Customer Reviews

The Looks

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

No band ever completely dies. Whenever a band breaks up or a frontman expires, you can count on at least one new band to rise from the ashes a year or so later.

So when Death from Above 1979 broke up awhile ago, it was only inevitable that something like MSTRKRFT would show up sooner or later. I have no idea what the name means, but I know what their debut "The Looks" is full of -- Daft Punk-style dance music, as done by robots.

It opens with the funky, blippy rhythms of "Work on You," which slithers around computerized beats and solid drum machines. But what makes it stand out is the robotic voice repeating, "I'm gonna make you mine... I'm gonna make you mine..." It's a bit like being ravished by HAL.

That same sound continues in the discoey and rather repetitive "Easy Love." Fortunately the sound changes dramatically with "She's Good For Business," with the girl's vocals and the hard beats, followed by the fuzz-rocky "Paris."

The beat continues through the rather repetitive "Looks," which is a good dancepunky song, but is dwarfed by the vaguely hip-hoppish "Street Justice." This short album rounds off with the swirling beats of "Bodywork," and the kitschy-futuristic "Neon Knights."

If MSTRKRFT has a flaw, it's a simple one -- all the songs follow the same formula, and they rarely stray from it. After a little while, I started to wish that they would try out something different, just to vary their sound a little.

But I have to admit, they have a knack with some dancey beats. There's a retro dance flavour to their music, and the rigid confines and slightly nuts feeling add to its appeal. And they do vary the formula a little, with swirly beats and retro-disco experimentation.

There aren't much in the way of lyrics, except for repeated lines like "Look... look..." and "Another killin' on the dance floor," which generally appear a few thousand times per song. But then, the vocals aren't about singing -- they're used like another set of beats, to accentuate the music.

MSTRKRFT's debut is relatively unmemorable, but very promising. Sort of Daft Punk's crazier little sibling, "The Looks" is a nice intro to their music -- here's hoping they mix it up a little more.

I must say, this album made me get up, throw multiple lightswitch raves, and then sit back down satisfied. Many say that it doesn't have enough to give. To some it doesn't, but I find it incredibly satisfying. If you are a Death From Above 1979 fan or just a fan of Jeese Keelers work, then I recommend it.

I'd heard of these guys before & had no idea they had an entire album out. I happened upon this gem by accident & let me just say WOW, I'm impressed. Other people are comparing these guys to the next Daft Punk & to be fare I suppose there might be a slight likeness to their music, but as a whole these guys have a sound all their own. As far as Daft Punk is concerned they haven't made any descent music since their 1st album(ya, I'm one of those guys that liked "Homework" better)and have been given far more credit than is deserved. There are 8 full length (meaning over 3/4 minutes, "THANK YOU!!!")tracks here, my favorites are #1 "Work On You" & #8 "Neon Knights", all are good though & anyone'll make your fanny shake. Any fan of electro house will totally dig this album, pure quality stuff!!

This new Album from MSTRKRFT is fantastic. Work on you is super and easy love just blew me away, I got it as a free download and have waited eagerly for the album. They are a fine successor of Daft Punk and I highly recommend this.

it has some nice tracks, but they aren't really standouts or very innovative. you can work it into your party mix. probably lots of fun to see them live.

At a club that I frequent, the DJ played "street justice" & I thought it was daft punk. Now I was never a fan of daft punk except for "around the world" & "stronger, harder, faster-breakers break remix" & thought finally they improved their musical skills. Got "human after all" but it did not seem to be it[although I think it is better than 2nd album]. Then someone handed me MSTRKRFT album it was the "sound" I was looking for. I loved all the tracks esp "work on you" but not "easy love" which was just okay.

I think this is the album that DaftPunk should have followed up w/ after "homework". You can see similarities to it & The Prodigy's "out-numbered/not outgunned" [which was more moody & less dance driven but definitely 80s influence]. In addition, the length was just right ie under 45minutes. Just as Van Halen albums left you wanting more, MSTRKRFT has done the same.

I hope that MSTRKRFT keeps the sound & not innovate too much ie become a house/euro techno band. I prefer my dance music to be "heavy" ie old chemical bros/the prodigy/Monkey Mafia aka Jon Carter. But they may have to in order to generate more cash & what's fashionable.

If you like this, listen to WHODINI's "back in black" & "escape" & DJ Afrika Bambataa from the 80s which is the sound being recycled..

Brilliant, poignant, hot, postlcectrofunk at its best. Almost all the tracks rock. This album, presets, infalgranti, and Datarock on on the top of my spins.

This album will please all the Daft Punk fans who have been disappointed with their last effort, Human After All. The Looks is fueled by high tempo, catchy and groovy melodies every house fanatics has been craving for the last few years. MSTRKRFT is simply brilliant when it comes to create multi-layered dancefloor tracks reminiscent of the Best of French House, melody driven, bass pumping with insane rythms.
The highlights on this album are 'Monster Hospital' and 'Paris!', and the only thing wrong with this album is its length: way, way too short.
Party people, this one is for you.

Well, look at what Daft Punk's last and latest did. Everyone is vying to be the next Daft Punk, album after album. I know Human After All didn't work to your advantage, but is moving on the answer? Well, I guess it is, since I am holding auditions. After the successful Mylo, the latest up for the challenge this time is a Death From Above 1979 project MSTRKRFT. To me, Death From Above 1979 wasn't but a musical prototype. One I'd never think would grow into a blueprint for a member's half of electronic beats, I might add. Al-P and Jesse Kessler came through with a project to remix music, which led to them wanting to pull off Dance and Electronica's most hit-and-miss idea ever: trying their hand at creating their own electronic music of their own. They end up really letting the groove they create take over the listener, with only a few overdone messages intact.

The opener "Work on You" sounds like Daft Punk trying to pick up where Playgroups's "Number 1" left off, or what ti sounds like trying to upstage Pet Shop Boys "Minimal". Just so you know what I'm saying, the song is basically a space voice singing a breakup song over a futuristic beat. The type os song that sounds good once you get into the moment, rather than just walking down the street. Either way, they plan to stay with that feeling for exactly 6 minutes straight. "Easy Love" sounds like CIVO from the Robotic Subwaymen stepping in for the project to further carry the dancefloor-made love song. I said sounds like. (For those not aware, CIVO 2083 is from a band out of called The Robotic Subwaymen. Check them out to see what I am talking about.)

The song with an essence of the modern day devil-may-care dancing queen "She's Good For Business" is near ruined by it's attempt to make more of a sexy track, as it's title may be implying. The aggressive start-stop beat of "Paris" promises a little bit of electronic fisticuffs under the discoball, with nothing in the background but a chopped-up sound of the siren. "The Looks" takes samples to create a cut and paste take on soundtracking a model on the runway or bum to move to the ocean's motion. In this day and age, or at least to my ears, "The Looks" is the major standout of the album. "Street Justice" was robbed of its chance to seem aggressive compared to "Paris", but while promising "another killin' on the dancefloor", the war wouldn't really take too long. Some may think that the aggressiveness has long past worn out its welcome. The only thing that "Body Work" wants you to do is just dance, even if it is against all the music you stand for. And as annoying it is for an artists to coach you through what you could be doing to the appropriate music, this song would at least cause plenty to shuffle their feet. "Neon Knights" doesn't really ask for any action. All you have to do is just resist not to the beat when it shows up in clubs. There an eventual time when the beat just dissolves layer by layer and your free back to your exhausting reality.

My listening to this, you can tell that MSTRKRFT and DFA 1979 aren't different in a sense. MSTRKRFT is so busy on making you dance and having a bit of fun, that not even one bathroom break or intermission was allowed. I mean, geez. Even Daft Punk had one or two lush instrumentals in Discovery. Other than that, the album is really set on working your hips and shuffling those feet. If you buy this album, prepare both for nice music and a noise-riddled exercise you never thought possible. OR at least prepare for this to take place on the next iPod commercial.

(Oh, and warn someone that despite the cover, it isn't a folk album, please.)

Rating: 7.25/10