Cross

I know many people love this album already, but I STILL don't believe it gets the roses it deserves. This album is a BOP front to back. There is no reason to look at your device while listening to this record, you put it on and let it play until it stops and you get sad. It has provided so much influence in later sound profiles. VERY hard to pick a favorite song. Favorite Song: Waters of Nazareth (Phantom Pt I is so close though) Score: 94/100

PARTE COME UNA SORPRESA DA 4 STELLE, PER UN GENERE CHE NON MI PIACE, IN QUANTO CREA ALCUNE ATMOSFERE CYBERPUNK CHE GASANO. ARRIVATO ALLE CANZONI CANTATE IL LIVELLO PER ME DECLINA, PER POI RISOLLEVARSI VERSO LA FINE, PORTANDO L'ALBUM NEL COMPLESSO A 3. LA MIA CANZONE PREFERITA E' "NEWJACK". 3/5.

Grande banger, especialmente o início

idk like 2.5...it's like less enjoyable daft punk

it was kind of...intense? but hell yeah. excited this was on here

Nice surprise. Way more fun than I would expect.

This is the first (and likely only) artist on the list I’ve seen live. And a plus is that I make music in the same genre as Justice. So, I wonder what my thoughts on this album is.

ich mochte es nicht so sehr. Ja es ist cool, dass Prog, dance music und so miteinander verwoben werden. Aber ich hatte ständig das Gefühl, dass Daft Punk dieses Album hätten machen können und es wäre bei weitem besser.

The covers look some lost proto doom metal album from 1971, but it's not. It's a decent glitchy electronic album. Kinda sounds the same after awhile, but unlike most techno garbage this site serves me up I actually mostly enjoyed this.

Aside from ‘Genesis’ (which to some ecxtent is helped by my inability to not hear Sean Bean over the top of it) and ‘D.A.N.C.E’ (although I prefer Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly’s version) it’s all a bit bargin bucket Daft Punk. There is very much an identity to the album, but its just too repetitive and electro for my liking as there is no character in the music to help is break through. Even the addition of vocals to some second half tracks dont break past this and I’m left feeling like I’m trapped in a club with my head spinning

If you had of told me this was all just one track, I would have believed you. Definitely not bad enough to get 1*, but not far off.

I put off listening to this, thinking I was going to hate it. I was also convinced I didn't know any of it until D.A.N.C.E. started. For the first third of the album, I was thinking, actually, I quite like this. My toes were tapping to the funky bassiness. I was enjoying it's Basement Jaxx-iness. But then it started wearing on me. It's quite a lot for someone is not massively into dance music, especially as each track mixes into the next. I will say that in the later part of the album, I did really like DVNO - it seems to really lean into the disco theme and I enjoyed it a lot. I have been left with a mystery though: why is "Tthhee Ppaarrttyy" called "The Party" on Amazon Music? Sticklers for spelling? Probably a 2.5 because the bits I enjoyed I really enjoyed, but I'm not sure there's enough of those bits for a 3, so: 2/5

Stabiles Album. Manchmal aber etwas... nervig?

It was ok. There were some good moments in it and it did not dislike it at all. Would listen to it again in the right mood. The middle section: Phantom, Phantom 2 and Valentine was excellent. 3 stars

The sound track to a dodgy copy of wip3out

Give a couple of French lads some keyboards and they'll always give you a very listenable 45 minutes

Solid electronica

4

not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue

no me gustó nadita y le tenía harta fe.

7/10

Standouts Genesis

when i saw this i thought “justice..how do i know justice”, and then D.A.N.C.E. came on and suddenly i was transported back to every single party, bar, or club i went to in the years 2007 and 2008. that song was EVERYWHERE. the rest of this was in between eh and ‘this is fun’, and i doubt i’ll ever put this on again, but for a day this album made me feel 16 again so i’m giving it a nostalgia 3.

I wasn't sure I'd like this, I remember it coming out and I guess I assumed it was some fancy thing I wouldn't really like. But I loved this. Like a slightly more aggressive daft punk. Maybe I'm just in the right mood, but I really enjoyed bobbing along to all of this while butchering some Photoshop work. Just great kick drum and synth work overall. I'm in a good mood.im giving this 5.

meh

++*: D.A.N.C.E., Stress ++: Genesis, Let There Be Light, Newjack, Phantom Pt. II, Valentine, Tthhee Ppaarrttyy, DVNO, Waters of Nazareth +: Phantom +-: One Minute to Midnight 9,1/10

Great electronic album; the hits DANCE outweigh the meh tracks.

I understand why fans of EDM would love this album, but it does nothing for me. Just too repetitive and directionless. Not a satisfying listen.

Really good techno.

Mostly annoying, especially the vocals soon the tracks that had them. A few good beats saved this from a 1.

I enjoyed the energy. Really good use of samples that made it catchy and unique

I (mostly) remember seeing Justice at the Congress Theater on NYE in 2008 --> 2009. Some of my crustier theater friends at the time were living in what was supposed to be retail space next door and in the basement below that. There was a passage in the basement that connected their place with the backstage area at Congress theater. There was no door on their side - just a crude hole in the wall with a large board covering it. We also hung out and smaked cigarettes on the back stoop or out front, facing the street. Both resulted in befriending most of the staff (the ones doing security, box office, maintenance). As such, they'd often let us into shows for free or be cool with us sneaking back and forth through the passage. I can't remember which was the case on that particular night, but we got in and I know we didn't have tickets. The next year, we did the same thing for Girl Talk's NYE show and I remember the two story house set on the stage (but not much else - that was a wild one). Oh year, and this Justice album still sounds fresh and relevant in 2026 despite being 20 years old.

So close to a 4

Not exactly my type of music it was vibes

I do have some nostalgia for this album, but the same feeling that it's skipping on certain songs makes it irritating to me. But dance and the party will forever have a strong place in my heart

Not too bad, seems a little simliar to another french electronic duo or two

its just fun

Ah, to be cool and French.

An entertaining enough dance album with some fun, funky grooves, but not really my thing. Even at only 48 minutes, it still feels like it goes on for too long.

#453 I was rather into the indie electro scene that seemed prevalent around this time and Justice were very much part of it. Not my favourite of that time, I quite like it but not something I’d generally reach for these days, or maybe even back then. Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit?❓ Listen before you die?❓ Fave track(s): D.A.N.C.E. Rating: 6/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was pleasing to my earbells.

Huh, the Gary Numan album was better. Nothing that was really catchy or made me want to hear more.

VOY A DECIR LO MISMO QUE CON THE KILLERS, LA SELECCION DE ALBUM POST 2000 ES UNA RE PORONGA Y ESTO SOLO LO DISFRUTA UN MILLENIAL CON BARBA Y UN LOCAL DE HAMBURGUESAS 3/10

Love the distorted synths. Heavy, funky and catchy. Great electronic album!

4 za neverrender

I've never really got the appeal of electronic music. I get that there is a huge market for it but I am certainly not one of those people. Especially these days literally anyone who has a laptop and a cheap software bundle can make this. You don't have to know any music theory, how to play any instruments, be able to keep a beat, etc. It's all done for you. Kind of like AI artwork - literally anyone can produce a painting that looks like (insert your favorite artist here). And electronic music just sounds so fake. I wonder why we don't judge electronically created music like we do AI artwork. Maybe that's not a direct comparison as I know that there is a lot of derision for AI music, and rightly so. Comparing it to digital artwork is not really the same either - a digital artist still has to be able to draw to some degree, know anatomy and color theory, composition, etc. But electronic music like this can be created without any prior knowledge of music as long as you have the right software. I don't know, maybe that's the 'get off my lawn' part of me coming out. But regardless, this album is repetitive, grating, and plastic. It's the music that would have been played during a chase scene in a shitty early 2000s futuristic sci fi movie. I hate this kind of artificial music that these days is mass produced and indistinguishable from the rest. 1/5

The best electro sleaze dance album. Zero skips.

Good but feels a bit samey at times. This kind of sound was really up and coming at the time

I know the intro drop to "Genesis" kind of became a meme, but goddamn is it so insanely satisfying. Crazy that this album completely flew under the radar for high school aged me in '07. Definitely not a perfect electro/house album (or at least, not my preferred blend of the genre), IMO it's a tad bloated, and falls off a bit in the latter half. But French electro/house duo artists rarely seem to get the genre wrong, and I'd argue that's still the case here.

Some of it was a little generic EDM, but there are some genuinely interesting moments that would make me return and give another listen.

demasiado robótico para mi gusto, de hecho me parecieron una peor que la otra las canciones. solo zafa el tema más conocido. capaz por ser una gorda daft punk la vara esté muy alta…

banco dubstep extraño muy de electronica lleno de falopa y extasis

YESSS

Am anfang denk ich immer ich mags :/

Because I had fallen behind on my daily journey through 1001 Albums I Must Hear Before I Die, I just listened to a Daft Punk album and this one back to back. For an old white guy who has never been a dancer and has a relatively limited tolerance for electronica, that kind of feels like a trip around a lower-grade circle of hell. So take this rating with however many grains of salt you need.

Techno album

Daft Punks skitiga och stökiga lillebröder. Justice debutalbum får ses som kulmen på den hajpade punkiga electrohouse som kretsade kring skivbolaget Ed Banger. En kul och uppfriskande liten parentes i musikhistorien med akter som Crystal Castles, Boyz Noize och the Teenagers t.ex. Men det handlade ju om singlar, om bangers, som bolagsnamnet antyder. Justice album är fyllt av just bangers som många var för sig fortfarande är rätt kul, "Waters of Nazareth" låter t.ex. än i dag helt galen på ett fantastiskt vis, stökig som min källarstrubb. Den tolvan står i hyllan. Men det funkar inte lika bra i ett albumformat. Det blir påfrestande att höra tolv spår på raken i samma skola, mätarna är i topp hela tiden. Samtidigt är det svårt att bortse från energin, en banger är en banger liksom. Balanserar mellan tvåan och trean

Trots knorrande synthar djup bas släpper det sällan riktigt loss. Många låtar är rytmiskt rätt hackiga, man undrar om det verkligen funkar på dansgolvet. Undantaget är Phantom och Phantom II som jag tycker är kanonlåtar.

I något slags gränsland mellan Daft punk och Chemical brothers. Blir dock en lightversion av både. Ingredienserna är nog riktiga. Det är helt enkelt kockarna som inte håller måttet.

Jag förväntade mig hårdrock när jag såg omslaget. Så det blev en positiv överraskning när musiken drog igång. Men det blev snabbt för mycket av allt. Alla reglat står på max. Det för tankarna lite till hur Skrillex höll på i mitten av 10-talet. I små doser kan det var ok, men som albumet blir det överlastat.

Pretty good - I like the way the tracks kind of flow into each other, and it's very danceable

When this album came out, and Ed Banger Records was pushing French electro house, (Cross) felt like a breath of fresh air. Justice really stood out in that scene with their gritty and abrasive style that brought in some rock influences. I also liked how they played with samples, like pulling from old trance tracks and bands like Devo, which gave it a fun edge. My only issue is that some tracks felt like filler, just there to connect the better songs.

Not on my future list. Nothing on the album flowed and I will not listen to it again.

Stumbled across this last year and fell in love with it. Great album.

I also just came here to bounce

This was a personal favourite of mine years ago. I listened to it again in full recently (approximately 2 years ago) and found myself not liking it as much. I expected to still not like it as much as in the past when I re-listened to it today. I was presently surprised that I enjoyed the album as before - even the last few tracks that I found "noisy" and "abrasive" the last listen fell on my ears well! Great stuff!

esse tá na minha playlist oficial de acelerar o máximo que o carro dá conta acho uma das pedradas absolutas da eletrônica francesa, não dá pra falar que já escutou o gênero se não passou por esse gosto mto tb que esse é dark pra caraio, eu me sinto num beco escuro e úmido com esse tocando, fazendo alguma coisa erradíssima

ih, esse eu curto bem. tinha ALGO nessa água colorida (xD) da frança nos anos 90, viu. o pessoal tava sampleando até deus se deixasse e fazendo eletrônica de ÓTIMA qualidade, credo enfim, pedrada demais, super dançante e com um climinha soturno. gosto pra carai desse, mto bom pra trabalhar no pique do bandido. eh um belíssimo debut dos mano

Wow love these beats

Aujourd'hui? Musique de danse! After track 3 or so, it all felt quite generic. And boring.

Music for people that need more exposure to other kinds of music.

Not really my thing but also had two separate YOOO ITS THOSE GUYS moments

killer

I don’t get this stuff. Big nope.

pretty decent EDM background stuff

Oh joy another EDM album on the list…

# Justice's *Cross* (†): An In-Depth Review Justice's 2007 debut album, *Cross* (often stylized as †), is a landmark release—a gritty, overdriven statement that revitalized electronic music and helped define the sound of a generation. Described by the duo themselves as a "disco opera," the album is a maximalist fusion of rock, disco, funk, and electronic music that remains an essential listen over fifteen years later . ## Music, Production, and Sound The music on *Cross* is defined by its **distinctly crunchy and distorted production**. The duo, Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay, built the album from hundreds of "micro-samples"—tiny, often unrecognizable snippets from a vast array of sources . This approach created a dense, glitchy soundscape that was a world away from the polished French Touch of their predecessors . The album's sonic signature is a heavy use of mid-range frequencies, distorted basslines that often act as leads, and a gritty, almost metallic texture . As one critic described it, it "sounds like it's constantly on the verge of clipping, collapsing or catching fire" . This was a conscious rejection of the clean futurism often associated with French electronic music at the time, instead embracing a more abrasive and "analoguey" aesthetic . Key sonic elements include: * **Distorted Synths and Bass:** Tracks like "Let There Be Light" and "Newjack" feature heavily compressed, distorted bass that drives the rhythm with a rock-like energy . * **Cinematic and Dark Elements:** The album opens with "Genesis," a track that uses sinister horns and tympani drum rolls to create a monumental, almost religious atmosphere . This sense of drama is woven throughout the record. * **Glitch and Texture:** The duo used the "glitch" as a percussive element, adding rhythmic interest beyond the standard four-on-the-floor beat . This, combined with a dense layering of samples, creates a rich and constantly surprising listening experience. ## Themes and Lyrical Content While the album is primarily instrumental, its lyrical themes and overarching concepts are crucial to its identity. ### "Disco Opera" and Spectacle Justice intended *Cross* to be a grand, ambitious work that could move electronic music from the club to the stadium . This ambition is evident in the album's scale and dramatic flair, a theme they described as "futuristic gospel," where the "religious" feeling comes from the communal experience of music . ### The Two Sides of *Cross* The album is often seen as having two distinct halves: the pop-friendly and the abrasive. * **The Pop Side: "D.A.N.C.E."** The album's breakout hit is a deceptively sweet and funky tribute to Michael Jackson, featuring a children's choir from London's Centre for Young Musicians . The lyrics are a playful celebration of dance, and the track's innocent, catchy melody provides a stark contrast to the rest of the album's heaviness . It is this tension between "innocence and abrasion" that makes the album so compelling . * **The Dark and Heavy Side: "Stress"** In direct opposition to "D.A.N.C.E." is "Stress," a "positively evil-sounding dancefloor destroyer" . The track is a relentless, oppressive wall of sound that evokes feelings of angst and urban decay, a theme powerfully reinforced by its infamous music video . ### A Lack of Prevalent Lyrics It is important to note that the album is primarily instrumental. As one review points out, "only 3 songs have lyrics," making the music's core focus the textures, rhythms, and sonic exploration rather than a lyrical narrative . ## Influence and Legacy The influence of *Cross* is immense and multifaceted. It cemented Justice as the spiritual heirs to Daft Punk, but also carved out a distinct identity that was heavier, dirtier, and more overtly rock-influenced . The album's success—topping dance charts in the US and UK and earning a Grammy nomination—helped launch the Ed Banger label to international prominence . The "bloghouse" sound that *Cross* helped define became a major force in the late 2000s, influencing a new generation of producers who would go on to shape the EDM boom of the 2010s . Artists like Skrillex, Zedd, and Gesaffelstein have all cited Justice's debut as a major inspiration for its maximalist, distorted approach . The album's tracks, particularly "Genesis," have been used extensively in commercials, video games, and films, proving its crossover appeal and cultural permeation . ## Pros and Cons ### Pros - **Innovative and Influential Sound:** The gritty, sample-heavy production was a breath of fresh air and created a blueprint for a whole new wave of electronic music . - **Cohesive Yet Varied:** *Cross* is remarkably consistent in its aesthetic, but it still manages to explore a wide range of moods, from the euphoric pop of "D.A.N.C.E." to the aggressive darkness of "Stress" . - **Immediate Impact:** The album is packed with instantly memorable tracks and hooks, making it a fun and engaging listen from start to finish . - **Timeless Quality:** The album's unique production style has aged remarkably well. It sounds just as fresh and exciting today as it did in 2007 . ### Cons - **Occasional Derivative Moments:** Some critics pointed out that while the album is powerful, it's not always groundbreaking in its originality, often drawing clear comparisons to Daft Punk's work . - **Lack of Lyrical Depth:** For those seeking a meaningful lyrical narrative, the album's sparse vocals and focus on instrumental textures may feel like a shortcoming . - **Polarizing Sound:** The intentionally distorted, "maximalist" production is not for everyone. The abrasive elements of tracks like "Stress" and "Waters of Nazareth" can be off-putting to listeners who prefer more polished electronic music . One user review even described "D.A.N.C.E." as "almost cringeworthy" for its sugary pop nature . --- In conclusion, *Cross* by Justice is a masterpiece that lives up to its legendary status. It was a defiant, in-your-face statement that challenged the conventions of electronic music. While not flawless, its ambition, innovative production, and powerful sonic identity have secured its place as a timeless classic and a cornerstone of 21st-century electronic music.

Okay, I was not expecting to like this at all. But actually? Pretty damn catchy.

It's raw, it's pure, it shows the beginning of Justice

Achei um excelente disco de música eletrônica. Muito bem trabalhado, melodias diversificada. Muito bom mesmo! Grata surpresa. CVJ Kira.

I think sometimes the problem I have is that I tend to listen to every album in the evening and sometimes I'm not always in the right state of mind. Like, I tend to be in wind down time and sometimes albums that are a bit jarring like this one are not getting their fair shake. Regardless, I found this one grating and without enough variation. Felt fairly one note throughout.

.Interesting ride. Throughout the listen, my rating went from 2 to 5 and back again — and everywhere in between. At one point, I thought the album was really annoying. Then came one of the radio hits, which is only okay... but then the final four or five tracks... DAMN. There was groove. There was depth.

thank you france for inventing electro

I really enjoy this. Got to listen on vinyl too so that’s always nice

Not my cuppa

Out of this world, how had I not heard this album before. Hits like a tonne of bricks.

Electronic music isn't usually my thing, but this kicks off great. "Genesis" (which is familiar, but I don't know why) is packed with sound that I love. I really love the distortion and noise, it's very textured. I don't usually expect from electronic music, which I usually think of as polished surfaces and laser light. Through "Phantom" I'm feeling like this could be the first EDM album I rate 5 stars. But "Valentine" through "DVNO" drag for me. "Stress" gets interesting again, but I'm not sure I like it. "Waters of Nazareth" and "One Minute to Midnight" bring it back to 5 star level. Anyhow, it's an album I'm glad to have had recommended to me, and I'd pass it on (though I wouldn't put it on my personal list of essentials). 4/5

Um Daft Punk sem muita grife eu diria. Esse em questão é bom, porém ainda pouco envolvendo, o que é de se entender por ser o debut. Vendo a discografia do duo como um todo, da pra dizer que melhoraram bastante ao decorrer do tempo, o último disco Hyperdrama é realmente muito bom e bem mais diversificado. De forma geral, um bom duo de eletronic mais light na vibe de Daft Punk, Tame Impala, mas eu recomendaria se envolver mais na discografia pra ver realmente o potencial deles.

francophone shit. I like the pitch, EDM opera, but the execution doesn't go hard enough.

Pretty Great with D.A.N.C.E. being the standout. It's a bit undeniable and innovative. This is a hipster's dream

Some nostalgia.

As good as I remember it, which isn't really a positive or negative for me. It's an album with some really incredible and unique songs, but lots of filler. Genesis, Phantom II, Stress, and Waters of Nazareth are certified dance music monsters, but the rest is not nearly as good and sometimes downright bad. The songs with vocals are pretty awful, and while I like the idea behind the MJ tribute, it's just not fun to listen to. I'll give them credit for popularizing the insanely compressed and fuzzy sound and doing some really excellent sample work. They followed really well in a long line of French innovators in electronic music. A great debut, just not a great album.

I brought this album randomly in 2007 when I worked at Best Buy. Didn’t know much about Justice, but I got hip real quick. It had been a while since I revisited it, but I feel like it still holds up. Great grooves and melodies. Sometimes the synth tones can get to be a little too dark for me. And repetitive. But there’s enough variety throughout the songs and the album for me to be able to bare it.

I really want to like this one more but I just can’t. This is the first album that I’ve already listened to before this list, but unfortunately it’s not really an album that I love. “TTHHEE PPAARRTTYY” is also just a terrible song and drags the album down by a point just by itself. Rounding down from a 2.5. Mind you, I’m a Daft Punk’s “Human After All” defender, and I honestly think that album is better than “Homework,” but even I can’t get behind this album unfortunately. This is only really one that I’d pick out certain songs to listen to but rarely—if ever—the full album.

Not my go to style of electronic. I guess I’m more into the artier side of electronic music like Oval and Pan Sonic. This has some really fun songs but whenever there were vocals, I cringed a bit because they felt so out of place. Still, for the most part it was fun. The problem I have with this style is unless I’m at a party or maybe playing a video game, this doesn’t fit in my life.

Absolurrly banging, love it, such a thick distorted dirty sound. 5/5 Best Song: DANCE

Big beats are the best. Great album, a lot of fun and makes you want to boogie, what more do you need.

Progressive for its time. Lending to glitchy proto influence on hyperpop it is forward thinking in a sense. A bit more agressive and abrasive than most french house classics but this is what sets justice apart from the rest. Although I'll ding it a star for being almost a one hit wonder. Future justice songs and albums were not to this caliber until 2024. Which is so insane to me.

Come on

A solid 2. Was thinking this would be horrific, but was OK.