Tour de France Soundtracks Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

  • Summary: No, it's not actually a soundtrack, but it is--shockingly enough--the legendary German electronic band's first new studio recording since 1986's 'Electric Cafe.' While the title track "Tour De France" was released as a single in 1983 (and is found here in four new versions), the remaining 8 tracks are brand new compositions. Collapse
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 21
  2. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Displays more intellectual rigour, subtle discipline and attention to detail than many of their younger contemporaries can ever dream of attaining. [#235, p.56]
  2. 80
    No huge amounts of new ground broken... but even a mediocre Kraftwerk album is still a work of near-genius. [Sep 2003, p.101]
  3. In essence, the group has adopted the smartest possible approach on Tour de France Soundtracks by simply making quintessential Kraftwerk music of a kind stylistically consistent with the music of its past but with subtle enhancements that suggest a connection to the present.
  4. Sounds like a flashback to the early eighties that at times is an adjustment to modern-shaped ears. [#5, p.101]

See all 21 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 1 out of 5
  1. MichaelA
    10
    I must start by telling you that I have every Kraftwerk album including their very rare pre-Autobahn work (no gimmicky spelling, folks). Being a musician myself I've spent time aplenty studying the itty-bitty details of each and this is the conclusion I've been led to: Tour de France Sountracks is right up there with KW's very best. TDFS is like a trip on the autobahn of KW's evolution and there are plenty of pit-stops; you can hear the experimentation of their earliest albums, the hard proto-electro sounds of Trans-Europe Express and Man Machine and the thematic complexity of Radioactivity (which may be the best comparison of all; listen closely). Of course, all of this is wrapped up in the shiny pop-bliss of Computer World's best moments. Technologically, they're still the most up-to-date robots on the market but they haven't lost their taste or subtlety or charm. Critics may have been underwhelmed upon Kraftwerk's newest release but I beleive time will prove this to be one of their greatest moments. Let's hope they don't take so bloody long next time! Danke, Ralf und Florian, danke!!! Expand
  2. LeonardoF
    10
    an instant classic
  3. HamishMcMillan
    10
    this CD is really choice i recommends you all bye it
  4. Hamish'smateNone
    1
    hamish is wrong dont bye it it isnt good

See all 5 User Reviews