#reviewoftheweek / Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

Since the first listen to "Get Lucky" on radio waves and online, the song was virtually everywhere during 2013, and rightfully so. It was just plain awesome. But it's actually not what make Daft Punk's latest album the best of 2013. Since the duo released their album "Discovery" they haven't really put together a complete collection of music that could compete with that recording, which was essentially the best of 2000. Their new album features their signature robotic/electronic sound but this time with a twist. For "Random Access Memories" Daft Punk decided to use live instrumentation performed by a slew of musicians and a handful of vocalists including Pharrell Williams, Julian Casablancas, and Paul Williams. The most notable of the musicians in the studio with the robots was Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers. His signature disco guitar is all over the first single, which may have been the main reason for its success, but it's the inclusion of the signature sound on the first track of the album that immediately draws the listener in and gets them hooked immediately. What Daft Punk have proven, and which will ultimately win them the Grammy for Album Of The Year in a few weeks, is that electronic music whether created on a computer or live in the studio with real people and real instruments is a force to be reckoned with and is the sound of the future.

BURN THIS / January 2014

1. Travie McCoy (featuring Jason Mraz) "Rough Water"
2. The Dirty Heads "Sloth's Revenge"
3. Pepper "Hunny Girl"
4. The Green "Power In The Words"
5. Passafire "Right Thing"
6. The Movement "Sweet Life"
7. The Hip Abduction "Live It Right"
8. The Wheeland Brothers "Like You Do"
9. Naia Kete "Crazy Glue"
10. Will Evans "Life Is A Photograph"
11. Chris Trapper "Northwest Sun"
12. Moonshiner Collective "California Dream"
13. Zach Heckendorf "Keep Your Hats On"
14. Rob Drabkin "Down To Fate"
15. Quiet Life "San Luis Obispo"
16. Houndmouth "On The Road"
17. The Head And The Heart "Summertime"
18. Moon Taxi "Young Journey"
19. Boy & Bear "Southern Sun"
20. Jose Gonzalez "Step Out"

#reviewoftheweek

Get ready for a new feature beginning in 2014. No more randomly posted album or DVD reviews. Each week, on Wednesday, THISisMODERN.net will post a new review of an album or DVD labeling it as #reviewoftheweek. The review will also be hashtagged at www.twitter.com/thisismodern. The reviews featured will be albums, eps, etc. that you need to hear and hear about. Some will be by artists you've heard of, many will be by ones you have not yet or need to soon. Stay tuned to this site and the twitter feed to find out when the reviews are posted and which music is being featured. It's been a long while since THISisMODERN.net has commited to posting reviews regularly (the last time was when a review a day was posted in 2010 commemorating 10 years of the site). Enjoy the reviews!

*additionally, no more release dates will be posted at the site due to the fact that they change so frequently

THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2013

1. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
2. Jack Johnson - From Here To Now To You
3. John Mayer - Paradise Valley
4. Capital Cities - In A Tidal Wave Of Mystery
5. Wild Belle - Isles
6. Matt Nathanson - Last Of The Great Pretenders
7. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
8. The Head And The Heart - Let's Be Still
9. Dawes - Stories Don't End
10. Mike Doughty - Circles Super Bon Bon...
11. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires Of The City
12. Jim James - Regions Of Light And Sound Of God
13. Pickwick - Can't Talk Medicine
14. Haim - Days Are Gone
15. Moon Taxi - Mountains Beaches Cities
16. Josh Rouse - The Happiness Waltz
17. Gregory Alan Isakov - The Weatherman
18. Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite - Get Up!
19. Stephen Kellogg - The Blunderstone Rookery
20. The Cat Empire - Steal The Light
21. Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers - Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers
22. Brett Dennen - Smoke & Mirrors
23. OneRepublic - Native
24. Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors - Good Light
25. Matt Costa - Matt Costa
26. Carly Ritter - Carly Ritter
27. The Avett Brothers - Magpie & The Dandelion
28. Sara Bareilles - The Blessed Unrest
29. Classixx - Hanging Gardens
30. Kanye West - Yeezus

New Music Tuesday

New music out today worth checking out:

• Various Artists - The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty Soundtrack

New Music Tuesday

New music out today worth checking out:

• Good Old War - Live From The City Of Brotherly Love

BURN THIS / December 2013

1. John Butler Trio "Only One"
2. Mason Jennings "Lonely Street"
3. Mike Doughty "The Idiot Kings"
4. Chris Trapper "West Side"
5. The Fray "Love Don't Die"
6. Graham Colton "Born To Raise Hell"
7. Green River Ordinance "Flying"
8. The Wild Feathers "Got It Wrong"
9. Quiet Life "Devil's Kin"
10. Houndmouth "Penitentiary"
11. The Head And The Heart "Another Story"
12. Swear And Shake "Brother"
13. Vance Joy "Play With Fire"
14. James Bay "When We Were On Fire"
15. Newton Faulkner "Losing Ground"
16. Ruarri Joseph "No More Sins"
17. Moonshiner Collective "Let Go"
18. Lissie "Sleepwalking"
19. Moon Taxi "Running Wild"
20. Sam Roberts Band "We're All In This Together"

New Music Tuesday

New music out today worth checking out:

• Nathaniel Rateliff - Falling Faster Than You Can Run
• Tyrone Wells - The Christmas Album

New Music Tuesday

New music out today worth checking out:

• Jake Bugg - Shangri La

New Music Tuesday

New music out today worth checking out:

• Joshua James - Well, Then, I'll Go To Hell
• Mason Jennings - Always Been
• Keane - The Best Of Keane
• The Killers - Direct Hits
• Passafire - Vines