256 - Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express

No, that isn't Will Forte in the album cover. ;)

Well, I screwed up. I thought I had written this review already, so when I started to make notes for the next album on the list, I deleted my Kraftwerk notes and comments. :( Here is the best of my ability to remember the brilliant thoughts I had previously documented on Trans Europe Express.

NOW IZ ZEE TIME ON SPROCKETS VEN VE DANCE!

While much is said about Kraftwerk's use of computers, synths, and vocal effects, the band is made of humans and the emotions they have still inhabit these songs. There is joy and optimism in "Europe Endless." There is much gloom and introspection in "The Hall of Mirror" (this song, in particular, reminded me a lot of The Legendary Pink Dots - especially their album The Tower). Trans Europe Express isn't seeking to eliminate the human aspect of music making, it focuses instead on making us question what it is to be human and our relationship to the world around us. Some of the world around Kraftwerk is the media ("The Hall of Mirrors"), the rest of society ("Showroom Dummies"), and traveling around Europe (about half of the songs)...let alone the technology the band uses to convey this examination to the listener.

The second half of the album is a kind-of suite that expands on "Trans-Europe Express" with songs that take tangents on the melodies used in that foundation song. Because of that, whether or not you enjoy the second side depends on how much you like "Trans-Europe Express."

Songs I knew I liked: "Trans-Europe Express"

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Europe Endless" and "Franz Schubert" serves as a nice palate cleanser at the end of the "TEE" suite.

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: None