Reviews (page 6 of 9)
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
Tää oli solid vakaa hyvä - ei nii kova ku the man machine
Bring on the beeps and boops! I’m all in for 70s Kraftwerk! Sprecken zie Sprockets! Europe Endless - huh not as primitive as I thought it was going to sound. The sound that launched 10000 New Wave bands. Song goes on forever. 3/5 The Hall of Mirrors - ooh trippy pac-man sounds! This was before pac-man! What am I talking about. What’s so great about this guy’s voice is that he’s so serious that he’s gone through the mirror and is now completely ridiculous. See what I did there. I believe this song deserves a comedy routine. Or maybe a runway fashion show. Bizarro. Should be a 1/5, but it’s so terrible it’s very entertaining. 2/5 Showroom Dummies - I wonder how much computer power this required back then. What’s crazy is I hear like a dozen different bands being influenced by this song. I can see the start of their sound here. But this is song is also very terrible. Can you imagine hearing this in 1977 and saying, “That’s nice, but I can do this better, Kraftwerk” ? And yet again, terribly entertaining. 2/5 Trans-Europe Express - I’ve heard like six famous samples in the first two minutes. That kinda cements its importance. This song has a nice rhythm and beat. I love how they try to mimic the sounds of a train whooshing past. Once again, one of the better songs that goes on too long, although I think that might be the point. 3/5 Metal on Metal - oh this is just a continuation of the previous song. Is the train stopping? 2/5 Abzug - and continues. I wonder if I would have liked this better as a 10 minute song? These kind of things cause real havoc in a playlist or shuffle. 2/5 Franz Schubert - I wonder who Franz Schubert is? I know, I should just Google, but I’m trying to listen to these albums uninterrupted. This one is very relaxing. And not in a yoga ethereal massage spa sounds sort of way. I actually enjoy this one. 3/5 Endless Endless - not what I was expecting. That title made me think this would go on forever. I mean everything else does. Not a song, but that was quite the twist there, Kraftwerk. 2/5 So, there’s no doubt this is a hugely influential record. These sounds are all over pop music for the last 40ish years. There’s a lot to unpack in this crazy record. What amazed me is what a fun record it is. And let’s be honest, it’s fun because it’s almost immediately a parody of itself. But you get this sense that Kraftwerk is a bit in on the joke themselves. I bet their interviews were a gas. I also am always amazed when an artist celebrates modern life and tech, instead of despairing about it. It definitely gives it a human touch to the inhuman. Still, what is it like listening to 1977 electronica in 2023? Some things still work, especially since it’s forced retro-minimalism, especially in songs like “Franz Schubert,” could effortless glide into a modern playlist. But there’s a lot here that’s of its time, deep repetition, corny vocals, and of course the mid to late 20th century industrial vibe, and in general, the Schprockets black leotard Euro-weirdness. I mean I did the Robot at least five times listening to the record. Honestly should be a 2/5, but really its influence and in generally corny fun-ness bump it to a 3/5.
9 minute songs have their time and place, and that's on shrooms. This is probably 5/5 on shrooms.
Interesting album. Not my taste in terms of style but not the worst.
Would make an excellent retro video game soundtrack
I kind of consider this a "chill n' vibe to" album in my head, and under that light... I mean, I have other albums I'd go to before this, but, y'know, still. Ich denke, dieses Album ist gut. Ich nehme an.
album cover is so sick
Simpsons reference: Yes (episode name references them! Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk)
Marginally preferred the German album to the English one, bit more expressive. Either way, it's a mid table album for me.
Whatever
Peaceful at times. Too much in large doses for me.
l’ai écouté dans le train entre deux pays par respect
First song is really good, but long. The rest of the album kind of slows down after that, sounds good but kind of too slow for me.
A bit cheesy and out dated, this album really showed its years. I do appreciate that this was some of the precursor work to modern electronic music. I did really enjoy the beat that played through the title track until "Franz Schubert", although I HATE when they repeat the same phrase over and over again 100 times in a row. That was my major gripe with the Daft Punk album I got. I'd give this a 3.5 if I could.
krafty
Cool beats and understandable influence on NIN. Not something I'd listen to regularly but neat to see their use of tech for beats and clear influence on industrial rock.
Kraftwerk is a staple and is foundational as far as electronic music goes, no doubt about it. But I'd be lying if I said I had been particularly impressed with their music on this project thus far, and this album wasn't an exception to that. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting, but incredibly repetitive; you can tell this was electronic in its infancy, and it just hasn't aged all that well when compared to the intrigue of more modern electronic music. Barely a 3 for me.
Not bad. Weird in a good way
Joo... Tavallaan kiinnostavaa musiikkia, koska tämän vaikutus on kuultavissa tosi selvästi monessa nykyaikaisemmassa levyssä. Mutta tämä kyseinen levy ei oikein osu mulle.
Highlights: Showroom Dummies, Franz Schubert, Endless Endless. In a nutshell: cruise control You know Kraftwerk when you hear it: synth, sequencers, minimalism, monotone vocals, loops, feels like you're on a journey. It's comfortable, familiar music. Six of the eight songs are over 4 minutes so it will be a challenging listen for some. Overall: 5/10
Good album. Experimental sound. Was missing content
My second Kraftwerk album. Fun techno pop, impressive that its from the mid 70s, feels ahead of it's time. Quirky and fun.
Mmmmm niet zo m’n ding
If the band from The Big Lebowski was real I imagine this is what they sound like.
This was ok. It's not fair to judge this from my 2023 point of view but that's what I'm doing. It's not as pleasant as pop oriented electronic, doesn't seem as purposeful as more confrontational experimental electronic. When they edge towards either I start thinking about something I'd rather be listening to. music: bleep bloop. (⌐■_■)
This was a positive Kraftwerk experience. More smooth and musical than some of their other stuff. I liked it pretty good. It was really funny how the album opened with like 90 seconds of synth and then the first word spoken was “Europe!”
You can definitely tell this was the influence for much of the hater edm/electronic/synth music. It was a pleasant listen, though doubt it's one I'll revisit.
I'm not really a fan of electronic music, but somehow these guys are an exception. It's electronic but it also has a tune, you know? Still gets a bit repetitious at times but overall pretty good. 3 stars.
Yeah I wish I liked them more but they’re too raw… They paved the way for electronic music but still I wont listen to them too often
Pretty cool. Don't listen to much electronic, but I totally see why this album garners so much acclaim.
Too weird.
Think I see where Nobuo Uematsu’s other influences come from now.
F’ed up, this is the one with the stardew valley core song
I figured I should listen to the German version. I liked the soundscape and the way they say Trans-Oyropa
I didn't expect a second Kraftwerk album! It was just as fine as their first, not sure why more than one is on here but I don't make the rules. I just listen and pray it'll be good.
Tällä halutaan kertoa SANOMAA nykyajasta (70-luvusta). Se on minusta hauskaa. Jotenkin naiivi mutta hyvin tehty. Kiva kun elektroninen musiikki ei ole vain elektronista vaan soitinmaista.
This feels like an ancient record. Again, landmark in electronic music. But this doesn't grab me with its bleeps and blooping synth tones.
This record could be considered on the list more on the merits of its innovation than being the best of their catalog. Still it's remarkable to consider that these guys were considered 'experimental' at the time but now in retrospect completely mainstream in comparison to electronic music of the past several decades. Synthesizers and drum machines are now pervasive, and with Kraftwerk's records they were essentially pioneering and even DIY fabricating the methods and mechanisms. They may sound a bit quaint, but then the first wheel ever invented didn't exactly move like a Porsche on the Autobahn.
ну не моё)
first impressions: It's mindblowing to me that this is an album from 1977 - if this were released today, I think it would garner a lot of attention...or at least night core remixes. after listening through: Very interesting. I can hear how this has influenced so many genres of music, including (possibly?) hip hop and modern electronica/dance music. Its not really my cup of tea for daily listening, but I admire how innovative it must have sounded in the 70's. The vocals are unappealing, but the beats are pretty tame and inoffensive. post-reading reviews/wiki: wondering how much this album influences what we think of as "German" vibes today. relisten?: I will probably listen to my favorites, including the opener, again. I might put this album on for working at some point. But I don't think I'd recommend it to a general audience.
- Heard a couple of Kraftwerk albums before, but not this one - Clearly very influential considering it came out in the 70s, but not really something I'd go back to much on it's own - Preferred The Man Machine and Computer World - Fav songs: Showroom Dummies, Europe Endless
Very good, definitely a pioneer to this genre of music but holy crap is it repetitive.
You know the situation is dire when the best compliment I can muster is "eh, this is fine i guess." It's better than some of Kraftwerk's other records that I've heard here, mainly because it sounds more like music that automotive sound effects. Still proof that this entire genre just isn't for me, though.
Undoubtedly influential album that just feels like noodling to me.
You know what else is endless? These songs.
capitalismo venceu (infelizmente)
70s german electronica. interesting early beginning to the genre but too repetitive and slow 2.5/5
This is a lovely album, I always thought Kraftwerk were quite industrial, but this is gentle and catchy, lovely electronic melodies.
This album was WAY ahead of its time. Wow. This would go on to influence alternative as well as what the 80's would call "new age" music. "Hall of Mirrors" was probably the most interesting track. The rest was okay for background noise, but 9 minute tracks of the same 15 seconds over and over was a bit much. An extra star for being so ground-breaking.
3rd or 4th Kraftwerk album now... probably could've done with just 1 but hey. This one has the same cool kinda vibe as the others but is a bit more experimental maybe? Didn't click as much, although I get the same DOS PC space shooter nostalgia listening to it. 3/5.
3.5/5
It isn’t bad but it is basically the same 2 songs played over and over but with slight changes. I could listen to a song here and there but the whole album is a bit repetitive.
After this third Kraftwerk album on the list (until now), I guess I finally understand their purpose. They are not good albums to listen to, but they are fantastic as companion songs for reading or annoying work sessions. I discovered it by coincidence, and I wouldn't say I like the album as a whole, but understanding it is part of the way to finally getting why they deserve at least 3 spots on the list. Maybe after listening to the whole Kraftwerk discography and understanding the hidden mystery of electronic music, I'll enjoy it. I'm betting that I'm losing some life secret that will enable me to access the hidden knowledge about the great war against the capitalist aliens that command our lives, just letting us access these small pieces of peaceful songs for the long and annoying job sessions. Yes, listening to this album is like reading this text: a craziness.
Dated
Turns out you can't really dance to the sound trains make, so we need Kerls like this to tweak it a bit. Just fill the cars with mannequins and send the whole thing on its beeping, synthy way.
This was a cool album. Way ahead of its time, but it definitely feels like it's been done better by now. Probably with a lot less effort put in too, for better or worse. Still enjoyed it pretty thoroughly. 7/10
This is fine. I think I like Kraftwerk a lot more when they stick to stuff that's at least vaguely poppy and/or has strong song structure? These don't really stick too well in mind for the most part. Good music for cleaning the house to though.
started off interesting but became too repetitive
I'm very surprised to say that I dug it! Nice to have in the background as work music.
Never really listened to this genre before but this album was a good place to start. Pretty simple beats, kind of relaxing, nothing too crazy about the album.
The typical Kraftwerk: it has a certain style but is quite repetitive and detached.
Sounds good, would play sonic to this
I know it is very influential, but I found it a bit ponderous.
Really weird and repetitive but not bad
idk how many times i heard the words trans europe express but i’m not complaining.
beep boop
What a wild electronic album. I started to wonder why some songs were 8 minutes long and only the same notes/lyrics over and over again, but after minute 7, I understood and enjoyed it. 3/5. Favorite Track: The Hall of Mirrors
should have enjoyed this more than i did.
Are all Kraftwerk albums on the list? It's fine.
Had never heard of this group before.
There’s a lot of stuff by Kraftwerk that I really enjoy, but this wasn’t one of those things particularly.. very repetitive and just long (even though it’s under 45 minutes) Saved tracks: Showroom Dummies, Abzug
Пиздато, медитативно, конечно же не мое потому что я не люблю такое что в СБПЧ, что тут. Но мем в том, что даже сейчас это звучит прикольно и вкусно, учитывая что с релиза прошло 46 лет практически, так что троечка тоже, возможно когда-то упорюсь по подобному и буду это боготворить. 3/5
Ну, вот теперь мы и добрались до самой настоящей электронной музыки, целиком и полностью. И это что-то тяжеловато слушать. Опять же, если смотреть на весь существующий ныне музыкальный мир, это выглядит как что-то состряпанное в GarageBand на коленке вечером: один синт, разные арпеджиаторы и простой бас/бит. С другой стороны, для 1977 года это было феноменом и чем-то уникальным, новым, экспериментальным. Эдакий робото-поп. Докинув сюда всеобщее увлечение сай-фаем в те годы, получается вполне ясная картина. По ассоциациям, мне напомнило очень сильно то, что делали Барамия и Зайцев в Ёлочных Игрушках (ну и потом на заре СБПЧ). Ход мыслей абсолютно логичен и понятен, так как Илья дико вдохновлялся Aphex Twin (да, мы с ним про это говорили в интервью в Теории Трунь), ну а Афексы в свою очередь черпали идеи и воодушевлялись Крафтверком. Причём забавно, что если слушать всех этих авторов сейчас, все они покажутся новаторскими и экспериментальными для своего времени. Но вернёмся к альбому. Короче, главная претензия к нему - ну не тянет он на полноценный альбом. По факту это всего 5 (а не 8) композиций, я отнёс бы это к EP, а то и вообще - к макси-синглу. Причём если говорить о разнообразии аранжировок... ну, там блин в Europe Endless и Franz Schubert одинаковые ритмические рисунки, такое себе. Но в защиту скажу, что в Europe Endless хорошо прорабатывается кварто-квинтовый круг, там 3-4 тональности кажется используются. Главной заслугой этого альбома я отмечу формирование посыла, что писать музыку по классическим канонам можно и без классических аналоговых инструментов. Доработать бы ещё смыслы... 3/5.
Interesting early electronic music. I can hear how this influenced a lot of other electronic music, especially Daft Punk. This was probably groundbreaking when first released but sounds pretty average by today's standards.
Synth meets drum machine. Some cool tracks, some annoying tracks.
It is all techno music. Some of it is good but I don't need an entire album of it. It most likely influenced other bands such Daft Punk. I would not listen to the entire album again. I would maybe listen to one or two of the songs again. I will round up
They earned that third star on my second listen. just some boring ass bloops telling you everything is OK.
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Europe endless
As usual, really interesting to see what these guys were doing way back when. But not an exceptional listen. I did appreciate the theme of the euro trans rail.
While it's still not my genre, this wasn't too bad. The beats and melodies are simple yet entertaining. Overall just too long and repetitive but taking into account the release year, I guess I'll be lenient and give this 3 stars
So I read a little more about this album in an attempt to understand why it is considered so influential. I can appreciate the groundbreaking, novel looping technology in the synthesizers that they were using to create the music. As I read about that and the impact that the album had on music that followed, I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed. The accolades bestowed on this album and the music I listened to, just didn't match up to me.
They have a unique sound and I think they were ahead of their time and probably a big influence in electronic music is the 80's 90s and beyond. Standouts: Trans-Europe Express 3.5
Brooding German electronic music which encapsulates my theoretical descent to purgatory from tracks 4 to 6.
Yep, still surprised by how much I’m enjoying Kraftwerk. And when I’m not enjoying them so much, I’m still impressed by how ahead of their time they sound. The eerie ascending synths on The Hall of Mirrors are a highlight, and Franz Schubert is a very pretty contrast to the industrial chugging of the preceding three tracks - like a train emerging from a stormy overnight journey into a peaceful valley. Also, Showroom Dummies seems like a very lo-tech precursor to The Robots, which is amusing. Track one really does feel ‘endless’ though - the length of some of the tunes is a bit of a negative. 3.5
Felt like I was on a long train journey in the future as sewn by a German man in 1977
Interesting, influential, ground-breaking. But somehow disappointing too.
I didn't think I liked Krautrock at all - then I heard NEU! 75 and loved it. But this.. ..meh. Perhaps I only like some Krautrock. I think NEU is slightly more up tempo - or maybe it's just better. I dunno, but this isn't anywhere near as good.
Germans are weird
not my usual listen but did enjoy it! think my parents like kraftwrek
I’m giving this a three, but it’s a low three. An electronic-euro music album, I know I would like this if I were in the right mood, but that would probably be if I wanted background music
Didn’t manage to hear every track but I enjoyed what I heard. 3*
My third Kraftwerk album in what is short of 70 days long journey and I rate it somewhat in the middle. No annoying parts but no really bangs either. Overall enjoyable music but from time to time I kept thinking: "This sound right here was added just because they could and thought it was cool, not because it sounds good".
Now THIS is coding music.
This is my first Kraftwerk experience. Things this album invoked: Adam Sandler's bandmate in The Wedding Singer. Stefon from SNL. Endless track - hear a little bit of Radiohead from Kid A in there. I AM HERE FOR IT.
3 stars
Kraftwerk is kinda growing on me.
Ground breaking electro album, amazing this came out in 1977, personally though I do find it very repetitive.
I can respect what Kraftwerk has done for music, but this is not music that I enjoy. Early electronic music is like early rap - I understand everything has to start somewhere, but if i'm being honest it's hard to listen to.
Bleep bloop, bleep bleep blorp, I’m just not sure there’s any need
cool voor op achtergrond
Sounds like a bunch of 80s TV themes, probably because they were the future when TV theme writers were getting into writing. Very repetitive, good background music for studying perhaps.
Sounds quite cute to listen to now, but you can't argue with their pioneering influence. Lends itself to softly playing in the background whilst you're trying to build out a strategic response. As a result it rather blends into a single moog-based soundscape. Apart from when your ears prick each time the motif sampled in 'Planet Rock' pops up. Better Kraftwerk albums to come...
Lovely to work to. The Trans-Europe Express suite is superb
Mye kult, men ikke deres sterkeste album.
Well, massive transport is my jam to this is definitely better than autobahn no doubt. The sound is more rich than that one as well.
Most remarkable to me is how this band made all this electronic music in the 70s. Maybe it was more common than I thought, but when I think of 70s music -- a decade with some of my favorite music in several genres -- electronic music doesn't come to mind, probably because I equate it with the Digital Age we now live in. That could be due to my own ignorance, I'm sure. Either way, this is interesting music. Quite a departure from my usual listening fare, which is what this project is all about and I dig that.
3 This album feels ahead of its time being released in the 70s, and I can see how it would influence a number of artists in the coming decade. In some ways, it felt like a more electronic Joy Division (reinforced when my Spotify jumped to the band after the album concluded), and it's as cold and industrial as I could only expect from German music. Truthfully, I'm not entirely sure how I felt about this one. I think I liked it, but there's not a ton to say as there are really only six tracks if you count Trans-Europe Express and the two songs after it as one song (I do). I could see myself listening again, but I think it's a little too emotionally-devoid to be something I could get too attached to... in this case, I think I'm more of a fan of the artists they influenced. Favorite songs: Europe Endless, The Hall of Mirrors, Trans-Europe Express
Not a fan of whatever that is? Techno but ill try anything.
fine
ikkje lika bra som autobahn
Zeer typische sound. Je haalt ze er zo uit. Ondanks dat dit niet mijn favoriete genre is, erken ik wel dat dit pioniers in hun vak zijn
The first four tracks here average 8 minutes long, probably intentionally to give a feel of droning and dragging. This album is an early venture into electronic music, and it sounds like pink floyd, zelda, and daft punk had a kid. Most of these tracks aren't super exciting, but it makes sense this album was influential ~50 years ago. The final few tracks were very interesting, implying the railway is endless (& the end of the album flows directly into the beginning again). I don't plan on listening again but I wouldn't recommend against listening to this album.
Through the years, I have tried to listen to Kraftwerk, but struggled to get into electronica. I feel now, I'm more patient and open to other musical styles and genres, so I can understand and appreciate the music more than before. Good background music, but my patience is tested after prolonged listening. Solid record.
Weird electronica album. Probably not a repeat listen. Chord changes were occasionally interesting, but the music didn’t draw me in
Europa Endlos
Holy SYNTHS Batman! Fascinating topic and lyrics. It’s very atmospheric. Surprisingly since it uses REALLY BASIC synths off what seems like a CASIO keyboard, it’s really well produced and doesn’t sound dated. Though the songs are fascinating and have bizarre lyrics, there is a bit of reliance on repetition - I don’t mind that, but I can understand some not liking that - it can make the songs feel quite long compared to your standard 3 minute pop fare. There’s a couple too many songs that are a bit too long and repetitive though… I like this album as it’s so different, but would skip a few tracks on repeat listens 6/10
Somehow, this all works. I get that Kraftwerk is beyond inspirational, and I'm pleased to have listened to this uninterrupted. But I'll probably file this under "Enjoyed, it's good, and I'll probably never seek it out again".
Not for me. I can see the artistic merit in it, but I did not feel cool listening to this. I felt like the kid in highschool who thinks his music taste is so superior to his peers. Highlights were the title track. It’s fine, has some solid moments, but I’m really not sure I will ever come back to this one.
This is a really interesting listen, but I don't really like it. Must've been groundbreaking in 1977, and probably was the grandfather of a lot of music that I like more than this, but it's just a bit too weird for me. It's all very repetitive, and really creepy. I did quite like The Hall of Mirrors for its over the top creepiness, that felt quite clever, but the rest is just creepy without being OTT. 3/5 for me, it's clever, well-done and clearly groundbreaking, but not that enjoyable.
Like a more subdued Daft Punk. Good beats, but not a lot of variety or progression of the melody.
This is the sixth album from German electronic band Kraftwerk. It continued a transition away from their earlier krautrock music towards melodic electronic music, and this new style of music was polished with a focus on rhythms and minimalism. The theme of this album was tied to the Trans-Europe Express, and the thought that this could be some of the future's music one would listen to when riding on a train across the country. The album has a haunting atmosphere due to the electronic sounds and sparse but manipulated vocals. This album sounds wonderful, is timeless, danceable, and not quite intrusive enough to take the listener's focus away from a task or event. It could be called the birth certificate of true electronic music. Since I have a soft spot for EDM, this album made me feel nostalgic for the times when musicians were first experimenting with these sounds. It's crazy to imagine what would have happened if this music never caught on with the general public. In conclusion, this album is extraordinary and may stand the test of time by being just popular enough to stay relevant forever.
The songs are funky and cool. I might listen again, but I don’t know because the songs feel “endless endless,” the first ones both being 7 minutes long of similar stuff, making it kind of hard to enjoy. But hey, good music to be a robot to.
It’s totally fine. It’s early electronica that’s well done. It’s not really my cup of tea. I will say for fans of electronic music they’ll find the origins of everything the genre brings.
Not as bad as Autobahn but still not for me.
Liked this. Didn't love it. TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS I liked some of the songs more than others though. Highlights: Hall of mirrors Showroom Dummies Franz Schubert 3/5
Vocals suck but the electronics are generally really cool. Could see how this was really influential for its time.
considering this is released in 1977 pretty advanced electronic album
3 stars only because i was starting an astronomy research job while i listened to it and it made me feel like a techy little robot
Заглавная песня и ее мотив интересны. Прослеживаются и в другом треке с альбома. Группа, которая повлияла на многих культовых музыкантов, включая Боуи. Но моё сердце они растопить все же не смогли.
Pleasant electronica, evoking images of a transcontinental journey
Electrónica
Leip album die beter weg luisterde als gedacht
This album is kinda exactly like the previous one. I don't find it good, but I know its great. So many bands refer to it as being influential. It was nice background music for my work day. Just not my cup of tea.
Mega drive music
Not my favorite Kraftwerk album, but if you like their other albums, maybe you'll like this one too. Highlights: 1, and 2.
1st April 2022 Listened throughout the day while working from home home. Mary Ruth and Stephen came round in the evening and we had biryani. Really liked the opening track and I appreciate Kraftwerk as a cultural institution but wouldn’t sit and listen to hours of them. Would love to see them live though.
Weird but interesting.
I desperately need some indie video game developer to make a spooky 2D metroidvania using this album as the score.
Hmmmmm. Cold. Groundbreaking, but ultimately not a great listen.
J'ai une histoire assez particulière avec cet album de Kraftwerk que je vais vous raconter brièvement. Il y a de cela 2 ans et demi, je démarrait mon nouvel emploi dans une grande entreprise internationale par une journée d'intégration. Après nous avoir donné deux trois généralités au sujet de l'entreprise et des locaux, du matériel informatique fut distribué à chacun d'entre nous. Une fois tout le monde servi, il était temps de tester le matériel. Tout d'abord l'ordinateur portable, qui après quelques manipulations fût rapidement allumé sur le bureau de chacune des nouvelles recrues. C'est alors qu'un intervenant passa dans les rangs, distribuant le CD "Trans Europe Express" de Kraftwerk à chacun des employés. Il nous fut alors demandé d'insérer le CD dans le lecteur de l'ordinateur prévu à cet effet, et de nous équiper de notre casque audio. Après 40m d'écoute, l'intégralité du systéme audio était parfaitement réglée, et aucun bruit parasite ne venait entâcher l'écoute. Cela fait donc 2 ans et demi que cette anecdote a eu lieu, et je ne déplore pas le moindre soucis acoustique depuis cette date.
It has some cool stuff in there.
Sounds dated now.
Un poco monótono, pero bueno, escuchable, electrónico, curioso.
Kraftwerk deserves its place in the history books, but this isn’t its best album. Not that it matters: fine music is made of these.
This is so much better and enjoyable than I expected!!!
Never been into Kraftwerk so was not expecting to enjoy this. Of course this was a pioneering time for electronic music and I see this albums place in history but a lot of it sounds like sub-minimalism to me. See what Steve Reich was doing way before this! I did enjoy the title track but not really my bag.
Interesting to listen to this right after Radiohead. Definitely a through-line between them. This isn't my favorite Kraftwerk album though...
Mm
All these tracks are about a minute too long and begin very similarly. Kinda remind me of iPhone alarms.
Not my taste, but I apreciate the cultural significance.
Elektronisk, konceptuelt, hypnotiserende, dystert
It's ok just a bit dull
Interesting and old school.
My kids: this sounds weird
I liked this without loving it. It feels like a darker, more forbidding counterpart to Autobahn. I think I would need to be in the mood for something this downbeat, whilst the serene, gliding rhythms of Autobahn went down far easier.
Knew a few songs from samples and was better than the other techno album I had. I’d maybe give it another listen
Not my cup of tea.
Feel like I would have liked this kind of thing when I was in 7th grade so everyone would be impressed with how random I am. As an adult, I liked "The Hall of Mirrors" but everything else was fairly unremarkable.
Storico
Nice
Cool, hard to believe it was made in the 70s
Imponerende men ensformigt
Very interesting look into the then-emerging euro electronic music vibe of the late 1970s. Very omnious and creepy sounding at parts, I can understand why people may have felt off or uncomfortable with the sound. At times minimalist and very formulaic with lots of four-loops and subtle changes and additions to the loop.
TRANS. EUROPE. EXPRESS! Men se sviđa ovaj album, općenito oni su pojava. Drugačiji su bili, glavni u ovom pokretu glazbe. Elektrosintpopičko stvaranje uz mrvice techna. Sitnica koja mi se sviđa u vezi albuma je to što je kraj albuma povezan sa početkom albuma. Isto tako podsjeća na Pink Floydovog Zidnog albuma. Pa kaže: TRANS. EUROPE. EXPRESS.
U 8-bit vlaku prolazim kroz polja Europske prirode. :) ENO TULIPANI! PRODUŽIT ĆEMO ONDA DO FRANCUSKE DO BIG SERPENTA PA MALO ISTRAŽIT. Da, to su mi želje.
it's okay - I just can't get into Kraftwerk....and I like techno.
Innovative sounds
I have only heard a song here and there from Kraftwerk, mostly from college friends' mixtapes back in the 80s and 90s. But that and Sprockets on Saturday Night Live were enough to give me an idea of what might be in store here... As anticipated TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS is a musical journey, long on electronic music with limited, repetitive lyrics and melodies. At times this album felt almost like a parody - then I remember that this was released in 1977 and realize that this is the source from whence those parodies sprang. "Europe Endless" takes us out of the station and rapidly zipping across the continent. The first station stop along the way is a meditative one. The reflective "The Hall of Mirrors" juxtaposes our watching ourselves with being watched by others in "Showroom Dummies." Back on the train, "Trans Europe Express" chugs out of the station and continues our journey. "Metal on Metal" continues the song - you can practically hear the train whistles. When "Abzug" starts I realize that we are still on "Trans Europe Express" despite the new song title. These three songs blend together without breaks in the music or the theme. "Franz Shubert" is a welcome change of pace after the previous song trilogy. It's a simple but very meditative song that I found not unpleasant. Like the previous three songs, this blurs seamlessly into "Endless Endless". It seems that our journey will go on... At times this album had me looking over my shoulder to make sure I wasn't being pranked, but the repetitious patterns in the songs became strangely soothing. Once one separates the memes that followed from the original, Kraftwerk's huge contribution to electronic music pull into sharp focus. I enjoyed taking this journey, but like a journey across Europe likely won't be making this a daily commute. Still it might make for great meditation or to lull you away from waking life.
It's Kraftwerk. Music by robots for us. Or is it music by humans for robots? Or are we all robots? I don't know. It's electronic bubbling with efficient and stern German vocals. Best Tracks: Europe Endless; Trans-Europe Express; Metal on Metal
I can see where 90s 16 bit games got inspiration from Cracking instrumentals and soundscopes!
Definitely weird but liked it better than other weird albums we’ve had so far
Have never listened to Kraftwerk before. I get where they have influenced a number of different acts, and Bowie was so big on them in the 70s. But those first couple of tracks went on WAY too long. They easily could have cut out a minute or two from each. I started to think of it as just pretentious, but I eased up and kind of “got” what they were going for. But those first few should have been trimmed, especially “Hall of Mirrors,” by at least a verse. Yikes.
Interesting sound. I had no idea who these guys were but apparently they're set to join the rock and roll hall of fame. I'm not sure I'd go that far but they have some catchy beats. I think I could probably play this as background music for a party or get-together and it wouldn't seem out of place. Not sure I could wear out a cd listening to it though. Europe Endless sort of epitomized the whole album - cool underlying beat but annoying high-pitched or distorted synth layered in. Interesting that Trans-Europe Express mentions David Bowie because I was thinking this wasn't far off from some of his "artistic expression". Not sure who inspired who. Definitely grateful I got exposed to this album and these guys, but not going to be my go to.
I can appreciate how ahead of its time it was, but it sounds a little cheesy today. Decent.
Kraftwerk is a fascinating band. Sometimes I kinda like how primitive this sounds, other times it’s kinda cheesy. Sometimes this album is calming, sometimes it’s claustrophobic. This album is basically a soundtrack to a doc that doesn’t exist about the dangers of urbanization in Europe. It’s fascinating to think about what it must’ve been like to be born in Germany at the end of or right after WWII and then come of age and be like “wait…we did WHAT?!” It’s also interesting to think of how much music might not have existed if it weren’t for Kraftwerk.
Was kinda neat
5/10. I do not want to hear the words Tran Europe Express chanted at me ever again. Based on the title, I would have thought metal on metal would have been the most grating sounding song, but actually one of the more pleasant because I didn't have to listen to them chanting some bullshit. Still, looking past the speaking bits, the music was pretty enjoyable.
Not exactly my kind of music, but it grew on me. I kinda dig the minimalism.
3.5/5
Do like kraftwerk but it does get a little repetitive
The opening track is great. It's insane to think that this was released in 1977 which is the same year The Clash and The Sex Pistols' released their first (only) album. Meanwhile, in 1977 the bars I was going to preferred to play that other 1977 release: Bee Gees' Saturday Night Fever. It sucks to be us! Hall of Mirrors follows and seems a little off tempo. Perhaps if I didn't listen to Siousie & The Banshees' amped up cover version first I would not think this. Kinda like how I started thinking Paul Anka's My Way was a little off tempo after hearing Sid's cover. The tempo picks up again with Showroom Dummies and the title track starts off Side 2 and keeps the goodness going. Then, much to my surprise, Franz Schuber starts. Did I lose two songs somewhere? One could say this now sounds dated, but these guys deserve kudos for bringing out these tunes in the late 70s so I feel one of their offerings should get bonus points. Arguably a subsequent album (such as Man-Machine) is more deserving.
Agradable de escuchar. Medio electrónico. Sintetizadores.
I set out wanting to hate this album, but I really don't. The instrumental pieces just kinda sound like my kids are playing video games in the next room and sounds (at first) like something I could recreate in Garage Band in about five minutes. But - to my surprise - the vocals actually make these seem more like songs, not just guys playing with the synth buttons on their Casios. And - this clearly influenced a lot of popular 80s music and there are remnants of it in more recent bands (Daft Punk). I don't hate it like I thought it would, but it's still not really my bag. "Showroom Dummies" is cool. Ends on a real weird 0:56 song.
Future vibe
To be honest, this album is kind of boring. Very minimalistic, with songs that chug along repetitively. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure it’s a landmark of electronic music, but I’m not going to sit and listen to this every day.
Very different but kinda fun.
3.5
A beyond important project. I’m not too well acquainted with early electronic works. Besides a few acts. But the LP is a illuminating journey into the synthesized world of Kraftwerk. Plunky at moments but the allure and entrancement of such early use of a technology is there.
New to me but I thought it was interesting and put me in a reflective mood
Listening today it’s all just a wee bit flat and tedious. That might appear sacrilegious but it doesn’t change my respect and appreciation for the importance of this album.
this is a lot like riding a train, it's a lot of the same thing for longer than you really want it to be.
An important, minimal, almost bare bones effort. The shape of magnificent things to come but just not quite there yet.
Important and influential but leaves me cold
I ugly cried to this one... I don't think this was related to the music, but it was a somewhat co-ordinating sound for a weird lash out... forever cherised
This album reexports a pureness in sound, didn’t mind it at all for a little change
I thought it was decent enough electronica, but I couldn't really get into it. I wouldn't mind having it on in the background, but it felt rather repetitive at times.
Pretty cool
Semibängeri Helt skön electro men långtråkigt i längden
This I like - 3
Other Liste
Good and trippy for 1977
It is electronic. Nice to explore another genre, though admittedly it was pretty repetitive and i couldn't figure out what makes it compelling. Nothing too catchy or gets you moving. Still fine, nothing to push the listener away.
A little sparse for my taste, but it's interesting to hear the samples used and the influence on later music.
Pretty chill. Some really good tunes on here.
Trippy
that little repetitive beep beep beep pissed me off so samey the whole way through. but kind of enjoyed it
It's close to being my style, but it isn't.
Fav Song: Franz Schubert
An album carried a bit by the quality of its first song, but it's so ahead of its time that you can't help but admire it.
I’m sure it very influential and all but to sit and listen to... meh
Good mellow electronic
A little too repetitive for my taste (ironically) but it makes good background working music.
Weird old school techno like.
I guess I just dont get it. Beeps and bops and a looped rhythm. Who is the target audience for this?
Я люблю трансов
maybe I'm just burnt out from electronica, but this was just a long series of disconnected beep boops I couldve gone without. Like early 90's midi music that shouldve stayed undiscovered. I cant point to anything I like, unfortunately, but its not the worst thing I've heard. I feel like its something that was meant to be shared with friends or close fans only.
I normally fuck with Kraftwerk but this did not do it for me. Sounded like kindergarten plink plonks. Barely made it through
Too techno and too repetitive for my liking. I’m sure they were influential to others. , but I don’t like this kind of music.
Like an 8 bit video game. Also computah love is from a song.. which one.. TALK by Coldplay! That’s a fun pull. But I didn’t like it still.
I can understand how this was influential. I might have even enjoyed some of it. But the tracks are endless, but not like a danceable disco beat. Like the train, it keeps plodding along. I was ready for it to reach the end of the line.
Not sure what I am supposed to get out of that, but it wasn't enjoyment.
the only decent song was the first one. too many boops and beeps 2/5
I like electronic music, but Kraftwerk is normally too repetitive for me, which is the case for this album too. My favourite track on this album is Franz Schubert.
#464 / 1089 Heard before? ❌ Revisit? ❌ Haven't really been a fan, thus never really listened to their albums in full. I listened, nothing stuck. To me this plays like a demo of something they're going to fill out later but forgot. It's not crap but 2/5 🤷♂️
Well, I’m glad there’s a song on this album named endless endless because that’s exactly how I felt about the tracks focused on the Trans Europe Express theme. Not my favourite of their work which I’ve heard. I guess this album is why I historically thought I didn’t like Kraftwerk.
One of those albums that I feel like I'm really supposed to like, but in reality I'm bored to tears by it. It's obvious how much influence this group had on future electronic music, but I just don't get a lot of enjoyment out of listening to it.
Heard before?:❌️ Will listen again?:❌️ I don't get it. I mean I understand that they were something like the Beatles for Electronic music, laying a lot of foundations that artists even decades from now still profit off. But I just don't get how someone can just decide to turn Kraftwerk on without being told to
Can't deny their importance to electronic music as a whole, but it's all moved on significantly, listening to this now it can sound simplistic, childlike and almost comedy in places. That being said some songs still hold up purely on the underlying song writing strength.
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: The Hall of Mirrors, Trans-Europe Express-->Metal on Metal-->Abzug Right so I seem to be working backwards on the hook in TEE/Metal on Metal/Abzug. First, many years ago, I saw the scene in Swordfish where Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry go to the club and the remix version of the hook in the above three songs is playing. Terrible movie. Anyway, the remix version of the song (or at least the hook) is playing and was used by Afrika Bambaata on Planet Rock, which I listened to several months ago (it's on the List). Finally, I've arrived at Kraftwerk, where the song and the hook, as far as I'm aware, originated from. The tune is just as funky both of the other times I've heard it. Beyond the titular song, the only other song I really liked was The Hall of Mirrors; specifically, the music itself. I could really do without any of the lyrics. In fact, I would give the album a higher score if it was just entirely instrumental. I really don't care for this. Again (as I've mentioned in my other Kraftwerk review), I recognize the importance of this band as a milestone for the electronica genre (and I guess to a lesser extent, music in the club scene), but I don't have to like it, and don't. It's way to retro-futurism. It reminds me of blue and pink neon, synthwave visuals, like Tron and fucking Weird Science. I'm just not terribly enthused with the idea that this passed for interesting music that people actually listened to.
On the second song and can already tell I don’t love this as much as The Man-Machine, which was my very first 5 star selection here. This has a different vibe and it’s fine, but I don’t feel as compelled to listen to every full song.
Mustn’t have been in the mood for this today. It just went on and on.
Moyen
Very weird. Some of it great. Some bad.
--Europe Endless...it's pleasant. solid background music --The Hall of Mirrors...foreboding atmosphere. I should play this track for trick or treaters at Halloween. --Showroom Dummies...again, it's fine as something in the background. But, as an active listener, there's not enough deviation in the material to be six minutes long --Trans-Europe Express...good beat. more of a headphone track than background music (complimentary) --Metal on Metal...of course the slickest beat on here is only two minutes long --Abzug..."Metal..." melds into this. unfortunately making them both feel like one overlong track --Franz Schubert...cool sound collage. this is "brighter" than preceding tracks, for lack of a better word. repetitive but somewhat invigorating --Endless Endless...short outro
Europe endless - 2 The hall of mirrors - 2 Showroom dummies - 2 Trans-europe express - 3 Metal on metal - 3 Abzug - 2 Franz schubert - 2 Endless endless - 2
Sounded like a video game soundtrack half the time. Some of the songs kind of worked for me (Europe Endless) but most didn’t. I didn’t realize that the famous “Planet Rock” sample was from this album so that was as fun.
It's not quite got the fun, fun, fun on the autobahn of their best work, in fact after a very solid opener, it's really quite foreboding. And of course, as it goes on it's just very repetitive indeed and you're basically waiting for it to finish.
Had its moments but I preferred The Man Machine to this Kraftwerk album. The lead singers voice doesn't do it for me.
ehhhhhh, it was okay as noise, but most songs got repetitive too quickly, dragging on too long
Not for me (in the same way Daft Punk is not for me)
naja. spannend, aber naja
German voiced background music for 80s fantasy or dark sci fi. Ugh.
5 / 10
Can usually rate an album by how much I have to skip it based on it annoying me. This barely scrapes a 2
Zeer veel herhaling... Ook veel samples gehoord die elders gebruikt zijn...
90s electronica continues to not do it for me
I really tried with this album, but for the just part of sounded like someone hitting a keyboard in their bedroom
2.5 Not my thing, most of the songs were far too long and very repetitive
I always struggle with this band because I understand they're influential and all of that but listening to an entire album is a tedious struggle. To me it's like listening to an electronic Grateful Dead record. I don't like the Grateful Dead.
Stop trying to make Kraftwerk happen!
First song was cool, then didn’t bother with the rest
6/10 - Really cool sounds but ultimately didn't stick with me. It was really cool to see the album go through different movements however! Fav Tracks: Europe Endless Heard before? ---–- ❌ Saved a Song? ----- ❌ Saved Album? --–-- ❌ Will Listen Again? -- ❌ Album Cover -------Looks like a golf club
These guys are masters of their art, but this list does not need more than 1 Kraftwerk album. Their influence is profound, but that influence resulted in a lot of soulless and not great music. A 2.
Juu ei oo mulle.
It's like Devo if they were boring, and sucked. I like prog amd I like electric, but this is my least favorite version of either. This is NO Jean-Michel Jarre. Its like the German Daft Punk, which is to say its terrible.
Just... nonsense slop. It was painful to get through but it was alright to listen to I guess.
Sullen robots are not my thing
I realize that Kraftwerk is considered an enormously influential band - probably quite rightly so - but in my opinion, their achievement lies less in producing great albums and more in exploring new territory and experimenting. I think it’s excusable that their musical vision sometimes falls by the wayside in the process. However, there’s no need to listen to the albums today - it was enough for me to know the name Kraftwerk and recognize that they were important pioneers of electronic music. The albums sound exactly as one would expect based on this description: song ideas on the level of ringtones, monotonous arrangements, and string sections that are commendable in concept but completely botched. That was the case with “Man Machine,” and “Trans Europe Express” is no different in this regard. More suited for a music history freak show than for a best-of list!
Too electronic, tedious and repetitive. As I skipped through this album there were times I couldn't even tell I was on a new song because it sounded so much like the one I just skipped ahead on.
Not for me