2013’s Best Albums (So Far): Idolator Editors Pick Their Favorite 10

Daft Punk, Random Access Memories Released: May 21

Without fail, certain artists’ albums roll out each year buoyed by a frothy surge of hype. (We’re looking at you, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West and, yes, Daft Punk.) The good news is that Random Access Memories, the Robots’ immensely ambitious, fourth studio album proper, has the potent hooks and addictive gloss to back up all the online blather.

Like mega-hit “Get Lucky,” theme-establishing opening track “Give Life Back To Music” and “Lose Yourself To Dance” are teeming with the funky guitar work of disco-legend-turned-iconic-producer Nile Rodgers. Another pioneer, Giorgio Moroder, narrates the nine-minute epic “Giorgio By Moroder,” detailing his life story above a bed of beats and synths. But arguably, the album’s warmest moment comes courtesy of the joyously mechanical “Doin’ It Right,” featuring soaring vocals by Panda Bear. Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo spent five years recording RAM with mostly-live instruments and nary a sample (save for on “Contact”). Occasionally, the record lags under the weight of perhaps a few too many slow numbers. But overall, this is still one sonic journey worth plugging into. — ROBBIE DAW