretty sick. I was ready to hock a 1 on this album, but by the end I think it's (if a slight stretch) a 3.
Kraftwerk was one of the key band discoveries helping me keep my grip on reality during early pandemic, and between that, my longstanding love for Germany, and the distinctive (and cohesive) thematic focus of their entire project, I have *feelings*, which are included below the review (most of those are about the band, rather the TEE, which is middle of the pack of their albums). Listening notes (first listen in original German recording): -Initially recorded in German, I've long felt that English (especially accented English as they speak) is the ideal language for Kraftwerk, because their work is about industrial society, and the merging of the "European Project". -While their other albums are arguably better, I will say (as an American who has spent a lot of time in Europe, so whatever that's worth), this feels like one of the most distinctively *European* artworks of any kind. Kraftwerk's music often feels like it's about transcending humanity through technology, and this particular album feels like it's about transcending nationalism and that feels like it goes to the core of the European Project--a dream that obviously faces headwinds, but is nonetheless visionary. -The minimalism of Kraftwerk is extremely admirable, especially given that electronic music by its very nature *begs* for overdoing it. -A further point here: even their lyrics say very little. And maybe it's just because I've listened a lot, but their music accomplishes almost all of its meaning through sound: form matching function (which itself is resonant of the way their music looks into the merger of machines and their creators). -Showroom dummies really sucks and drags this album down substantially. -In general this drags in the middle I'm sure there will be more Kraftwerk and I'll hold off of my most effusive fan-posting until one of their highpoint albums comes up. Honestly, the inclusion of this is perplexing to me. They have 6 great albums, but I'm guessing this program will not include many of them, and this would be imo an easier one to cut (Autobahn is effectively their first, and Man-Machine and Computer World are their best)--ignore this comment if in the future we get all 3 of these. I decided since this is an album I know extremely well, I'd listen to the original German one first, just for fun (hard to find!). Side note: the revamped Kraftwerk album covers are beautiful and perfectly compliment their soft-industrial vibes. Original covers are unremarkable, but the 2009 remasters might just be be the best themed release of updated album art (across the 5 classic era covers and also Tour de France). On the other hand, I think heavily inflected German accents speaking English actually really works for Kraftwerk in that it has a transhumanistic quality. Given how much I've written here and how much I love this band, it feels wrong to give three stars, but I think it's correct (though I’d say it’s rounding down). I'll save the top ratings for their other stuff.
The opening track might be the closest thing I've heard to C418's Minecraft Soundtrack. Made me just wanna chug along on an adventure. I was surprised to hear the iconic riff from Planet Rock on the title track. Some of the songs were a little too repetitive and needed to be shorter or spiced up. Nothing bad here but nothing I will probably return to aside from the first song.
21/06/25 I wasn't the greatest fan of it, but I understand it's pioneering importance 50 years on.
Nice synths
Intresting album, I enjoyed it.
In which our anxious art nerd heroes accidentally give rise to large parts of hip-hop and techno culture. Hugely significant, if not necessarily massive fun to listen to in its isolated entirety.
It’s Kraftwerk. Reminds me of life in Germany.
Ahead of it's time, good overall but a bit repetitive for my taste.
It wasnt awful
Good
TEE features some classic and groundbreaking moments, and it’s clear that Kraftwerk has been a major source of inspiration within electronic music. The album follows a consistent theme centered on Europe (progress, connection between countries) and serves as a kind of sonic landscape or soundtrack. At times, it can feel monotonous and dull, but the album also continues to surprise with elements that make you want to keep listening.
Look, I'm a bona fide, incorrigible music nerd. I'd gladly talk for hours about the lineage of the motorik beat to microhouse, I have strong feelings about Faust's best album and I might even get a little teary-eyed when someone recognises the name Klaus Schulze in conversation. Of course, then, do I love Kraftwerk. But after listening to this album and thinking "yeah yeah we get the point, let's get on with it shall we" at least once per track, I had to take a good long look at myself in the mirror. Did I really love the music of this album, or did I just love its historical significance? Was this anywhere near as exciting as the proto-synthpop of Die Mensch-Maschine or as adventurous as Autobahn? Is this album more than a bunch of 30-second loops that are initially intriguing but then go on to well outstay their welcome? I'm sorry, Kraftwerk, but I had to be honest with myself. You're still getting three stars out of sheer respect, but on worse days you might have come close to a mere two.
The Good: We are traveling express! The Bad: We don’t get to choose where we are heading… The Ugly: Work being misspelled… Second Kraftwerk album on this experience, and I believe that we’ve heard enough, no? It is electronic music, it is ahead of it's time, it is still not to my liking… Good thing is that this is from the period where an album lasted around 40 minutes max, so it is manageable… I gave their other album 4*, this one is being downgraded, though I have to admit that it isn’t something that made me want to punch a hole in a wall… 3*
why did the first song sound like stardew valley music
5/10 - Kraftwerk is just alright. The songs are all kind of boring and the more I listen to their albums the more I see that its only ok
Some good beats
Solid!
A classic electronic album, but also not my cup of tea.
It's fine as background music, but I'm not going to go out of my way to listen to it again. I liked the Man Machine more.
Not my jam, but an extra star for innovation, historical relevance and for what they accomplished with primitive instruments.
Trance techno
Pre-techno, synthesizer feel
3. fell into a long rabbit hole of having trans europe express repeated over and over.
Previously listened to: Autobahn (1/5) The Man Machine (2/5) ************************** I guess Kraftwerk is growing on me...a bit? Still, listening to this album once was enough.
6/10 I get it, it’s important, it’s significant, it’s a milestone, I just don’t find the record as an entire whole to be very engaging in terms of early Electronic music or Electronic music in general. I understand the cold sci-fi and inhuman aesthetic that’s supposed to be portrayed with these minimalist synthesizers but it ends up having no bite or excitement to the atmosphere, it just ends up flat. Sorry Germany, I guess you do owe us still but you tried anyways
Wii music kinda?? But I see how it’s influential
We are the robots. Great synths and a look at earliest techno. Very basic sounds nowadays. The songs go on a bit too long for not introducing much more after the first minute. 6/10
Kraftwerk has such a unique but immediately recognizable sound. This album is very much in line with that. This album uses rhythm synthesizers, which gives it a very different sound from other Kraftwerk material that I know. It makes for a pleasantly hypnotic sound. I would listen to this again.
There are better albums of Kraftwerk.
Could have used a bit more variation. There's only so many minutes I'm willing to listen to twinkly electronic sounds over and over again before they start to grate. That said, Kraftwerk are undeniably an important and influential band and well deserving of being on this list. 3.5/5
Despite this being electronic music. I didn't hate listening to it.
Kaikkihan nämä Kraftwerkit ovat aika vahvoja. Myös tämä. 3/5
3/5
Вайб и очень важно, но опять же суууупер устаревше. Уважаю безмерно. И скорее всего это очень важный альбом для Германии в целом. Но э. Лучшая песня -
3/5. A bit dated now, but okay
Doctor Who gone wrong
Boring aah electro
Trans Europe Express is certainly a weird one but hey, that's Kraftwerk for you. It is pretty easy to tell that this is one of the earliest electronic albums ever made mainly due to it's sheer quirkiness and desire to basically try as much weird stuff as it possibly can. I felt as if i kinda did vibe with the quirkiness at points and i did enjoy some of the melodies here. The main issue i have with this album is just how repetitive it is even for electronic album standards. Quite a couple of the songs here carry over from the songs before it and with their lengths, can easily make them feel stale. I kinda did enjoy this album but i would still easily put The Man Machine above it. Best Song: Abzug Worst Song: Franz Schubert
Less would have been more.
Hooray for trains
Very influential but very boring 2.5
Mellow, fragile, and esoteric.
I appreciate the ground breaking nature of this album more than the music, but it was still fun to listen.
My previous Kraftwerk album, 'The Man Machine' is superior to this, I believe. So it was a shame it didn't live up to those levels, but still solid electronica.
Pretty good
I've always suspected I'd quite like Kraftwerk and getting Man-Machine here last year proved me correct. I think it may be a shame I had that album first though, as this feels like more of the same and just a bit repetitive in comparison. There's some cool ambience and I enjoy the flow of the tracks into each other, but I don't think I'll be coming back to this as often as its more iconic, distinctive successor.
2.6 I really wanted to like this, given they kickstarted a genre I do enjoy. First tracks ok, and the last one actually quite good, but the middle is just so... dull? I feel a few more ideas and a few less minutes could have helped massively here. Not something I'd put on again.
okay electronic album, just not something that draws me in
I was recommended this before, its weird...
Yeah. Its not bad but def gets annoying after a while
Afrika Bambaataa heard this and a light bulb went off like in the cartoons! Slow start for me but once it got into the meat of the album everything started to sound amazing and I was rocking with them.
Pretty good. Honestly, some of It sounds kind of dated now. Although it probably sounded revolutionary back then.
Strange but good.
I have tremendous respect for the historical significance of these particular bleeps and bloops but it really just doesn't fuck at all, does it?
Interesting but not up my ally.
I respect all they've done for electronic music but I'm still generally not a fan of the genre. The stuff on this album is pretty weird and isn't always great but it's good enough for me to give it a 3.
Another experimental album. Was relatively enjoyable but sometimes felt like background noise cause I tuned it out a bit. Solid album though
pretty fun album. some groundbreaking work
Very good early artsy electronic music. B
Interesting, but I would never listen to this with any regularity.
Kraftwerk lays down some hits for the 70's. They have an impressive techno sythn musical sound that is years ahead
Not surprised to see this Dusseldorf duo pop up on the list. Great electrobeat album for the time and they paved the way for future electronic music. Title track is actually one of the tops and maybe got more famous after the Planet Rock sample. While the songs may get a little repetitive, they are unique and make for a perfect work out soundtrack, reps for days and keeping the pace. Some Krafty Werk from the krauty krew...3.1.
I thought I would like this more than I did. I wanted this to have more of an upbeat and fun feel to it but it was mostly dark and minimalist. It's not bad, but I don't see anything special about it or why this is heralded as such an influential album. In my mind I have a fondness for Kraftwerk though I'm not sure why as I'm pretty sure I know a couple of songs. Maybe they have some other work that resonates a little more with me. 2.51 stars
okay but not for me
Wow, second Kraftwerk album in a week. I wasn't really excited for this one after the first one a few days ago. But, I saw that this was a later record of theirs, and assumed that there would have been some evolution in sound. And...well there was. To an extent. I think the musical ideas shared here are more interesting, and their skill with electronic instruments has clearly grown album-to-album. I appreciated that there were more vocal parts, as well. Even if they were, at times, comically German-accented and sometimes overly simple in terms of lyrics. I dunno. I wanted to like this so much more, but it's dated, still somewhat experimental, and overall not really my vibe. I appreciate it for what it is, applaud those involved for making something so innovative for its time, and am happy to have been exposed. But if I never heard this or any other Kraftwerk music again, I'd be alright. Three stars. Standout Tracks: The Hall of Mirrors, Trans-Europe Express, Franz Schubert
Kinda fun, interesting album. Will I listen to again: 10%
Kraftwork were of course groundbreaking and incredibly influential. Making the most of a nascent technology and providing art in the widest sense. They were also, because of those constraints, pretty boring. I can admire the art and the influence and still think this is pretty boring.
Hey that's where that sample came from. First track nice to listen to. The rest feels like fodder for better songs. What do you do with tech based things that are "important" but the tech still develops?
I do hear a lot of things here that show up in later artists’ work in genres like new wave, hip hop, industrial and even alternative rock. Afrika Bambaata sampled some of the beats here on “Planet Rock” in 1982. It’s good stuff, just not something I’d personally reach for in most cases. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-trans-europe-express?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Not sure of this one tbh. Doesn't do anything for me.
Very german
Not a bad album, very Kraftwerk. Couldn't listen to it much out loud for obvi reasons. Probs about a trillion times better on a pair of good headphones.
A little too monotone.
Great album listen to it many times
This was comically enjoyable. German electronica for the win.
Decent early electronic music though extremely repetitive
Find yourself someone who loves you as much as Kraftwerk loves the Trans-Europe Express
TRANS. EUROPE. EXPRESS. TRANS. EUROPE. EXPRESS. 3/5
Albumi #71, 07.10.2024 Kraftwerkin ehkä legendaarisin albumi vuodelta 1977 on ylistys ja kunnianosoitus Euroopan rautatieverkostolle.
I can't say that I enjoyed this album exactly, but it was an experience that I'm glad I have had. 3/5
I enjoyed this ok on the first listen, and kinda just found it a bit boring on the second listen. As we talked about in my listening group it's pretty 'simplistic' compared to the electronic music that came after it. Undeniably this band and this record were monuments achievements in electronic music.
Interesting for sure. Considering these guys were at the forefront of EDM. I felt the rpms were a little too slow
It was ok I guess
Good music. Basically, just that. Good electronic music. In context, groundbreaking. Looking back, very good.
Stoked to listen to this. In the last 15+ years I have really gotten to love electronic music. Very german electronic. A little too somber, slow. BPM are a little slower than I thought. Good though
Astounding for the time euro electronica. Very slow. Very German.
Maybe the reason it was bearable was because I went out on an early-autumn mission to the market with this as my accompaniment. Not built for purely listening (imo). Some interesting sounds and loops which drew me in, but other times it felt lacking for its simplicity. I can see how influential they are, and I actually didn't dislike listening to it like I thought I might
It's good for what it is. Not really my cup of tea though.
I think the opening track, Europe Endless, has a synth sound that reminds me of the opening synth riff to the Killers song Flesh and Bone. Others disagree but I am happy to have the burden of being correct in the fact of others who are so certain while being wrong. Much like the other two albums on this list (!), there are a lot of beeps and boops. The synthesizers sound great and I can hear the influence that other bands took from them. I fail to connect with this album and I usually require some sense of connection in order to really enjoy it. Kraftwerk feels a bit aloof to me.
Not too bad
Not bad, somewhat repetitive though. 3/5
Son unos adelantados al tecno que marcaria los años 80. Curiosos pero no geniales
Help! I'm trapped in an early 80's movie soundtrack! No, seriously -- this came out in 1977. At the time, I'm certain it sounded like the future with all those synths and sequences. But now it's got more of a "Now iz ze time on Sprockets ven ve dance!" vibe. Doesn't mean it's not good -- but it's hard to get the cliche out of my head.
p373. 1977. 3 stars. The source of every 80s synth/sequencer band that followed. Still sound fresh today, but it does outstay its welcome. Additional point deducted for excessive wankage - no-one needs multiple 6+ minute tracks.
I actually really enjoyed this, which surprised me. I gave The Man Machine a very low score and found it a tough listen, so I was not expecting this to click. Trans-Europe Express feels more focused and melodic. The minimalist approach works better here and the repetition feels hypnotic rather than cold. It is electronic, precise and controlled, but still accessible. Showroom Dummies is a standout. Catchy, mechanical and strangely fun. The title track Trans-Europe Express is equally strong, building atmosphere in that unmistakable Kraftwerk way. The whole album feels like an easy listen, which is not something I expected to say. Favourite song: Showroom Dummies Least favourite: None. It is consistently strong throughout Album artwork: A great cover. Stylish, sleek and perfectly in keeping with their aesthetic
Getting a little tired of Kraftwerk, but there’s a couple good tracks
Trans Europe express is a good song. None of the rest really hit me. Im not sure what i was expecting out of this one. Maybe more 80's synth pop. This was not that. I would have rated this album a 2 if im honest. But the song TEE brought it back up a notch.
Kraftwerk is the ultimate music nerd band, right? It's music torn down to the studs, the most absolutely efficient music you could possibly get. I've never been too sure how to take them, because the idea that one day I'll throw on a full record of theirs (outside the scope of this project) doesn't sound like something I'd do. I find Kraftwerk to be more background music. Well-crafted background music, though it feels like something that might go in the background of a promotional video for, say, the Trans-Europe Express. This record kind of drifts hard in the second half, with the division between tracks blurring heavily and feeling more like one long track than five separate. I continue to be confused with what I should do with them, to be completely honest. Favorite tracks: "Showroom Dummies", "Metal On Metal"
Drags on
Sounds like both video game music and the soundtrack to a spy film made today but set in the 80s. My first experience with both Kraftwerk and Electronica and it was not what I was expecting (positive).
Dé muziek die je opzet bij een romantisch diner bij kaarslicht, of die je draait op een feestje om de stemming er even lekker in te brengen. Dé muziek die je in een melancholieke bui draait 's avonds laat, bij een glas mijmerend over het verleden en de toekomst, of die je in de auto lekker keihard meebrult met 140 over de autostrada. Dat is dit dus allemaal niet. Humorloze koude klanken met een Duits accent. Het heeft als enige kwaliteit dat je het rustig als achtergrondmuziek bij je (computer)werk aan kunt zetten. Also also, meine Dammen und Herren. Eine magere Drei.
Kraftwerk heeft zoveel invloed gehad op de latere muziek, dat ze onmiskenbaar in deze lijst horen. Het is het eerste van 3 albums wat we van deze Duitsers te horen krijgen en ik ben niet bekend genoeg met de albums om ze onderling te kunnen vergelijken. Door de synthesizers doet het me heel erg denken aan de bekende synthesizerplaten uit de 70s en 80s. Ze lijken me continu op zoek naar interessante geluiden en ze doen dit op een fijne manier, door niet teveel gekkigheden door elkaar te mikken. Maar gewoon de muziek redelijk op te laten bouwen en vrij kaal te houden. De zang is wel een aardig minpuntje. Het is natuurlijk wel iets, zoals bij veel bands/muziek, dat er soms prima bij past, zonder dat het heel erg goed is. Deze gast kan ook maar beter de toetsen beroeren dan er door heen gaan zingen, want dat kan hij gewoon niet zo goed. Zeker niet met dat zware Duitse accent. Ik had de Engelse versie aanstaan, ik heb maar even gewisseld naar de Duitse versie. Dat lijkt me beter. Interessante muziek met hele toffe synths erin die op een boeiende manier zijn gebruikt. Het hoort absoluut in de 1001-lijst. Maar het is niet iets wat ik heel vaak op ga zetten. 3+
Notable track: Trans-Europe Express
From radio play to German robotos!
Meh, after listening to the first track I ran through the other reviews. One of my favorite albums in my youth is Yaz or Yazoo, Upstairs at Eric's. I fucking loved that album and still do. If this shit leads to one of my favorite albums then okay but it seems like an unironic indie's movie soundtrack...uuuuhhhh.
fun listen, albeit a bit redundant for much of the album. you can see their influence on electronic bands that would come later like depeche mode.
Bueno
extreeem langi lieder und nöd würkli irgendöppis zum mitsinge ABER öppe nach de hälfti mussi sege, dassi recht e gueti ziit han trans-europe express hani bis jz am luebste, es isch fast scho creepy wie hüfig s gliche wiederholt wird okok und bi abzug wirds wieder ufgno, geil joa franz schubert würdi nöd gad als banger bezeichne bin zwüscheme 3 und 4 gsi, will ichs sehr e spannendi atmosphäre ffunde han (v.a. au für 1977! aber schlussendlich wird ich wohl nöd gross zrugg cho
The one looking glass song. I generally like Kraftwerk
More squiggly arpeggio reliant than the man machine, which I liked better. Simultaneously pretentious and silly yet pretty fun lyrics, pseudophilosophical man in the mirror stuff. We are the showroom dummies! Never saw it that way, but now that you mention it, mein german friend...
Så prøver vi igen - 3/5
Very interesting early techno
A grandaddy of an album for sure.
Every time I listen to Kraftwerk I get the audio equivalent to reading 1950s sci-fi. I know this was made earnestly, but I get the impression of parody. It constantly brings to mind visions of Knight Rider and Hasselhoff. The instrumentals are actually really dope at points (particularly the main melody underpinning Trans-Europe Express -> Abzug), but the chanted repeating vocals do something to undermine the whole experience with their uncanniness. In all honesty, if they were to cut the vocals I think this would edge towards a 4 for me. With their presence, I am a soft 3.
I think this is my least favorite of the 3 Kraftwerk albums so far although I still enjoyed it. Definitely like their cut of the jib though. Recommended to listen with good headphones, since my running earbuds weren't really cutting it for the first couple songs. This is maybe a 3.5, but it is notably worse than the other two albums, so I am rounding down.
Like all other Kraftwerk albums so far, this one sent me straight to lunch. This one was the least favorite of the 3 albums that has come up though. The first half was very strong with the crazy synth action. The second half was a little bit too much Trans-Europe Express for my liking, I didn't realize that spanned 3 songs. This gets a high 3 because I can't possibly give it a 4 based on the comparisons to the other Kraftwerk albums and knowing what they are possible of.
This made a lot more sense once I realized they're German. Some parts of this were EXTREMELY repetitive and drawn out, but in a way it sort of forced me to question my own sanity while walking through the grocery store. Scratched some itch in my brain I guess.
It was alright, nothing that I enjoyed that much but nothing that I really disliked either
Respect to it for its time but it nearly made me fall asleep
That was interesting. Not normally something I would listen to, but something I could listen to again if the mood for German electronic music suddenly strikes me.
ok
Kraftwerk changed the course of music for the rest of eternity. I just wish they could've done it with a bit more pizazz.
This may be a case where the influencees outdo the influencers, where one's glad they opened up space for Bowie, New Order, LCD Soundsystem, etc. "Abzug" and "Franz Schubert" are by far best works. A lot of the other cuts are too mechanistic to offer much pleasure or interest.
Surprisingly enjoyable Standout songs: Europe Endless Trans-Europe Express
Why, innovative but sooo much more out there.
Thank you for existing, you influenced so many other musicians, and I'm glad I listened to this album, although once was enough. Simplistic and sterile like a cold steel butcher’s table. What music would be if nobody had a soul. Or perhaps I just don't get it…
i was surprised at how melodic this was. I was also very surprised to find out how old this was. i thought kraftwerk was more in the 80s.
Musik to create a human centipede to.
I didn't dislike it, but boy was it repetitive.
2.5
Incredibly repetitive. Not the worst, but not something I care to hear again. I was able to listen to the whole thing without being terribly annoyed though.
Influential doesn’t always mean great, but still fun to listen to sometimes
Super repetitive. Not really annoying so it’s okay. Could have been like 6 minutes long instead of 42. I’d never listen to this again though.
started off strong, but got boring and repetitive by the middlepoint. i really like electronic music, but in the 70s it was roughhh YNN
Best geinig
beep beep boop bop
Melodic electronic music that sounds like a train. I like the idea, and I kinda got it at the end of the album after I looked up some of the history for it, but I didn’t quite understand what the album was supposed to be based on on its own. There’s not a lot of substance to it, and the repetitious lyrics are grating. My favorite song was the one without lyrics that had a beautiful melody, Franz Schubert. Endless, Endless is a nice end to the album though. I will say, I would like to return to this album to get a better picture of it— it’s intriguing— but not a great first impression. Standouts: The Hall of Mirrors, Abzug, Franz Schubert.
"Trans Europe" eh? So it all started with Kraftwerk...
An interesting album, I liked Showroom Dummies the most from the album.
Might have been groundbreaking but is a bit boring.
Not too shabby
This is GOOD. Not great, not \perfect, just good. Kraftwerk has better albums and better songs but this is still undeniably GOOD
Успокаивает
Like if Daft Punk was artsy and pretentious. "Europe Endless" was moody and cool. "Showroom Dummies" is haunting and kind of funny? The songs are long and get really repetitive. However, I admire the soundscapes and looping musicality of the album. I read that many musicians have samples this album and it's clear that's why it's on this list.
The Kraftwerk sound associated with Africa Bambaata’s “Planet Rock”. Some German sing/talking early on then several tracks forming the Trans Europe Express title track. It’s ok.
If Minecraft beats were laid in the 70's, minus the German voiceovers. Not my favorite album, but I truly appreciate this band's influence on the ones I do love, and on one of my favorite SNL sketches (Sprockets!). Glad to give this a listen. 3/5
3/5 sounds like a minecraft disc. Really distopyan (i defenitly spelt that wrong)
3/5
I have known of kraftwerk. I have never listened all the way thru an album. I thought it may become repetitive but they always changed it up just before it reached that point. I enjoyed it. interesting.
In 2014, the Los Angeles Times called it "the most important pop album of the last 40 years".[2] Yeah, I don't think so. It's good butthe most important?
listened to again love the sounds explored but not enough cohesiveness to the overall sound to make it interesting
The vocals don’t much work (especially on “Hall of Mirrors” even if one knows to listen ironically). And the overall effect is one of tedium. One recognizes they are trying to demonstrate the mechanistic nature of modern life – so point made, but doesn’t make for a killer listening experience. "Abzug" and "Franz Schubert" are best cuts.
Normally I like Kraftwerk, but that repeated "Europe Express" line was just too much.
Goes of the tracks now and again, but a decent journey overall 🚂
Etwas speziell, aber hörbar