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Kraftwerk - The Model: The Best of Kraftwerk Audio CD

A fair review of the Kraftwerk "The Model: The Best of Kraftwerk" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Kraftwerk reviews here, or go back to the Kraftwerk tabs.

Kraftwerk Band: Kraftwerk
Title: The Model: The Best of Kraftwerk
Rating:
Release Date: 1992-06-11
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Radioactivity 2: Neon Lights 3: Showroom Dummies 4: Hall of Mirrors 5: Antenna 6: Model 7: Trans Europe Express 8: Metal on Metal 9: Robots 10: Mannequins 11: Europe Endless

Curious (and flawed) compilation but a lot of great music
The band's own "best of" (1991's "The Mix") was seriously flawed. Music: 4 stars; Compilation: 2 stars

There are not a lot of Kraftwerk compilations out there. This is a 1992 release that brings a mix of songs released from 1975 to 1978 (covering the Radio Activity, Trans Europe Express, and the Man Machine albums). Why the Autobahn or Computer World albums were not covered, who knows. . . .

"The Model" (11 tracks, 58 min. ) brings a bunch of the Kraftwerk singles from that era, and hence in the single mix, not the album mode: Radio Activity, Neon lights, Showroom Dummies, Antenna, Trans Europe Express, The Robots all appear here in their single version (which usually means: shorter than the album version). The Model comes in its true form, of course at 3 min. , it couldn't be shortened. The single of The Model reached No. 1 in the UK singles chart in 1991, which makes me think that this compilation wanted to cash in on that. Very annoyingly the TEE track (in its single edit) is cut off and then followed by Metal on Metal in its full version. . . why?

The only reason to really want to have this as a Kraftwerk fan is the rare version of "Les Mannequins" (the French version of "Showroom Dummies"). The album closes with "Europe Endless", a great track but why this song, as opposed to any other album track from that era? I have no idea. I picked this up really cheap, the only reason I did. I don't consider "The Mix" as the band's real "best of" and I imagine that one day there will be a true "best of" in the making. Meanwhile, this CD is not a bad introduction to Kraftwerk for the casual Kraftwerk fan out there (if there is such a thing). .


The Model is Great but Non-Essential.
This was a time when Kraftwerk was breaking new ground with a vengeance creating a blueprint for the technopop that was to explode in the early '80s. The 1992 Kraftwerk compilation "The Model" features highlights from the group's most innovative period 1975-1978.
"The Model" features the hits "Neon Lights", "Showroom Dummies", "Trans-Europe Express" and the track which this compilation is named after. Also included are important album tracks such as "Metal On Metal", "The Hall of Mirrors" and "Europe Endless" all of which are from their classic "Trans-Europe Express" album.
Although there is not a bad piece of music on this compilation, there are two flaws with it. First of all, many of the tracks are presented in 'single edit' form as opposed to their original full-length versions. The second flaw is with "Trans-Europe Express" and "Metal on Metal". On the original "T-EE" album, these two tracks were joined together as one continuous piece of music. Here, we are presented with an edited version of "T-EE" followed by the full-length "Metal On Metal" with a gap inbetween the two tracks. This takes away the original integrity of these two pieces and creates an unfortunate disjointed feel. It is also incredibly difficult to hear these two pieces in this context.
However, there is still some great music to listen to on this disc. There is even a genuine Kraftwerk rarity included here, "Les Mannequins" (the French version of "Showroom Dummies"). While this is not an essential compilation, it is still very great. After all, it's Kraftwerk!!! How much better can it be?.


GOOD FOR FANS
This album collects tracks from "Radio Activity", "Trans-Europe Express", and "The Man Machine". The only official KRAFTWERK CD to feature single edits. A purchase for true fans who want to collect every CD. This one is just for their single edits!.


You can see a complete list of all Kraftwerk discography, or go back to the Kraftwerk tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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