On "Modern Vampires," there's no reaching for the elusive crossover hit, no beating listeners over the head with overdone choruses -- just quality music, which, so far, has worked out just fine.
Clocking in at an hour and twenty-five minutes, "Reflektor" drags in parts, though it contains plenty of moments that sound ready to breathe life into the middling state of commercial rock in 2013.
"Random Access Memories" is a messy album, filled with passages that can be trimmed and one or two too many plodding songs. But it's also fantastic to hear these masterminds trying again.
They're still more interested in presenting exhilarating dance music than trying to analyze its power.
Those looking for vintage soul sounds or even full-on raps from start to finish will be thrown several curves here. It’s an album with numerous emotional layers as well.