The Man Machine

not terrible as such, just sounds like loading music for some like really pixely game like undertale or smth, it’s like if daft punk went wrong and very repetitive, im grateful for the length of the album lol

So bludclaating boring . It’s just like who would choose to go oh yeah I’m really feeling an even shitter version of daft punk . Horrid . Please never give me an album like that like ever again please

hmm hate it but i like the sound/tone, reminds me of the band erasure but like ass, like im two songs in and want to be done. okay just finished, yeah no thanks, first one and neon trees were my favourite but again songs should not be 7 minutes long, go away.

Nur The Model gut

One of the better Kraftwerk albums I've heard.

Yeah. I get it. Ahead of its time. I'll never listen again.

Legends

Yet another Kraftwerk album. These guys were the robots before Daft Punk came around, so I guess that's pretty innovative for the 70s. Recognized the model.

The distant future, the year 2000!

It wasn’t bad, I respect the album, but I would rather not listen to it.

An actual robot could do better.

To quote some dumbass reviewer “a bunch of German weirdos singing in robot voices about space lasers”. It’s repetitive and unlistenable and I hated every second of it. Ts ass ☹️👎

Honestly. It wasn't bad. I'd say it was good even. It's definitely showing it's age, but its got a lot of charm to it. Some songs do sound like they come from a shifty bootleg of mega man called kilo Tucker or something, but ultimately not bad.

bruh

I wish I could adequately describe the first time I came upon The Man Machine, and Kraftwerk in particular, for a haze has descended upon my memory. But I do recall the feeling, the feeling of having come upon something special. Something different, something transcendent. It helped me understand that electronic music isn't robotic or emotionless or devoid of stylistic variety. The Man Machine can be a rather emotional experience, especially the penultimate track Neon Lights whose last five minutes or so still sends me down a neon whirlwind. It's uplifting, in a way. The Man Machine may (or may not) be a celebration of the simple seeming structures of life and what it also is is the continual peak of Kraftwerk's powers.

Is good! I found myself getting more into the more gradual parts like Neon Lights, has a very nice spacy feel to get into. I think I prefer TEE but I do still enjoy this. Is also one I feel that has a shadow cast on it from all the music it inspired afterward. It does sound like I'm playing some 90s European point-and-click game at times.

It feels like Im playing a SNES game with 6 different levels.

more like mid machine

The better of the two Kraftwerk's I've heard so far. Not my preferred style of music, but I enjoy the presentation, sound, and feel.

8/10 A lot brighter and fuller than the record before this, I’m still scared of Germans

OG shit

Incredible

would listen again 4

I’m normally not a big electronic music fan. I happened to listen to this one with headphones and it was a completely different experience. The engineering on this is incredible. Still not something I’ll listen to regularly, but I can appreciate the art.

Everyone has heard and enjoyed songs from this album. The new sounds created for it are still in use today!

This album sounds like I’ve been stuck on hold with HSBC customer service for 36 minutes.

This album sounds like what people in the 70’s thought the future was going to sound like. Which is fine, it is just a bit goofy about 45 years later. I’m sure this was super influential for those in the electronic music space. I have no doubt that there is some linear connection between Kraftwerk and Daft Punk all the way through Skrillex and Avicci. That being said, electronic music generally isn’t my jam and well… a record of futuristic space sounds isn’t going to make it onto any of my playlists any time soon.

Was a much more enjoyable listen than I was expecting after our first Kraftwerk album. I think the difference in length might be the biggest boost with this playtime being right in that sweet spot. Got Stranger Things theme vibes throughout and from time to time I felt like I was a computer hacker. Might be good as some background music but I can’t say I’d seek it out specifically.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiZ6rwaEBTc I'm glad this album is on the list. It's stuff like this that I want to discover. It's weird, it's different, it's something that I've never heard before, and it's not another Britpop album. That being said, I'm not that crazy about it. I really liked "Neon Lights" but none of the other songs did anything for me. That song is probably a 4 for me, but every other song is a 1.

We are the robots

A little goes a long way

Like this a lot, very cool sound. Can't believe this came out in 78, and they'd already been doing this for 4 years.

I don’t know what it is but I just love picturing these Germans making their weird music in Kling Klang studio. Kraftwerk generally does it for me and that holds here. The Model and Neon Lights were standouts.

Robot music

Kraftwerk is essential for anyone exploring electronic or video game music. The only song I don't absolutely adore is "The Model", but the rest of the album is just fantastic.

Funky beats!

Maktet bare høre to sanger

This is just do t 'get' i suppose... I hate saying that but it's true here

A classic album, deserving of 5 stars. It’s the Kraftwerk album, that I listen to the most. One winter in Tokyo got me hooked on this album, finish teaching at a German pharmaceutical conglomerate, headed home, walking though a snowy park, having a road chu-hi and then on to a somewhat crowded train this was my soundtrack.

Es ist ein Album und es hört sich gut an - 4 Sterne

Geiler Sound. Beep Boop

good

Like Autobahn, between 3 and 4…

Appreciate their legacy, not a music expression I’ve ever enjoyed. 3 ⭐️ for the innovation and introducing the style.

F’ing A, if you know what I mean

I wanna be these guys

one of the albums and bands of all time

I liked it. Must have been fairly groundbreaking at the time. Highlight was the track that Coldplay sampled

yes please

Nice to drive to.

The godfathers of Electronic music. We must be very grateful for Kraftwerk, who triggered a whole new genre & new culture . This album is very raw and primitive if you compare it to electronica music of the current age, but remind yourself what cars we were driving, what other music was around, and what life was like in the late 70’s this gives you some context on how advanced their music actually was

I was going to give it 4 stars But the computer made me give 5 Bleep Bloop

I'm not a big bleeps & bloops guy, but the man machines found a way to make them sound pretty decent here.

Damn talk about influential. Literally every motif that shows up in here reminds me of another electronic song or video game music or some kid uploading songs on SoundCloud. I just wish it was a little more vibrant? Exciting? Different? I dunno it’s lacking something.

Love Kraftwerk, this one took a while to click weirdly though. Perfect robo-pop

More like a background music for 90s video game than something to enjoy listening. Interesting list entry never the less... 2/5, but extra star for innovation since it was made in 1978

Surprisingly good in my opinion.

No man, you're thinking of "bee-boo-boo-bop, boo-boo-bop."

Epic

Not my cup of tea. Seems very repetitive and dull

I'm not much of an electronic music fan, especially this bare-bones and repetitive. I can appreciate its place, though.

Very weird…I don’t think I get it

Might have been revolutionary, but decades of progress have marched far beyond. A lot of jarring sounds, I wasn't comfortable listening to this and I love a lot of EDM.

Great historic significance and very innovative for its time. However, it’s extremely repetitive and a lot of the tracks just don’t have very interesting beats/melodies. While not unlistenable today, it has obviously been outshined by its contemporaries.

Wtf is this. To repetitive

Kinda weird, kinda feels like you're in outer space, or maybe a video game. I love all the twinkly crystalline sounds. It's a little drone-like and fun to dance to. I can definitely see their influence in modern music, it's like primitive synth-pop. Favorites: - The Model - the second half of Neon Lights - first half of Man Machine 5/5 someone needs to sample this

Incredible album. Effortlessly minimalist in the best possible way. Rewards close listening, but also very enjoyable to have on in the background while doing work. Love the textures of the synthesizers. Spacelab and Metropolis were especially standout tracks.

Beep bop boop heavy on the bop

I'd encountered kraftwerk before but I haven't given them much of a listen - I like what I see. Robots is a cool opening track that sets you up for album well. The unrelenting synth part at the beginning of Metropolis remind me of "Welcome to the Machine"; I think it's best used sparingly but I like it in small doses. I have definitely heard "The Model" somewhere before. This album is trancey, textural, and fun. I could imagine coming back to it in the future

Pretty fun electronic album, the sound design is incredible especially when you consider the release date. Vocals are a touch awkward at times and let a couple of the songs down, such as the opener, which wears thin pretty quickly. Metropolis or Neon Lights are the standout tracks. The album doesn’t overstay its welcome and doesn’t waste any time feeling like the completion of a clear and concise vision. That being said it’s not really something that I’ll be coming back to at the moment, it didn’t really scratch any particular itch for me. Although I can appreciate its cutting edge sound and well crafted songs. 3/5

This was a wonderful album. Don't take it seriously, though. It's all a joke. It's fun, and it's supposed to be.

I sure appreciate it for the impact it had on the evolution of music given that it's one of the first fully electronic albums, but I really struggled to enjoy it

Som en elektrisk och fin feberdröm

Catchy, simple but not boringly repetitive as some may suggests. Feels ahead of it's time

Nope. Never again.

Not quite as cool as I had hoped

Daft Punk vibes. I read that Kraftwerk killed it at Coachella this year

Fun!

Bit dull

Eins, zwei, drei, vier. Perfect. Immaculate. Pristine.

4- Stars (10/15)

If you like “Cars” by Gary Numan or the “New Traditionalist” DEVO aesthetic, then look no further than this album! Fun for the whole family and a sample-rich environment for hip hip-hoppers!

This is clearly innovative for it's time, but I could not get into the sound. Just kind of flat, boring, and a little annoying. I've been listening to Balanscu Quartet plays some of the pieces for years. It was neat to hear the originals, but I prefer their versions.

While influential, Kraftwerk just doesn't appeal to me.

It was fun. Surely great for its time when it was made.

Rather charming.

I could see this going hard back in the day. Overall, solid early synth stuff. Good clean tones.

Is it repetitive, yes. Is it interesting, yes. Did I enjoy it? Sure. Forward thinking for 1978, sounds right at home as a video game soundtrack or late night drive. I enjoyed hearing this and linking it to modern Electronic music that has obvs taken inspiration from Kraftwerk.

Yes, OK, you are the robots, we get it....

Kaum zu glauben, dass das von 1978 ist 😳 Wirklich „ahead of it‘s time“ wenn man bedenkt, wie viele Elemente daraus heute noch zu finden sind. Gleich noch Tour de France angehört

It's mind-boggling that this came out in 1978 as this could easily be released 20 or even 30 years later. Probably part of the foundation of a lot of electronic music we hear today.

Kind of grew on me. But not really my cup of tea. They seem like they were the pioneers of this sound and daft punk came along and did it better. So I feel like maybe that's why. Like If my kids watched the Chris Pratt jurassic park movies and then watched the original they don't appreciate it as much as I did when I was younger.

Ja dit is dus echt fucking vet he. Dit komt uit 1978!!!!! Doe normaal!!! Dit klinkt zelfs nu nog als futuristische stuff... God, die outro van Neon Lights, zo bizar hoe vet dit is. Gaat ook minuten lang door. Muziek is emotie, en ik voel me nu gewoon een soort robot/alien ofzo. Of in de Matrix. Dit album is spacey, trippy en zelfs nu nog gewoon niet gedateerd. Ik ken kraftwerk als naam wel, maar heb nog nooit een album van ze geluisterd, ik ga daar nu verandering in brengen want ik ben echt enthousiast. Album is ook niet te lang met slechts 6 nummers en 36 minuten in totaal. Ik kan niet echt een nadeel bedenken; 5 sterren KOMT IE DAN! Oh mijn god, ik heb later de Duitse versie aangezet en dat is echt dus de betere versie. H O L Y S H I T! Super trippy, futuristische elektronische muziek; het bestaat nog, in een zee van rock! FAVO: The Robots, Metropolis, The model, Neon Lights

I don't like Electronica. However, the German accents were fun.

Great pioneers of electronic music

Amazing background music

By the end I was definitely convinced they were a robot. This was a great album without these guys I can tell Daft Punk might not exist which would be a terrible world. Sonically, the album was never boring and I enjoyed the early use of synthesizers, clearly everyone else did as well considering they are pretty common place nowadays. The production was sweet, the songs were entertaining, that’s pretty much all I could ask for. Favorite Tracks: The Model, Im A Robot, and Neon Lights.

Electronica

I don't know. Didn't know how to feel about this. Didn't hate it but didn't feel anything for it either.

The trappings of this album are still prevalent in electronic music to this day. A great listen when performing mindless repetitive tasks. Very fun.

Just not for me

Norm

Maybe I was a bit harsh on my last Kraftwerk rating. The first one I had was a '77 album. This one 78' I should keep that in mind when listening to it because this was a pretty novel sound at the time. This pre dates Daft Punk in the world of synth music. And they're German! ;) 3 stars.

The precursor to some amazing music like depeche mode and new order…

Hits me like a movie soundtrack to a 90's dystopian scifi story.

on feeling for this

Super cool. It's neat hearing the beginnings of EDM. I enjoyed this one quite a bit.

Very cool album. Fun listen.

Not terrible but can't really understand the appeal, there's not a mood or situation where I could imagine wanting to listen to this album. Very repetitive.

point9.

Sure

Ну это гораздо лучше чем Autobahn, за это и лайк

If you're new to Kraftwerk, The Man-Machine is a good place to start. They definitely moved in a more pop direction with this album but still kept their futuristic and experimental style. I really like how the album has this underlying theme of how humans and machines interact with advancing technology, and it also creates this feeling of being emotionless. It’s interesting to think that this futuristic, mechanical world they created is now in the past, with everything becoming more digital.

eh not a fan

Ass. Why would someone listen to this. The model isn’t bad tho. It’s a shame cuz I like his voice but he barely fucking sings

Awful

I am definitely not a euro synth-pop new wave aficionado but this was better than I thought it would be.

This has been the hardest album so far for me to rate. Because, like, I did like it. But I don’t know if I would ever listen to it again at the same time. I can imagine no circumstances where I would sit down and think, hey I should listen to some Kraftwerk. And the more I spent listening to this album the more I was enjoying it, but at the end of it I’m still sitting here with no intention of ever looking back at it. So, 3 stars I guess?

That was pretty cool, I enjoyed it.

Headphones are a must!

It's not bad, but it's no Trans-Europe Express. "Neon Lights" definitely goes on longer than feels necessary.

Inspired horror movie soundtracks for years.

Ground breaking electronica, but unfortunately soulless and boring too

I get nothing from this music. To me, it is completely lacking in warmth and soul. I acknowledge and appreciate their musicianship, but it just sounds lifeless to me.

На цьому каналі, огляди на електронну музику з'являються доволі не часто. І насправді це не дивно, адже розглядати сучасну електронну музику у розрізі альбому, як цілісного твору, часто не є можливим - формат та культура споживання подібної музики є зовсім іншою, ну... принаймні зараз. Але так було не завжди, у епоху коли рок музика панувала у музичному просторі, першопрохідці у світі "компьютерного звучання", також слідували їх традиції випускати цілісні та концептуальні монументальні роботи. І кого, якщо не Kraftwerk, назвати найяскравішим прикладом цього підходу. Музику Kraftwerk до Die Mensch-Maschine, у розрізі тогочасної музики, навіть важко назвати музикою як такою. Це здебільшого був доволі мінімалістичний набір мелодій, які німці намагалися "витиснути" із тогочасних синтезаторів та секвенсорів. Фактично уся творчість Kraftwerk до цього альбому - це чистий звуковий експеримент, дослідження можливостей того що може дати їм техніка, та чи можна із цього зробити музику, яка б також вважалася мистецтвом. Тож те що Kraftwerk робили тоді було і залишається далеко не для кожного вуха. Та і будемо чесні, у порівнянні із сучасною електронною музикою, навіть мінімалістичною, у технічному плані - Kraftwerk просто не витримують конкуренції. Але якщо брати до уваги не тільки на форму, але і концепцію - творчість Kraftwerk є значно цікавішою та глибшою. І те, що теми які вони досліджували підуть далеко за межи електронної музики, та будуть надихати музикантів в абсолютно різних жанрах (привіт Radiohead) - тому доказ. Чому ж я відокремлюю Die Mensch-Maschine від усієї попередньої творчості гурту? Справа у тому, що саме на цьому альбомі, межа між їх ранньою творчістю та більш сучасною електронною музикою починає зникати. В цілях зробити свою творчість більш доступною та більш зрозумілою для широкого загалу, гурт почав робити більш ритмічну та майже танцювальну музику, що стане предтечею для майбутнього синтвейву. І що цікаво, вони це також зробили не просто так. Цим рухом вони фактично розмивають межу між людською та комп'ютерною музикою, демонструючи, що тепер це не музика "від машин для машин", а музика від "машин для людей". Та і взагалі, під сумнім ставиться саме поняття межі між "людиною" та "машиною". Цей альбом став справжнім маніфестом раціоналізму, навіть його обкладинка представлена у стилі радянського конструктивізму у всій його "чіткій практичній потворності", і наслідки якого ми можемо легко побачити, якщо подивимося на старі будівлі на лівому березі Київа. Саме через цю його відразну естетику, я і не люблю цей альбом, і часом, мені його навіть трохи огидно слухати. Але при цьому, не визнати його важливість та вплив на увесь музичний світ, я не можу - монументальна робота з якою точно варто ознайомитися, хоча б для розуміння референсів у сучасній музиці.

I enjoyed the minimalist electronic music "The Man-Machine" and "Space Lab" much more than the pop oriented "The Model" and "Neon Lights." Still a fun album.

=The Beatles

good

not my cup of tea. can’t really find much to praise. it probably sounded sick in 1978 but now it sounds like a baby using its first synthesizer. fav track: the model

"The Robots" reminds me of Endhiran by AR Rahman. Favorite track: the robots other picks: space lab, models, man-machine

Подозреваю, что для 1978 года - это было ооооооочень странная музыка, хотя лично я ассоциирую её с мелодиями, которые слышала в старых советских фантастических фильмах. Альбом короткий, но полноценный, это мне тоже понравилось.

Spennende, tidlig ute for sin tid, gøy at Jacob hadde hørt om det fra før

The Man-Machine ist das siebte Studioalbum der deutschen Band Kraftwerk und erschien 1978. Die Aufnahmen fanden im bandeigenen Kling Klang Studio in Düsseldorf statt, das zur damaligen Zeit technisch fortschrittlich ausgerüstet war und eine präzise Kontrolle über den Klang ermöglichte. Kraftwerk, bestehend aus den deutschen Musikern Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider sowie Karl Bartos und Wolfgang Flür, entwickelte auf diesem Album ihren charakteristischen elektronischen Stil weiter. Das Album ist sowohl in einer deutschen als auch in einer englischen Fassung erschienen. Es bewegt sich im Spannungsfeld von elektronischer Popmusik, Synthpop und frühen Elementen des Techno. Die Arrangements sind minimalistisch gehalten, wobei klare rhythmische Strukturen, wiederholende Motive und der gezielte Einsatz elektronischer Klänge das musikalische Gesamtbild bestimmen. Hervorzuheben sind Stücke wie „The Robots“ und „The Model“. Erstgenannter Titel zeichnet sich durch seinen mechanischen Rhythmus und den Einsatz verfremdeter Stimmen aus, was das Konzept von Mensch und Maschine musikalisch umsetzt. „The Model“ wurde einige Jahre später in der englischen Version auch kommerziell erfolgreich und gilt als einer der bekanntesten Titel der Band. Auch der Titelsong „The Man-Machine“ bringt das übergeordnete Thema des Albums – die Verschmelzung von Technologie und Mensch – klar zur Geltung. Inhaltlich greift das Album Themen wie Automatisierung, Künstlichkeit und urbane Moderne auf. Dabei bleibt die Sprache nüchtern, fast dokumentarisch, was durch die bewusst eingesetzte Kühle der elektronischen Instrumente verstärkt wird. Im Gesamteindruck wirkt The Man-Machine durchdacht und stilistisch geschlossen. Die Kombination aus technischer Präzision, reduziertem Klangbild und thematischer Klarheit macht es zu einem prägenden Werk innerhalb der elektronischen Musik. Es zeigt Kraftwerk in einer Phase, in der sie ihre Ästhetik klar formuliert und konsequent umgesetzt haben – ohne Überladung, aber mit nachhaltiger Wirkung.

Like

3.5 Stars

Well, I now know where Daft Punk got their sound from. This feels like a slower carbon copy of the synth from Daft Punk. They were the real pioneers!

All hail our robot overlords. What a fun record. I wouldn’t listen to this every night but it is a great reminder of the optimism of futurism in the 1970s.

Come on give me something good

Boring and repetitive, group chants of their unimaginative song titles. Innovative for the time but dull in retrospect

My sources tell me that they are the robots

Solid album; probably 4.5/5.0. Title track is mid, but you can hear Daft Punk and LCD in their sound

A classic. The sound created by this band in the 70s inspired and guided so many artists. A fun listen. Sidenote: My favorite Kraftwerk memory happened when they toured Canada in 2015. I went with my girlfriend (now wife) and brother in law (now ex). Show was mind blowing. Such a great visual experience and just fun all around. After the show, I asked my wife, who isn’t a huge music aficionado (she’s had the same 150-200 songs on her iTunes for the entirety of our relationship, and at least three of them are Shaggy) what she thought. She looked at me and said “what the hell did I just sit through?”. Rad album

Not bad but kinda boring

A bit like old school computer game music. You hear bits of Daft Punk and LCD Soundsystem and so many others in this. Dad Modell is a great single. Listened to the German version of course.

I love how to the sound moves. The layering of the sounds is fantastic and blends well. Like a sci-fi movie.

Such an important album. Pioneering electro work. Can hear the legacy in everything from club music, Rammstein, Owl City. In some places reminds me of 8-bit/chiptune. Sounds a bit naive by modern standards and the vocal performances are a bit choppy. Best track - The Model clearly, but will choose Neon Lights for playlist as it's a great new track for me.

Sounds like robots.

"Kraftwerk started the electronic music movement." -Elijah Wood

Cool Kraftwerk album but not my favorite

nah, no need to listen to this one and certainly not best 1001

Grayson liked Robot son

This gets a bit self-parodic, especially in the opener ("We are the robots," repeated ad nauseum over Kraftwerk's most bleep-bloop palette, is exactly how The Simpsons would have done it (and it is a little surprising that they never did it, given how easy a target Kraftwork would have been — simpsonsarchive.com lists only the Germans-buy-the-powerplant-episode and a throwaway line in "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish" as making only passing reference to the band — but perhaps this is precisely because Kraftwerk had already by this point adequately skewered themselves with the release of The Man Machine)). All that to say, this is still a good album that just feels a tad trite after the great successive triumphs of Autobahn and Trans Europe Express. Perhaps der komputermann cyborgs have compiled too close to the sun.

The first 90 minutes are incredible. The second 90 minutes are dazzling. It is not until the third 90 minutes that you start to suspect time has stopped.

hay que sentarse y escuchar

Kinda fun, but got pretty repetitive.

Really liked this album. Awesome electronic music, enjoyed the synths and mechanical sound additions. This is one album that felt a little too short. I was listening to it at work and it flowed very well together.

I thought this was gonna be lame before starting it but it started out pretty lit. I liked the sound but songs ran a little long for me. Dropped off a bit towards the end bit started out strong 5/10

Blah. I mean… SOOOOO INFLUENTIAL!! PIONEERING MUSIC!! AGAINST THE GRAIN!! DARING TO DARE!! PAVED THE WAY FOR FUTURE BRAVE MUSICIANS WHO ALSO STROVE TO VENTURE AWAY FROM THE STATUS QUO!! In other words… meh. What even was this? Oh well. I’ll forget about it tomorrow.

🤖🤖beep🚨🚨🚨boop🤖🤖 this is a vibe with a good pair of headphones. Cheesy but I love them for it. Obviously repetitive but I think that's just the genre. If they could only sing Neon Lights would be such a good song

Like a lot of bands, I think they peaked with their debut.

Seeds of Daft Punk here - nice to have on in the background as I got some stuff done around the house

At this point in their discography, you pretty much should know what you’re “getting” with Kraftwerk. This album doesn’t deviate from the band’s usual critiques of robotic intelligence, industrialization, and conformity, still applying stiff yet innovative synthetic sequencing to drive that message home. If anything, Die Mensch-Maschine is maybe where these themes are the strongest they have ever been. While Kraftwerk have always been theme-forward, this album strikes a balance between being *only* driven by theme, and writing actually catchy songs that can be listened to as songs, all while still experimenting with the latest gizmos and gadgets. Songs like “The Model” and “Neon Lights” hold up under their own weight, while “The Robots” and “Metropolis” work both as pithy commentary and catchy pop tune. Similarly, “Spacelab” and “The Man Machine” are simultaneously experimental electronic suites and strong compositions that you can casually listen to, even if those experiments are just tightened up versions of previous experiments that can finally be executed flawlessly now that the technology has caught up to the band’s vision. For Kraftwerk, Die Mensch-Maschine is a success, and gives you everything you could want out of the band. Or, better put, it gives you everything Kraftwerk could want out of Kraftwerk. It is a Platonic Ideal of a Kraftwerk record, in a sense. While a very good album in its own right, though, to me, it lacks the ✨je ne sais quoi✨ and ✨magic✨ of Trans Europa Express. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this record. I like it quite a bit! Comparing it to their material pre-Trans Europa Express– which is almost entirely theme-focused experimentation with a complete disinterest, or maybe even complete disregard, for songwriting itself– this is a huge leap forward. It’s the best version of Kraftwerk pre-Trans Europa Express. And yet, because it lacks the SONGS of Trans Europa Express, I can’t help but feel it’s a weaker album. Sure, this album has songs, but while songs do have a seat at the table this time compared to, say, Autobahn, they are not allowed to speak up as much as the themes and the experimentation elements. By focusing again so strongly on theme and experimentation, I feel like Kraftwerk loses something that made their last album so special. No matter how hard I try, I can’t really listen to Die Mensch-Maschine for pure enjoyment; I always have to put my thinking cap on and dissect the message. There’s a time and place for that, sure, but it’s hard to appreciate when I know there’s an album that explores the exact same things with the exact same message that also can be enjoyed purely as a fun pop record. For all its artfulness and flawless execution of the band’s vision after nearly 10 years of attempts, at the end of the day, it feels like Die Mensch-Maschine is trying too hard. But again, that doesn’t in any way mean this is a bad record. It’s a very good record, actually. But it’s lofty, and great records sometimes buckle under the weight of their own lofty ideas. For my money, I would’ve skipped this and highlighted Computerwelt instead, which adds in new themes and new experiments while once again centering pop sensibilities, and may actually be the more influential record overall. But that’s just me. I still enjoy Die Mensch-Maschine a lot, but will always grab Trans Europa Express first.

Ah, the first electronic album to be recommended to me. This is exciting. I love this era of electronic music because it truly was the wild west. "EDM" didn't exist in the same sense that it does today and artists were experimenting with different sounds, rhythms, and instruments. This was very interesting.

When the robots take over our world, they will throw a big party & allow us to join in the celebration. There will be a huge area (a sign will read Humans Allowed) with colored lights, beverages, pizza & the music on this album will be playing as the robots encourage us to dance as humans dancing greatly amuses them. I suggest you dance I know I will.

This is my kind of music. I can hear the early versions of Blue Monday, Daft Punk and others

Musically, it's fine, not especially interesting in the context of 2025. It's inclusion on this list is only because of it's historical importance, which makes me wonder if this is just a list of important albums, rather than a list of albums that remain great after their cultural moment has passed.

Proper Good Album this like

Repetitive. Maybe transformative for the time. Doesn't hold up today.

5 ⭐

Cute but not for me. Not fascinated by robots. Or synth.

very funky, recommended to a friend and they already knew it

I feel that one day in the early 90s a couple of french DJs stumbled upon this album and decided to crib its entire aesthetic and thus Daft Punk were born. Proto-roborock never sounded so good or so human.

Masterpiece. Space lab goated

Hmm, pleasant

a n s t r e n g e n d

German industrial electronic music. It's well done, but not really my thing. Also very repetitive. Each track is also much longer than it needs to be. I'll pass. Best song: The Model

I don't really get this kind of music, until i put in the frame that this must have been mind blowing when it came out in the 70's. As far as it being interesting to listen to, very interesting. Enjoyable to listen to... Musik keinen Spaß macht.

Classic early electronic city music

This is better than I thought it would be after the opening track. These guys seem like total weirdos but I like it.

So dull

It was just ok for me. Kraftwerk definitely has a unique sound, but for me, there was not enough variety within the album to make it interesting enough. Would not seek this one out again.

Did not like this is not my genre

I guess I can thank them for NIN and to an extent Radiohead, but this isn’t really for me. 3/10

There’s so many good albums out there, why is this one on the list?

Interesting stuff, and annoyingly catchy. 2.1/5 Fav song: Spacelab

Bad with a capital B

I gave this three songs to make me interested, and it failed. It felt like I was in a grimy underground European swingers club where everybody is wearing masks. I think that's the vibe they were going for? Not the worst music I've ever heard, but I was not a fan

Favorite Track: The Model

The model is a banger

I'm not one to usually enjoy electronic music, but "The Man Machine" from electronica pioneers, Kraftwerk delivers an album that sounds as fresh as when it was released in the late 70's. I'm more of a music traditionalist, so I wasn't looking forward to hearing this, but the future has spoken and it says, "chill out" and let the machines take over and create music we can all enjoy. Well, it's hard to argue with that at least under the skillful guidance of Kraftwerk.

One really cool thing about this record for me is hearing the Krautrock ancestry. That DNA combined with the heavy injection of dance rhythms really makes Kraftwerk such a unique act.

Beep beep boop badadaaaa

I loved this. It was new to me. Definitely on my shopping list now.

Good album even if I didn't really succed to get into it but I think it's a really good work for sure just not my taste.

The german accent is fucking excellent ptdrr we are ze rrrobots meeeeeetrooooopoliiiiis That album is weird but, oddly, i like it 4

Akin to synthwave, lot of melodies interwoven with pretty cool rhythms. Great instrumentation for 1978 but, however relatively boring and limited. Also 6 minutes of "WE ARE THE ROBOTS" over and over and over in the opening track was cool for the sci-fi era but it was so abrasive and frankly annoying. 3 stars on principal, cool groovy proto electronic music. Daft punk had to get inspired by somebody.

Real doohickey-ass, mechanism-ass music. It's priceless for what it influenced and where it stood in a historical context, but didn't age well -- like most early electronica. This could literally be played with the same passion and emotion and musicality by a computer--and if that's the point, why don't they just do that instead? Gets better near the end, but I still probably wouldn't listen to this again or choose to put it on.

Still trying to find my favorite Kraftwerk album. This isn't it.

3.5 stars

A lot of fun. Very nice melodies. Quite revolutionary for 1978

Sounds like the ground work to all of New Wave and everything Daft Punk has ever done

Really enjoyed Neon Lights and the title track The Man Machine, but the whole album actually hit the spot today!

While I didn't really jive with it, it's incredible this was made in the 70s.

Every time I listen to a new record I'm always thinking about what setting the music would be perfect for. Is this a cooking album? Is this a chilling by the pool album? Crafting? Anyone else do this? The only activities I'm coming up with on this one are: Hacking into a mainframe, piloting a spaceship, and dancing the robot. Since I rarely do these activities, I probably wont be revisiting this album much in the NEAR future. PS- Can I just say that these guys got a lot about the future right: "The Robots" is clearly about AI "The Model" is clearly about social media influencers "The Man-Machine" is a all too accurate commentary about how our smart devices have become an extension of, and thus intermeshed with, our personalities.

Awesome!

Super strange and super repetitive. But not an unpleasant listen. Some tracks (We Are The Robots, The Model) were actually quite catchy. I will not listen to the whole album again in its entirety, though.

There's a string of Kraftwerk albums that are like, foundational texts of all synthpop, and this is probably the synthiest of them, but it's also the one I like the least. It's still great to put on when you need to get into a certain headspace, though.

Sometimes you feel like you want to rate albums higher than they maybe deserve just for the history, but then I hear the pulsing, drilling opening riff to "The Robots" and I'm already losing my mind and shimmying my shoulders a little bit. Everyone who says "Kraftwerk invented techno" is wrong, but the DNA for most of the electronic music that came after that I love is all here. But in a way, the history doesn't matter. This album fucking slaps on its own and always will.

These Kraftwerk records feel liked they’re tapped from a private little universe that’s utterly personal, romantic, and difficult to imagine in any other form, a music expressed in gestures with the simplicity and honesty of a vivid dream. Swooningly perfect.

Love this. I have awarded the prestigious "best Kraftwerk album" award elsewhere, but this is damn close. Beautiful, precise tunes that sound so warm despite their robotic intent. "Spacelab" in particular reminds me of an old world where technological advances were sought for the improvement of humanity, not attained for the sole purpose of enabling malign, pale, weak-chinned autists to enrich themselves at humanity's expense. But I digress (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9dmoT9AfoI).. Bonus points if you listen to the German version, which is slightly different and not just in the vocals. "Die Roboter" is especially banging!

This is not the best new wave, but I have to give it four stars because of the awesomeness of we are the robots and the accents in models. This is good stuff.

Not really my style of music but still good

Indie game music, technobabble

Great nerd disco EDM. Made me feel like Sheldon Cooper. Would've loved to have been in them European discotech in the late 70s dancing to this high on acid or coke or whatever it is they were doing then

It as good as I thought it would’ve been, felt a little bland but had some spices come in and go, but too short at that rate to be interesting

It's pretty solid

A couple days ago I was bellyaching about all the 70s albums I’ve been getting, but these last two are good reminders that there are real gems from that decade. This project has shown me that I’m pickier than I realized when it comes to electronica - and I have a hard time pinning down what exactly it is I like and what I don’t within that category. This album definitely falls in the “like” category, even though complaints I’ve made about other albums could be applied here (too repetitive, etc.).

Groundbreaking. Influential. Not for me.

This is an electronic music classic. It has an accessibility that their previous albums sometimes struggled with. 4.5/5

She's a model and she's look-ing good

Sounds very retro and like a breath of fresh air at the same time, which is pretty impressive.

Liked it, not enough to revisit though

interesting sound, interesting atmosphere. I can't give a high rating because I'm not a big expert in this style. But I liked two songs that I listen to in the car and on the player

I am sure this was a cool experiment into electronic music at the time but this has aged terribly. Very dull and repetitive not worth a listen any more and surprised this made it as a best album.

🤖😍

A weirdo experience? Yes! Would i listening to it again? I don't think so. But i won't lie, the concept of "The Man Machine" is easy to catch up. A little silly to me but still a great concept. Maybe this could be the music of future. We'll see...

Daft Punk из 70х со звуками из советских фильмов, который звучит стильно и по сей день. Альбом The Man Machine выходил в том же 1978 году и на родном для группы немецком языке (Die Mensch-Maschine), но я все же выбрал для прослушивания издание на английском языке. Он состоит из 6 достаточно продолжительных песен в стиле электропоп, что делает альбом длинным (36 минут), несмотря на количество песен. Каждая из шести песен хорошо запоминается , на это влияет как репетативность мелодии и роботического/человеческого голоса в стиле более известной французской хаус группы 90х Daft Punk, так и качество и уникальность инструментала и атмосферы каждого трека. Заглавная песня The Robots своими строчками «We are the robots» напоминает «We are animals» из песни группы Nazareth - Animals. Своим мотивом она погружает в атмосферу и сеттинг альбома с первых звуков синтезатора, к тому же в песнях достаточно редко (тем более в припевах) встречается русская речь, здесь она играет достаточно важную роль для всего альбома. Песня The Model стала хитом группы, ее резвый ритм отличается от остального альбома, и слушатель в этот момент будто погружается в другую, одновременно отстраненную от остальных треков историю, но все же схожую по концепту. Великолепная Neon Lights показалась мне самой красивой среди всех песен, словно вчерашние роботы обрели живые чувства и выдали прекрасный шедевр, который как раз подходит под прогулку по ночному городу. В заключении хочется похвалить альбом за то, что такой хороший уровень музыки на нем я изначально не ожидал, этот альбом действительно надо послушать хоть раз в своей жизни, но рука не тянется поставить пять звезд. Уж больно много аналогов Kraftwerk за это время накопилось в мире, и тех же Daft Punk можно считать улучшенной версией немецкой группы, ведь они и по сей день слушаются круто. тВоЙ сЛуГа И рАбОтНиК ставит 4/5

Amazing, is was difficult for me listening but when i search for the complete proyect and the videos all makes sense.

Fantastic album.

I remember when Autobahn first came out in 1974 and how strange it sounded then. This is my first time hearing this particular album and it’s oddly pleasant in the modern context, which surprised me.

I really enjoyed this, it was repetitive but can see early draft punk in there

If someone knows this album, they probably have eclectic taste, and listen to better electronic music. If this is someone's favorite album: run. This sounds like what groove-allergic straight edges think future music will be like, only less fun.

entendo a importância, mas chato p caralho pelo amor de deus

TUDO ISSO TU ENCONTRA NUMA RUA LOGO ALI, É MOLINHO DE ACHAR É LÁ NA FEIRA DE ACARI! É, SIM. LÁ EM ACARI!!! pedradaça, apenas. ótimo album pra dar uma dançadinha robótica. bom demais ter o cérebro 100% corroído por mashups suspeitos de das modell btw

Well, this was much nicer than the last Kraftwerk album I got. At a few points it came awfully close to sounding like something I’d listen to again.

If this was music of today, I would not listen to this at all (well maybe I would), but this was original sounding when it came out and I LOVED IT then, still do. The simplistic honest emotional expressionism is pure and unadulterated. Eternal classic. 5 stars

Enjoyed this album, the dawn of electronic music!

Early german techno? Yes please. Great soundtrack for sauerkraut making.

We are the robots. We are the robots. We are the robots. This was actually a really cool album and probably the most enjoyable electronic album so far. Favorites: The Robots, The Model

Even better than I remember. I could see this being more influential than Trans-Europe Express but still like that one more Rating: 4.7

Beep-boop I can get behind! Peak culture is insisting on calling them Powerplant when listening to the English version.

Oh, so you can make an electronic album that is not at least an hour long? Sehr gut, Kraftwerk. Sehr gut.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8/10

Electric music isn't my favorite, but this was okay I guess. 3/5

What am I supposed to hear? Sure maybe it was made before it’s time but it’s just not it. Update. Ok maybe I judged it a bit too soon, but still it’s just, it just doesn’t hit.

fine electric album

Скорее всего в то время это слышалось как некий новый футуристичный звук, все эти синтезаторно-электронные пиц пиу и прочее. Сейчас это звучит как электронное старье из 70-80х

This was a go to back in the day for mashups. Did one with Jeru the Damaja’s Wrath of the Math that turned out really cool.

This absolutely still slaps, front to back. Beeps and boops galore!

eh, not my thing

Typical Kraftwek. Totally listenable, but probably not going to seek it out.

This is the music C-3PO makes love to. At least there’s melodies.

Yes

Superb sounds and melodies. I listened to the German version.

It's not a favorite genre.

well,,, You gotta like Kraftwerk to listen to this and enjoy. I am... eh. The hit "The Model"... did not impress

Mr. Krabs: [calls the radio station] Yes, hello. I was wondering if you could play that song again. Radio DJ: [from the phone] Hmmm... which one, man? Mr. Krabs: The one that goes "bee-boo-boo-bop, boo-boo-beep." Radio DJ: No, man. You're thinking of "bee-boo-boo-bop, boo-boo-bop." Mr. Krabs: Bee-boo-boo-boo-boo-bop, [garbled telephone noise] bee-boo-boo-bop, [garbled telephone noise] boo-boo-bee-bop? [garbled telephone noise] Not bee-boo-boo-beep? [garbled telephone noise] Bop? [garbled telephone noise] Beep?! [garbled telephone noise] Boo-boo-bop?! [SpongeBob screams.] SpongeBob: Oh my gosh. Why was Mr. Krabs making all those beeping sounds? Could it be that he's... [scene zooms in on him] ...a robot?

I love this album. Fun and familiar.

Familiar sounds, I enjoyed the warmth. The sort of noises I like to make.

- genau wie das letzte Album, was von denen dran war: "- Puuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh, absolut gar nicht meins - zu repetitive - der Sound trifft einfach null meinen Geschmack - deswegen dann leider auch super anstrengend, habe ich durchgeskippt" - The Model war okay-ish 1,25-1,5 / 5

I'm obsessed.

Boop.

This is just plain good music with its attractive early electronics charm. This was ground-breaking in 1978 and totally deserves to be in the "must hear" list. I don't just love the music itself, but Kraftwerk comes with a whole aesthetic, from the album cover to the band's appearance and stage performance. I like that. When listening to older (non classical) music, I always wonder whether I only like it in its context (i.e. as a famous album from the '70s) or where I would equally love it if it came out in 2025 and from an unknown band. I don't know, maybe not. But context counts. Liked all the songs, Neon Lights the least. Still a 5 for me.

What’s not to say about Kraftwerk?! This legendary band does NOT disappoint. They have one of the most original sounds of all time and nearly 50years later, no one sounds like them. Yes they sound alittle stereotypical for electronic music but that because they literally created the genre. And this album is probably their most popular album. Super atmospheric and entrancing, this album will have your brain going on a sci-fi adventure across the future with robots and huge neon cities. This is not my favorite album by them but it’s definitely the most accessible. And we are all thinking it so I’ll just say it. Anyone who doesn’t enjoy this album doesn’t know how to have fun.

Endearing? Grew on me but a little odd at first lol.

Boring and repetitive. Almost quit right away

Not bebop, but beep boop beep. At times sonically interesting and at others pure tedium

Just no. 1.5

This is just the soundtrack to Astro bot. But it’s pretty good actually.

Ok, it’s getting a 5. I’ve listened to it multiple times so that says something. Definitely ahead of its time and so influential, there is something compelling about it

Great album. The introduction to electronic music. X

I dont know what to think really its like okay and i see that its a special album bit it kinda feels boring

Nah

This album grew on me the more I listened. Had it at three stars after the first listen, but it worked it’s way up to four.

8bit video game. Really good. The model 💜

🖤❤️🤍🖤❤️🤍 Absolutely brilliant!

Bso

Good listen.

Very cinematic sounding (from 70s / 80s movies). Not as weird as I expected from the description.

Movie soundtrack

Synthesizer greatest! Ik vind het leuk. Lekker relaxt. Lekker melodieus. Heerlijk!! Kun je je voorstellen dat dit album in de jaren '70 gemaakt is? *****

4.5

Very different from my usual mix. I enjoyed it a lot

Only 6 tracks, give me more!!

Definitivamente no me encuentro en la demografía de este género musical, aún así pude disfrutar de algunas canciones y se valora su precedente en la música electrónica

😇

Скучное однообразное говно электронное. Очень похоже на Найт пипл

Sure, it's just beeps and boops, but everything just works. Having a sound this crisp and coordinated on such an early electronic album is incredible. The tracks flow into one another, and the album is fairly short so nothing ever sounds tired.

I like Kraftwerk, had a couple of their albums. They were WAY ahead of their time! Good listen!

Fine

Beep. "We are the robots." This one was a bit trippy. I hadn't heard a lot of this before (save for "The Model") but I can see why this was such an influence for all the electronic music that followed. Very cool stuff, but I doubt it'll end up in my heavy rotation. Boop. As an aside, I played The Robots for Harriet. She was not impressed. :P

It's very futuristic, and I like the vibes. However, I wouldn't say this is my favorite, mostly due to the lack of lyrics. It feels like I'm listening to the EPCOT Documentary by Defunctland. But the sounds are decent and have a nice flow. The album feels repeated. The best song is The Man Machine. Banger stick track on that one.

Look.... I don't hate it. It reminds of the beats that Thilo and Andi (Kleo) drop. Though I doubt I'll ever listen to it again.

Never was a fan of this type of electronica.

Not my style, but good

# Album Name: The man Machine # Artist: Kraftwerk # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: I did not enjoy the last kraftwerk album i recieved so this was a slightly better experience. You can see how these guys are well ahead of their time. And i get that, but a full album is a bit too much for me. Thankfully half the album is filled with some good tunes - robots, spacelab and model. The other half if so so. I'd probably give it a 3.5 if i could # Top Tunes: robots, spacelab and model # Would I listen to it again? Only robots, spacelab and model.

Seminal piece of electronica.

3.4. The vocals seem pretty corny nowadays. I did like the instrumentation throughout. Cant listen to this and not shout out The Big Lebowski

Ive never been a big electronic music person (until pretty recently at least). I tried to like this album but it just didn't really vibe with me at all. :(

3/5