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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Night Drive

Chromatics

2007

Night Drive
Album Summary

This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.

Night Drive (alternatively known as Original Motion Picture Soundtrack IV) is the third studio album by Chromatics, released on August 28, 2007 on the Italians Do It Better record label. With this album, Chromatics made a drastic departure from their previously punk sound, as they pursued a new direction reminiscent of Italo disco. It is the first full-length Chromatics album to feature singer Ruth Radelet and drummer Nat Walker. Guitarist Adam Miller and multi-instrumentalist Johnny Jewel had been featured on the band's previous LPs. In a review for AllMusic, K. Ross Hoffman praised how Night Drive "evokes widescreen opulence with a sonic palette that extends beyond the bedrock of synths, guitars, and drum machines to include touches of organ, strings, flutes, and so on, but it's always used sparingly, rarely outstepping the group's meticulously minimal, carefully controlled arrangements".

Wikipedia

Rating

3.13

Votes

99

Genres

  • Electronica

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Reviews

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Jan 23 2024
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4

Accurate title. This is absolutely an album to take a night drive to.

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Jan 23 2024
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4

Cool ambient music to work to. Dug it a lot.

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Jan 26 2024
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5

Yes! Chromatics is what this list needed, thank you for sending this one in!

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Jan 23 2024
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4

Really just a fun time, and the Kate Bush cover was a welcome one.

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Feb 07 2024
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4

The Chromatics have done some great covers over the years, I'm on fire, Into the black and this album features an absolutely gorgeous version of Running up the hill. This album had a nice transition from Side 1 to an atmospheric Side 2. Great recommendation and a great find!

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Feb 22 2024
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4

This kind of dreamy, semi-detached synth-pop is right up my alley. The loose concept album helps maintain its moody, cinematic appeal throughout the long runtime.

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Jun 29 2024
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4

The cover (reminiscent of Duran Duran's Rio) tells you exactly what you're in for. This album is a spacious synth pop masterpiece. The music is minimalist with some great orchestral touches throughout. I really like that this album is not afraid to lean into the ambient and instrumental aspects. There's a sense that everything here has room to breath and expand and the Chromatics trust their audience to go along with it. The result is something that feels very much like a night drive, how appropriate.

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Jul 14 2024
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4

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Night drive, Mask, Tomorrow is so far away, Circled Sun, I want your love

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Jan 26 2024
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3

6/10. Definitely a pleasant listen, though I think I'd have gotten bored on some of the longer tracks if I hadn't been focused on work at the time.

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Jan 29 2024
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3

Mix of synthy electronic sometimes with the modern whispy vocals and sometimes just grooves. Enjoyed it, could’ve been a little shorter for me

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Feb 26 2024
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3

I liked this pretty well in its solider moments. The cover of Running Up That Hill did highlight the limitations in the singing. Serviceable but no Kate Bush. And then there were some extended intervals of really intolerable BS noise.

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Feb 29 2024
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3

Chromatics must be credited with their interest in taking synthpop beyond its usual boundaries. They don't always achieve what they seem to be trying to do, but they are creative and adventurous enough to make the journey always worth it. Here, their approach to synthwave, their dream pop landscapes, and their experimentation in a genre so little given to it, labeled them at the time as a group to keep a close eye on

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Mar 31 2024
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3

Not a bad album to work to at 5am. Very hipstery, odd, minimalist electronica. I think if it hadn't suited my mood at the time I would have hated it, but here we are. 3/5.

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May 07 2024
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3

Love me some Chromatics, even if this isn’t their best work (check ‘Cherry’ for what I think is their personal opus). This one drags a tad too much for four-star territory, but it’s still got the classic synthwave stylings and luscious, 80s-esque production that the band made into their own personal style. Not as strong melodically as their other works, but it contains some of my fav tracks from the band - ‘Tick of the Clock’ is a nervy masterpiece, and my first intro to the band courtesy of Hotline Miami.

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Feb 25 2024
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2

The more I listen to Chromatics the less pretty sure I am that I dig the approach. Healer highlights, and the Bush cover is more typical; Not bad, but a flat ambientfied take on the material. Nothing wrong with vibes, but mere invocation of nighttime does not draw out a concept as time so easily can.

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Jan 29 2024
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5

My pick, great to see it come up. My favourite album of the century so far, one that really works as a whole rather than as a collection of tracks - like all the best albums. Feels like a real journey, with the details left to your imagination. Wonderful

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Jan 29 2024
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4

Vaporwave - the album! I had a good time.

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Feb 22 2024
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4

I never knew this band really, but I think I've heard a few songs here and there from soundtracks, etc. Sounds like this album was a bit of a departure from their previous sound of noisy lo-fi; this is very much a polished nostalgia. Apparently reminiscent of Italo Disco? I can see it. Has a nice low-key quiet dance to it. Was a decent working soundtrack. A bit too long though. I do have a playlist called "Driving" and as advertised a few tracks work well for that. For that reason I'm rounding up 3.5 to 4.

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Mar 14 2024
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4

Enjoyable. Some synthwave-like music was needed in the list

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Mar 26 2024
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4

Never heard of this band before. Excellent composing, pleasant electronic music and one outstanding cover version :)

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May 26 2024
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4

Another one I have never heard of. I'm open minded and enjoyed the journey. It is relaxing and cool... something I could play on a long drive or while studying / working. Amazing, no, but definitely worth time spent listening. 3.75

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Jul 12 2024
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4

Started off loving it as it was different and the main list really needed more albums like this, the Kate Bush cover not so good, but the rest of the album is ethereal and great. 4

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Jan 26 2024
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3

This is ok. On the one hand, I like the idea of a decently ambient album that scores a night drive. On the other hand, it's just a little boring. And I really don't like Running Up That Hill. 6/10

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Apr 30 2024
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3

When I saw the words "Italian disco" I have to admit I was overcome by a feeling of dread. But this was actually very good. A little long maybe, but overall enjoyable. 3 stars.

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May 30 2024
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3

Decent enough, but for me primarily background music. Just under 3 1/2 stars.

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Jul 08 2024
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3

Italo disco, synthwave, synth-pop. Ni fu ni fa.

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Jul 18 2024
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3

I love the slick, moody, atmospheric vibe of this album. There's something not quite right about Ruth Radelet's vocals though, which are overly soft and lacking in depth. This style of music is still right up my alley though, and I would listen again. Fave Songs: Let's Make This a Moment to Remember, Tomorrow Is So Far Away, Healer, Running Up That Hill, Tick of the Clock

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Feb 18 2024
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2

Great as a mellow backdrop when I'm working, or when I'm having trouble sleeping. But other than that it's not all that exciting.

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Feb 18 2024
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2

I do not really know what to make of this. First the album was too long to keep me fully interested. Second, it was too dreamy as if nothing really happened. Last, if you do cover, make it count. This was too straight forward.

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Mar 28 2024
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2

Naaaaaaa not my ham 2 Didn't make running up that hill that good. That can't be too hard

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Jun 13 2024
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2

Some ok electro-pop reminiscent of icy Depeche Mode or early New Order, but the boring soundtrack bits were way too long. Two minutes of synth-wind at the end of one track is unnecessary.

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Feb 10 2024
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1

I found this album quite dull and boring. And then 'Tick of the Clock' came on. Multiple times I thought: "What is this song?", "Why is this even a song?", "Why is this 15 minutes long?!?"... This 1 song completely broke the album for me, and is the main reason of giving this the lowest rate

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