Planet Rock: The Album

Planet Rock: The Album
The title track is still absolutely superb, early hip hop 80 Roland and Fairlight beats with some great synth lines and a big sample of Kraftwerk. It still sounds amazing - icy cold, imposing and austere yet expressive, and it’s massive influence is clear on hip-hop, sampling, new wave and electro.

I hadn’t heard any of the other songs on here previously, but it continues with more electro-kraftwerk-synth grooves with Looking for the Perfect Beat, another excellent track. Despite the slightly rudimentary by modern standards rapping, musically this also sounds well ahead of its time.

Renegades of Funk is good as well, especially on repeat listens, with the afro chanting, synth hooks and sound effects, but it definitely a notch below Looking for the Perfect Beat and a couple below Planet Rock. Frantic Situation is decent as well, the beats, synth bass and hip hop party chorus are all good, but again does continue the slide into diminishing returns after those stellar opening 2 tracks. Who You Funkin’ With isn’t great and suffers from sounding very different, especially with Melle Mel’s OTT delivery. Go Go Pop has some nice hooks, but again the rapping kind of lets it down. They Made a Mistake is also fine, but is pretty standard bit of early 80s hip hop, especially in comparison to the glacial magnificence of Planet Rock

If this was just the first 2 tracks this would probably be a 4, but it its a case of subtraction by addition with the rest of the tracks. Frantic Situation and Go Go Pop are certainly enjoyable enough, but nowhere near the brilliance of Planet Rock. I think that means it ends up as a high 3.
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Playlist submission: Planet Rock

It's really kind of cool. It's weird as shit, and it's very uniquely its own thing. It sounds very old and dated, but I can tell it was very influential on hip hop culture. I liked it.

Unbelievable album. My knowledge of Hip Hop is minimal at best but this is the best album I’ve ever heard in the genre.

This is fun but it is a bit simple. Definitely something I can imagine that would have been put on at a party. Favorite songs were Planet Rock, Renegades of Funk, and Who You Funkin’ With?.

Accidentally started listening to Planet Rock, the remixes, but this was great when I found the right album. It's been super interesting to trace the progression of hip-hop via this project; this was its bright-eyed and forward-thinking progenitor.

This is the most fun I've had listening to a hip hop album. Driving production, and spitting that makes you feel part of the game. Whaat a great time

This isn't my usual type of thing, so I wasn't expecting much

It was actually super catchy and I quite enjoyed it! Parts of it sounded super familiar

4 ⭐️

2.28

I did not know that RATMs Renegades of Funk was a cover... RATM did it better!

Electro and rap have a kid. But the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Every song is way too fucking long and dated as hell. I respect the influence, but that doesn’t translate to personal enjoyment.

2/5

Letkeä protohiphop-platta.

After the references to Kraftwerk, Captain Sky and Ennio Morricone, I was interested in the album despite the genre. I listened to the first track on the album. I immediately recognized the Kraftwerk samples. However, it was the kind of hip hop I don't know what to do with. After just over a minute, I'd had enough. I didn't feel like listening to any of the rest of the album either. The album may have been groundbreaking and pioneering for its genre, but I just don't like the genre. 1/5

Not bad but a bit too proto for me.

Black Beastie Boys got an 808 for Christmas and love it a little too much.

I'll give them props, this was quite the endeavor to make this sound in the mid-80s. It was very unique, and interesting how they worked with Kraftwerk. Also turns out "Renegades of Funk" by RATM is a reimagining of this track - didn't know that, but I appreciate the original. All around it's not great, but I understand why it's on the list. 2.5/5 -> 3/5

PG13 movie ahh soundtrack

It’s not actually an album album, is it now?
It’s fine for a few moments, but I ultimately don’t care about it.

Classic song but doesn't hold the whole album up.

Kinda bad