The Man Machine

I like that I can hear bits and pieces of bands influenced by this album throughout. Kudos for that, not stars. Much of the album sounds primitive. It feels like a space invader movie soundtrack from the time period. I like it better when there are no vocals. I like Metropolis as a song the most, but that’s about it.

This reminds me of when Ross on Friends played his music.

I understand this, I appreciate why it's important, but I don't really like the minimalist songs, I don't find them listenable. I prefer the smoother, more harmonious sound that this led to with later Krautrock.

Not my type of music, but they are talented

2.5 stars. We kind of liked, but would not be able to listen for too long. The Model definitely favourite from the album

Pro: only six songs Con: with one exception, all the songs are over 5 minutes long Pro: being robots is cool (https://youtu.be/2IPAOxrH7Ro?si=Ac80pCdLK4rwtkoI) Con: these aren't really robots but just weird German dudes making boring bleep boop music in the 70's Congrats on being historically important or whatever, but this isn't music for people to listen to. At least, not this person.

Robotic electronic music, with occasional robotic german singing. Stand-out: Das Model

Lots of the same and not overly exciting. I give it 2 stars.

No more Kraftwerk, please. Really, please.

Overall it is not really my thing. It did grow on me a bit after the first listen. Nothing that really caught my attention on it, but I could see it being a good almost to listen to at work.

I'm going to guess that this album was significantly ahead of its time...but I also couldn't care less

STANDOUTS: n/a OVERALL: 2.5/5; just lots of horny, sinister, German, robot, Stranger Things synth noises. Which, I'm into, I fear.

Luke said it was mid

I have pretty much nothing to say except meh

meh. there were some good instrumentals, especially for ‘78, but lowkey singer needs to stfu

This was one of those where I can recognize all the craft (heh) going into it, but it's just not for me.

Surprised that I didn’t hate it, don’t think I’ll listen again

“Machine machine machine machine” doesn’t really do it for me lyric-wise

WE ARE THE ROBOTS ok and?

Not for me

Meep morp

não me pega

I'm afraid 1 finger synths don't do anything for me. An extra point for the couple of tracks that registered in my memory.

Ground breaking, these guys started synchro-tech.

Synth / electronic. Good melody's but shows age in the genre. long and at times repetitive. 6.8/10

Ahead of its time in 1978, this sounds very dated today. Again, Electronic Music is limited by the technology of the time. Kraftwerk was stretching the abilities of their machines to produce this, and their talent was quite evident. In 2024, however, any kid with Garageband on their phone could easily replicate this album. I'm surprised that this album was chosen from the Kraftwerk catalog. I would have expected the groundbreaking "Autobahn" or the often-sampled "Trans-Europe Express" instead. Two and one-half stars. Gaining a half-star because "Spacelab" was clearly the inspiration for the Police song "Invisible Sun", which I really enjoy.

Bonus for being ahead of their time. Bonus for some interesting sounds and artwork. The problem is that I would never purposely listen to Kraftwerk, and I don't really care for the repetitive electronic music they influenced.

Æi ... ég myndi sjaldan setja þetta í til að hlusta á af einhverri alvöru. Klassísk plata samt, kunnugleg, The Robots, The model

weird

A whole album full of hold music - WOW what a listen.

Not for me

Like an 80s video game soundtrack

Not bad. I can tell it's very influential. But I just didn't really enjoy most of it.

I feel like it’s the same with these electronica albums. There are some good moments, but I really can’t wait for them to end. 2 stars

Don't know how people enjoy this sh###t

Not for me. Sounds like robot music.

The model only good track

Thoughts before listening: Kraftwerk gets cited A LOT by music journalists as a forefather to a lot of modern music. In general I think I know what they sound like, but I've never sat down to listen to one of their albums. I'm expecting synth heavy instrumental music with a driving beat. Review: Well it's not all instrumental with a few songs having monotone almost robotic vocals. This sounds like a mixture of video game/sci Fi movie soundtrack music and early 80s European new wave like Thomas Dolby or Gary Numan. I'm sure Kraftwerk were a huge influence on both. Is it possible to understand an album's importance but also not really like it? That's what's happening here. I get that Kraftwerk were innovators, but I don't particularly enjoy the music they inspired. I will say that when their songs take on a more traditional pop form, it's a bit more enjoyable...songs like "The Model" and "Neon Lights" fall in this category. Still though, it's just not for me so I will give this 2-stars.

Not bad but really not for me. Electronic in general just can't hold my attention.

Different, very trippy

Kraftwerk is a pioneer of the electronic music genre. While "The Man-Machine" is said to have incorporated more danceable rhythms, this album is an industrial doldrum. Mechanistic, dull, and over repetitious, this is not for everyone. Likely from the same vein, at least this is better than the Einstürzende Neubauten album.

First I was hyped when I saw the length of the album. But I was less hyped when I saw the number of songs. But I was not discouraged. This seems like good study music but I was not feeling it. Songs were kind of boring and long.

There’s some good qualities here that are completely overpowered by the other moments that are utter rubbish. Can’t stand this 3/10

Pretty repetitive, some of it was ok though 4/10

The extremely rare feeling that technological improvement has made a piece of music redundant.

Just listenable but not terrible I guess

Today I learned that Kraftwerk is responsible for one of my favorite Flight of the Conchords bits; the opening track of this album is "We are the Robots", so that's pretty dope. This is not my type of music at all, but I can't deny that it's well done for what it is. Solid orchestration with some innovative (for the time) sounds.

Sorry just this is just boring

Only thing noteworthy about this to me is that it was released in the 70s. Boring version of Toejam and Earl sounding music.

More like 2.5 tbh.

Too reminiscent of Daft Punk for my taste (of which I hate per Grant)

Right from the first notes, I can tell this is not my thing. Trying to keep my mind open, I found that the weirdness of the first track kind of felt good until the morphed vocals started in - then I was out of it for the rest of the song. I enjoyed Metropolis more than other tracks, but little in this album interested me.

What an interesting one! I don't think I would put it in the rotation but it is mostly because there are now better options. Back in 1978 this must have sounded insane. I wouldn't flinch if this were a soundtrack on a throwback style video game that came out this year. Track reactions: 1 - It was actually pretty catchy but quite repetitive. Kind of funny. 2 - Sounds like chiptunes a bit in the beginning. I mean... it is pretty generic but it did feel like flying through space. 3 - Another tune that's pretty simple and repetitive but I had zero desire to skip it. We have our first lyrics! They didn't add much. 4 - This one is pretty goofy. I could see it being very meme-worthy in kind of a good way. 5 - For a long song, this one kept my attention for quite a while without me getting tired of the repetition. 6 - Another decent track. Repetitive. Sounds like it should be in a video game.

I’m sure it was innovative at the time. Just a bit repetitive

Only 36 minutes and it’s still far too long

Do I have to? Sigh. More techno. I’m jaded by yesterday’s jackhammer. Here we go. Ohhh. Music? Real music? So. It was ok and it was funny. It was early techno, which meant musicians were playing with new sounds and ideas. It was the grandparents of yesterday’s screaming baby on a plane, once again proving that in every family there is a dumpster fire. What yesterday and day before taught me…save my 1 stars when I need to use a zero star.

Electro, Techno, synthesis, etc. I think if I saw them on stage, I would enjoy their performance/ music more.

Some really nice background music, but also some really repetitive to the point of being annoying

Transhumanism doesn't always work out this is one case that fails to hold up over time.

innovators for sure and inspiration for years of sound. Fits with tech/syfy of the time. But i hope this type of techno pop does not return.

bunyi-bunyian dari masa depan

It's a perfectly fine album, I just got a bit bored by it, and in any other context than 1001 Albums it'd be a 3/5.

Just so

Kraftwerk has some good stuff, but not really in this album

⭐️⭐️baby electronica! I am betting AI could really improve the album dealing with Robots 🤖 and spacelab jams. If you are into it (EDM)- this would be a fun throwback. Tracks are LONG, some lyrics but the electronicia is the main. IMO it’s just ok - I enjoyed Herbie in the 80’s- but since this was before him, he must have been inspired by this band.

intro tickles my brain. can see how this would have blown peoples minds in the 70s. it still holds up but would not listen to any of these songs again.

Techno music, perhaps nice background but not for me.

Flight of the Conchords meets a dystopian 2024.

Not my style at all, hard to make it through!

A bit too languid

Not my type of music.

The first track I liked — did LCD Soundsystem sample this for Get Innocuous? The rest was pretty repetitive, although Track 5, Neon Lights was enjoyable. Not quite my cup of tea, despite the possible connection to LCD Soundsystem. At least it’s an album I haven’t listened to in the past few weeks — unlike Hendrix and Portishead.

Mom.... I'm scared.... Yeah, not for me. Its either indistiguishable or giving me anxiety LOL hard pass for me. not my style of music. 1.5 for me

It was good. Not super interesting by modern standards, although I respect how revolutionary it was at the end.

Boring, uninspiring. First two albums are strikeouts

Didn’t really care for it but I’m also not a fan of this genre in general so that’s probably why.

I don't really favour synth music, I think this is clearly influential but I can't see myself ever wanting to listen to this over something more sophisticated in the same genre and style.

Not my favorite. It has the beginnings of a Divo banger and then doesn't go anywhere. It never builds and never truly caught my attention.

This was almost a 3 but not quite there. Not sure I’d choose to listen to this. Maybe one or two songs. 2.75

This album is what I imagine mixing the Revenge of the Nerds, Stranger Things, SNES RPGs, and Halloween soundtracks would sound. This type of sound has become so easy to make it's easy to forget the effort put into this in its time.

Not for me

Can’t imagine anyone listening to this seriously. Some nice sounds that are reminiscent of retro video games.

Beep boop

La modernidad desde 1978 se veía muy analógica

Comments: Favorite tracks: Neon Lights Rating: 2/5

Als dit niet zo'n status had dan had ik 't al na 1 minuut afgezet. Hoe dan ook, eigenlijk gewoon kut, maar voor die tijd vast baanbrekend!

Tja, het is nog altijd overduidelijk Kraftwerk. En ik vind er nog steeds overduidelijk niet veel aan.

It’s not my type of music but I can appreciate the style of it and it’s is a kinda enjoyable.

Well it was marginally better than the last Kraftwerk album we had to listen to. I could at least see myself playing this in the background as I worked.

It’s definitely the roots to daft punk. So I cleansed by listening to “Around the World” 5 times

I get this is influential but boy getting through it is a slog

How are there 3 Kraftwerk albums on this list!? Dreadful… it is sonically interesting though, in a hypnotic way

Entertaining background music, but not my style.

Electronichy beats, some robot-ey vocals. Pretty uninteresting

mechanical and repetitive. good for pushing through some boring bookkeeping work. Not really my cup of tea. It felt like work listening to this.

I understand why this is so influential, and I respect the work, but it's not for me.

beep boop beep

Beep bop Im a machine.

i can like and appreciate some techno but this just did not do anything for me

I tried to enjoy this, but the repetition is just more than I can take.

Influential but hard to listen to all the way through

Not my style.

I wonder if these guys inspired Daft Punk. It's a little simplistic and repetitive. Again, what's with all these songs that are so long? Despite being named Spacelab I'm almost getting fantasy-electronica vibes. I kinda like this one, reminds me of the Veggietales theme? (probably still too long though) I'm surprised it took 3 songs before I started getting Tron vibes. lol, 2 minutes in and we start getting lyrics. I think this might be 3 stars if the songs were shorter, as it is too repetitive and long.

Some of these songs were just too long. They felt repetitive, and while I know the technology was groundbreaking at the time, overly simplistic. I liked the rolled r's on "robots" though haha

these songs do go on a bit, 5 mins feels longer than 5 mins

Música electrónica con sintetizadores muy repetitiva. Un tostón. Un 2.

Underwhelming compared to what I was expecting.

Not feeling it. I see what it's doing but it's not good active listening music, and it's not good background music either. Literally bleeps and bloops

Interesting Daft Punk vibes, but less fun. More robotic

Not my cup of tea at all

Previously listened to: Autobahn (1/5) I don't remember much about the previous album of theirs, but I think I liked this one better. It must have sounded pretty futuristic for 1978, but listening today, it sounds very dated. Again, some of it sounds like a cheesy sci-fi movie soundtrack. One track, I think Metropolis reminded me of the intro of an early 1980s pro wrestling TV show. Songs are repetitive though. Repeating "We are the robots" 30+ times? Yeah, we get it.

Meh

Kraftwerk really isn’t my jam, shitey bleeps and bloops

I get it. We wouldn't have any electronic genres were it not for the pioneering 'werk' of Kraftwerk. That being said, this record sounds like a drunk man from Deutschland doing karaoke over the music from Double Dragon. Two stars for legacy alone and nothing more.

I don't know. I never connected with this band. There's so little going on in these songs for me to get caught up in them. I prefer Young Marble Giants. Also three Kraftwerk albums seems excessive.

Track 1: What the fuck am I listening to. 2 mins in and I'm concerned about the next 4 mins. It still going... Track 2: More sounds Track 3: Sounds with some words Track 4: More words, I like this song Track 5: Losing interest Track 6: No comment

Kraftwerk- I like the synth sounds and how minimal the beats and tunes are but tunes should be shorter. Whole album could’ve been 15-20minutes long. The songs where the vocals “sing” an actual verse kind of ruins it. Man Machine was cool 2.5

I’m sure this album is somehow important in the right context, but I really didn’t enjoy it. 1.5

Extra star for making me giggle every time they said “ we are the robots”

Gut als Hintergrundmusik, sonst aber lame. Wohl eher kraftloswerk xD

I appreciate it walked so daft punk could run, but the tracks were mostly grinds.

This left me completely cold. It was so clinical and robotic, which is obviously the point, but not why I listen to music for the most part. I think they've been copied and iterated on so much that they sound really dated and cheesy now which surprised me. Thought I'd have liked this much more but thought it was a bit crap

Meh 🫤

I don’t see the appeal

Feels like watching an old sci fi movie. Meh.

Cat: probably pretty groundbreaking in 1978. It’s synth pop and can get repetitive but what they’ve done is actually pretty cool even today. The vocals/lyrics are kinda tough. The music is dancey and got a good groove. AJ: 🤖🌎 the “music” is ok but robovox is not for me. synth poop.

Me in junior high playing my digital piano with the 2-4 notes I added. “The Model” would’ve been one of my better pieces

Beep boop robot music

Edit: Downgrading this because it's one of my earliest albums, and I was being overly generous. It's not the worst thing, but Autobahn is way better, and I only felt like giving that a 3. I really hated the first song on this album, but it definitely picks up after that. I’d have to be in the right mood to listen to this again, but I’m glad I listened to this at least once. “Spacelab” is probably my favorite song on the album.

This is a significant improvement over the other Kraftwerk album on this list. These songs are both listenable and discernible from one another. There are actually some interesting parts here. My main criticism is that, although, for example, “The Robots” is a fun tune, 6 minutes of it is too much. It’s still a boring album, but it sounded alright. 2/5

Não faz meu estilo

Ricky ticky tocky

Found it slo, long and repetitive

2/5. I get the sentiment behind it because it’s not as unique as their earlier work, or even in general. It’s background music that annoys sometimes. There are some chill beats but I’d choose a song and then move on: The Robots, Spacelab.

Was a fun listen through the first time but lost most of its charm as I went back through some of them. Any of them with lyrics are dumb as hell and would’ve been better as a completely instrumental album. Metropolis reminds me a 90s video game soundtrack a little bit and I think this whole album would’ve made a decent soundtrack if they went completely instrumental. They needed a better songwriter/composer to make all of these cool sounding ideas into good songs. Also neon lights started off so well and was totally ruined by the vocals. “Sad!” -Bryce 👍: metropolis

okay so first listen at 9am...def not the vibe. the repetitive techno and electronic beeps are giving me a headache. I can def spot some parts that I will like as the day goes on. Some catchy hooks and clever lyrical storytelling. The fact that it came out in 1978 is also pretty cool. ok maybe not opening track lost its charm pretty quick... kinda gives uncut gems vibes with the whole super atmospheric techno that makes me stressed out vibe Overall, some catchy sounds, but the repetitive lyrics and sometimes annoying melodies made this an overall rough listen. SAD!

I'm not on-board with their weird shit.

I don’t think I gained anything from this but all in all it was just a humorous album. The aggressively German singing was amusing and not terrible.

Kraftwerk make me laugh. I think because I'd have actually liked them at the time, but listening to them 50 years down the line they've aged terribly. Cutting edge electronica music in the day that was shortly made obsolete by the hardware and software available. I feel like it belongs in a museum or something, which is most likely the reason it's on this list. Looking back without nostalgia though it's generally poor. Spacelab the only half decent track. The opener is diabolical. The singer sounds petrified and lacking self confidence when he's going for actual rather than computerised vocals. Not worth a 1*, but not a million miles off.

I'm sure it was groundbreaking, but it hasn't aged well. Just sounds like a german preteen's attempt to learn a DAW in 2023.

Innovative but really everything leads up to the model and then goes downhill.

Meh, not really my style. It reminded me of when Ross gets his keyboard back in Friends. 3/10.

Good vibe but a bit repetitive and not much for me to get attached to.

It's a tech-no from me

Too mechanical for me.

Cool production, weird lyrics

Just like a bunch a sounds

boring AF

The main takeaway from this record is that I wouldn't be able to survive in the year 3000 or whatever, because the music would be absolutely horrendous.

Interesting enough album, some of it sounded like am 80's video game. Can't see me choosing to play it again but I did quite enjoy it while it was on.

An interesting electronic album. Overall I thought it was okay. It’s pretty cool that these guys made this album in the late 70s. Seems like most electronic music is done with computers so this has to be one of the first of its kind. The beats were pretty decent. Somewhat simple but that’s not really unexpected given their era. Overall I wouldn’t revisit it but it gets some approval for being ahead of its time. 4.3/10

The Robots is the best song on this album. Also, I’m relieved it’s only 6 songs, 36 minutes long…. Beep bop booooooop!

Jingle jangle pingle bango. Atmospheric and cool to listen to in stereo but not for me

Lots of noises, kinda odd but good

Nah

I appreciate it for what it is but not my style at all, I see it for what it’s worth however . All modern music stems from breakthroughs like this one but i wouldn’t listen to it again

I know they are an important band and everything, but I just can't listen to more than 5-10 minutes. 2

It’s not poorly done whatsoever just not my fave

More my kind of thing but only one track worth a 2nd listen.

Música electrónica con sintetizadores muy repetitiva. Un tostón. Un 2.

This sounds like someone playing around with an electronic drum machine, but considering when it came out I can see how they were influential on techno and other electronica.

How many Kraftwerk albums are they going to force us to listen to!?!

Rather a silly album I thought.

Pysty kuuntelemaan jopa kahdesti läpi ilman kummosta tuskaa. Orkesterin tavaramerkki tuntuu olevan helvetin pitkät biisit ja saman kaavan toisto biisien sisällä. Ei kolahda ja ei mitään asiaa jatkossa omille soittolistoille.

Tämän jo sieti eikä kehtaa ykköstä antaa, heikko kakkonen

No more kraftwerk pls

I am not a machine apparently

Not autobahn

This really felt like at 80s album with the electronic sounds. It must have had an influence. I have no desire to listen to it again.

Je l'ai préféré l'autre album de Kraftwerk que j'ai écouté il y a quelques semaines. Il me semblait plus mélodique. Force est quand même d'admettre que leur genre particulier ne me rejoint pas (je suis capable d'aimer de la musique électronique d'autres artistes).

Not for me really

Last song a Jay Z beat

Better than the Beep boop of the last album (Trans Europe Express) but still not getting the hype. At least they figured out lyrics need to be longer than two words. Spacelab reminded me of the music on the space level of the NES DuckTales game.

wish i liked it more

No thank you

lol first impressions I was like yesss only 6 songs / 40 minutes I realllly did not like how it opened or closed. Just not my style. Reminds me a bit of video game background music and in the wrong mood (an irritable one) it would make me lose my mind. ESP The Robots and The Man Machine. after a second listen some of them grew on me. The Model was the standout but I liked Metropolis once words came into play.

Weird as fuck

If it was over 36 minutes, I don’t think I could have made it.

Couldn’t do it. Too robot-y. Not crazy about it but I didn’t really give it a chance. Not for me personally.

When someone says that they like kraftwerk, this is probably what theyre talking about. Its OK, heavy synth stuff and decent early electronica. 2/5

Better than Aotobahn, but that's.a pretty low bar,

I'd listen to this while gaming... If I was a gamer.

Sorry wasn’t feeling this. Kraft week is a band I feel like I should be in and just have not cracked.

Interesting, but not in my wheelhouse.

I don't like this kind of music, but it was interesting

Better than TransEurope Express, but the spotify radio shuffle after was much better

Calm down chaps, this is almost melodic.

Oxygène by Jean-Michel Jarre was released 2 years earlier and sounds more impressive in my opinion. Däften Pünken over here are very keen on stretching a 2 minute song to 8 minutes for no particular reason. "Neon Lights" is some CIA torture shit. I felt like I'd just ran a marathon after it finally ended. The robot voices are incredibly cheesy as well. Somehow a snoozefest and a headache at the same time. "The Model" saves this from a 1/5 - I don't know why, but I enjoyed that one.

Meh

While more accessible than other Kraftwerk, I still found it a bit backgroundy.

notable for their place in history, not their music

Interesting early electronic sound. Definitely contains the DNA of a ton of music that comes afterwards but I don't know if I'd sit down and listen to this willingly

Lots of electronic sounds

Beep boop 10 stars

It's not really my bag, but I can see why it's on the list. Model is a great track

I give it a 2 because I hear the influence in a lot of songs I like. Can't imagine going to a Kraftwerk show.

Pretty weird. Decent to have on in the background while working though.

Ne znan zašto san uopće poslušala budući da mi se prvi album nije svidia. Ni ovaj mi se ne sviđa, al vidin poboljšanje u odnosu na prvi album pa evo 2/5

I'm so sorry but I still don't get Kraftwerk, it doesn't speak to me. I understand why others do but I am utterly unmoved and ambivalent by their music. Soz

Electronic music is definitively not my cup of tea...However, after listening to it over and over again on this list, I kinda see what makes this type of song important for the music history and concepts at all. At least, this album is not completely annoying

Splinky Splonky noises. Felt like I was in a video game.

Too electronic for me

Lite tråkigt väl? Händer nästan ingenting och låtarna är jättelånga. Fick Human League-vibbar, några killar som precis upptäckt synten. Rimligt 1978, inte superspännande 2022. Kände dock igen slingan från The Model så himla väl, hade ingen aning om att det var Kraftwerk.

I've never actually listened to this album in full from start to finish. It felt a little like a history lesson, rather than a pleasant experience. I know that I'm suppose to adore Kraftwerk. I can't even pronounce their name properly. But I find it all a little... soulless. Sorry.

niche. interesting at times. overall i felt bored

hehe funny robot beepy noises

Not really for me but can see how they became so influential in the dance/elctro music scene

First Listen. I'm sure this was better in 1978. It isn't too bad today too. Enjoyable. Standouts: The Model 2/5 for now.

While I recognize this band as one of the best of their genre, this style of music doesn't grab me at all. It is a short album that could easily be played in the background at a bar or restaurant, but I could not get into it using my full attention.

It's alright?

It flew by, and I don't remember a thing about it. So it can't have been actively bad. But also not good

“Only a curmudgeon could reject a group that synthesizes the innovations of Environments and David Seville & the Chipmunks.”

bland as fuck in majority of the album. the model is very funky and nostalgic though

Listen I get that it's pioneering and all that but I don't really care for it. At least it was over quick. 5/10.

2/5 not my cup of tea at all

Устарело

Probably pretty revolutionary for electronic music, but wasn’t for me.

I can get why this was innovative at the time - hasn’t aged well at all though

I can hear how influential they were to 80s music hence the 2

Крафтверк есть крафтверк, не моё это.

Half the tracks here would be decent background music for a Cyberpunk game. The other half don't really go anywhere and don't have much going for them.

Idk skimmed through

On the first tone I thought of disco but I think the lyrics are weird

Not my fave. But I can see other people digging it's grooves.

Bueno... A ver, ok. Mola mucho ver cómo muchos de sus recursos y señas identitarias viven en algunos de mis artistas de electrónica favorito. Pero es un disco que apenas disfruto, seguramente por la ausencia de dinámica relevante en las canciones y un tempo bajo. Meh.

Na didn't like

didn't like the first song, had to skip it before the first half, In general I didn't enjoy the sounds, 2/5

Highlights: Spacelab, The Motion Simplistic rhythms, early sci-fi synths, sequencers before sequencers existed. This is early electronic, meticulously and judiciously executed. Obviously, Kraftwerk laid the groundwork for acts such as Daft Punk and Devo to follow, but also served as inspiration for the 80's computer demo-scene composers such as Skaven and Purple Motion (and later Future Crew). The problem with reviewing electronic music is that what was state-of-the-art then sounds primitive and dated by today's standards. Does it hold up? I dunno...You could probably put a caveman's wheel on your modern car, but it might not get you as far.

“The Man Machine” by Kraftwerk (1978) Love that cover art—Oh, wait. The American version doesn’t have German band members dressed in uniform shirts and ties standing in formation facing to the right (which is their left) in militarized synchronization, close-coiffed hair, mock feminine makeup, and grim expression, all but shouting “S.A., S.A., S.A., . . . !” Wonder why. I love German music. I played Kraftwerk’s earlier “Autobahn” over and over in 1974, driving my roommate crazy. Synth pop, the early days. “The Man Machine” represents a slight evolution, but the mechanistic composition/technical flair, so impressive in 1978 doesn’t stand the test of time. This is one of the main reasons why albums that rely on tech for their appeal don’t have the enduring quality as music. They are easily and quickly surpassed. Unlyrics that have only an ambivalent tinge of the political (“Я твой слуга; Я твой работник”) become passé in ten short years. Minimoog riffs become passé in ten short months, and the overall listening experience becomes passé in ten short minutes. Pretty well fatal for a 36-minute album. Anyway, plowing through it, one finds occasional delights: the comic (to English ears) German tongue roll on the word “robots” (“The Robots”); sensitivity to tonal range in composition; accelerating scales and arpeggios evolving into complex chords (at the beginning of “Spacelab” and “Metropolis”); careful attention to phasing between instruments (no easy feat, especially in 1978). But the vocals are poor—and they should stick to German instead of attempting English (“but the Marketing Dept. says, . . . “ or “Aber die Marketing-Abteilung sagt, . . . “). No, boys, “Autobahn” worked precisely because the minimal lyrics were in German (I’m still singing „Wir fahren, fahren, auf der Autobahn“ in mein kopf.). This is background music for assembly line work. Feeling-crushing monotony. Cool. 2/5

Entiendo que fueron novedosos, pero es un tostón repetitivo. Envejece mal

A surprising amount of high pitched tinny electronic music. The Model is cool, but nothing here really excites me or makes me want to explore this style of electronic music.

not such a fan

I am grateful to them for giving us Daft Punk via their influence but I find this music SO BORING!!!

Kind of cool sounds, but pretty boring overall.

Would be better on drugs

It may be historically influential but it has not aged well and just sounds hokey now. The tracks that have aged the best IMO are not the bigger hits (e.g., The Robots, The Model) but Spacelab and Metropolis, which have a clear influence on later (and superior) acts.

For me this is definitely an acquired taste thing, and boy have I not acquired that taste yet. Perhaps someday, but as of now, I can give credit where credit is due. This guys probably pioneered the early elctro-music scene or whatever, but this was a struggle to get through.

these guys have put out some good work but you would have to be on some good acid to listen to this full album in one sittin

Forgot to save my notes. Spongebob chrome episode. Very robotic and old school futuristic. Kinda grew on me but was the first one that I wanted to skip

Ok but not my type so it's hard to tell..

Okay, but not my cup of tea.

Muy raro, demasiado experimental. No me gustó.

I feel like I'm on Space Mountain.

Not for me

Don't like it.

Not for me

1/1

type shit co zrobis na garageband

Meh

Damals bestimmt wild. Heute naja...

I understand that this is pretty relevant and all and how it's themes are pretty ahead of its time. However, I don't think it was fun to listen to. Not my kind of beep boops ig Rating: 2/10 No Favorite song

Music for a low budget movie about wannabe hackers.

i understand its value as an influence and almost a premonition of the sound in electronic music, techno, synth pop and other derivatives, but as also happens to me with these genres, i cant find any connection with the music itself the songs keep adding and removing layers and playing with patterns and textures; again, i understand that this is the purpose of this work, to sound mechanical and artificial, but it seems to me that these machines are too far removed from the emotionality i expect in music so much repetition ans waiting for small variations makes it tedious to finish and difficult to enjoy, and my rating will reflect that

I hate it here. Maybe I don't appreciate this because technology has advanced now and a child could accidentally make this on the keyboard in their music classroom today. Electronic music must've been difficult to make back then. I acknowledge this is groundbreaking stuff. Just because you could, it doesn't mean you should. Dear lord how can something so revolutionary sound so drab? It was so dull.

Debe haber sido un viaje escuchar esto en 1970 y seguro que fue muy revolucionario, pero es muy dificil escucharlo entero, mismo es muy dificil escuchar una canción entera.

Malisimo

Muy robótico y futurista? It's not my cup of tea

This is the dumbest shit I have ever heard. How people get such a boner for this is beyond me.

I generally like electronic music but I stopped listening to this after 3 songs because I thought it was an annoying waste of time. I've tried listening to Kraftwerk on multiple occasions and this is always the outcome. Their sounds reminds you of just how fundamentally joyless Berlin and North Germany are as a whole. I think the word that sums my feelings on them is banal. I will never attempt to listen to Kraftwerk again.

Bored.

No.

nottttt a fave.

1/1

Wow that was tedious!

Not bad. No solid bangers for me. But good music. Not enough songs. 1.75/6 54.01%

Really tried to like this one but just didn’t have it in me. I liked being reminded of playing an 8bit game but I sadly couldn’t put myself in the headspace without a controller in my hand.

Yuck! DNF Best Song: N/A Rating: 1.5/10 Stars: 1

gross

Um, no.

Like listening to the background music from old video games.

I made some similar songs on garage band in 9th grade

I don’t take drugs so I guess I can’t appreciate electronica stuff. Just total rubbish

Neon Lights war ok. Was besseres kann ich nicht sagen.

The Model ist gut.

Not impressed

Not for me

absolutely not! soooo repetitive and pointless

Never heard of this guy or this album. Favorites: - Thoughts: Fuck this album too, this made me quit this thing for like a whole 2 months.

Beep boop, it's crap

not my cup of tea. weird electronic music.

I will always have beef with Kraftwerk. Don’t ask me why.

Movie soundtrack?

does the creator of this list think he deserves to live?

remember kids, you don't have to listen to shit music to fit in

Electronica is torture on my ears.

I’m sorry but I don’t get this type of music. Maybe I am to narrow in my music. Buuuut some beats where nice.

Hmmm linia melodică e prea liniștită și monotonă, didn’t like it

Experimental Dance from when synths were shit

It feels like I'm going insane at a dentists office.

Unlistenable

Didn't like this one unfortunately.

Not my vibe weird

Don't care for electronic music.

I only added one song (the model)only because I heard it before but other than that this album is not doing it for me.I mean it has its quirks and I guess I see this perhaps playing in a video game but I would not listen to this in my spare time,it low key has uncanny vibes eg if i heard robots in a horror game with that grainy ass quality I would kms on the spot because I would know the worst is coming my way.

What possessed you to make this 1st song - I have no words 2nd - not that bad ig but more movie sound track and not for me 3rd - again movie sound track not for me but better than the other 2 4th - spooky vibes I like this one 5th - video game music put this in Mario or Tetris asap but not for me 6th - sounds like he’s casting a spell on me the robots are taking over machine machine machine 1/6 ( the model )

1/5, it's something to someone, I'm sure, and it isn't hard on the ears at all times. I imagine it must have been groundbreaking for 1978. I imagine some electronica aficionados prize this album. But Holy Christ, was it boring to listen to. I will probably never play a single song on this album ever again. Weird yet inoffensive. Strange yet uninteresting. It's genuinely discouraging to think people bought this album after hearing it instead of something more melodically, harmonically, poetically accomplished, simply because of the novelty.

Never heard of it before.

no.

a little too out there for my liking

I don’t get it