Parisian duo Daft Punk has been a mainstay on dancefloors since its 1997 full-length debut, “Homework.” With this third studio album, Punks Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo take a less commercial approach to music making. Instead of delivering pop-friendly jams like No. 1 Hot Dance Club Play hit “One More Time,” the Frenchmen are decidedly experimental this time out. It doesn’t always make for an enjoyable listening experience, on or off the dancefloor. The techno-flavored beats are primarily cold and lifeless or rehashed references to past glories (“Steam Machine,” lead single “Robot Rock”). The album’s high point arrives with “Make Love,” a laid-back, blissfully chilled house track that proves Daft Punk can be human when it wants to.—MP
