I Created Disco
by Calvin Harris

Album details

US: 4 September 2007 on Almost Gold
UK: 18 June 2007 on Columbia

This is the debut album for the 23-year-old Scottish electroclash/electronica artist, who was discovered on MySpace and signed to a major-label record deal (in the UK).

BUY THE CD:

The critical consensus

"This is an lip-smacking album and one that deserves to be bought and listened to … albeit selectively in parts," says Gigwise, determining that "the highs far outweigh the lows." Some–though definitely not all–reviewers agree that the album is simple but fun. Stylus, for example, calls I Created Disco "a fun and mostly very listenable pop record which satisfies the modest ambitions it sets for itself." Lost At Sea can’t stop talking about how "cool" both Harris and the album are, while CMJ appreciates Harris’ irony-laden lyrics, and NME calls him "crazily talented." Amazon states that "these tracks are simple, but undeniably effective," but Billboard’s Kerri Mason says there’s a little more to the album: "’I Created Disco’ feels renegade, and that’s what makes it more than irresistibly fun synth-pop."

Dotmusic hears a retread of groups such as LCD Soundsystem, Mylo, and Daft Punk, concluding, "Calvin Harris does nothing out of the ordinary, but still, he does it well." Under The Radar notes, "Good times are to be had, but don’t go looking for anything deep." Prefix finds that the weaker tracks expose Harris as "awkward and inexperienced," while Playlouder feels that Disco’s songs "rarely rise above the level of pedestrian, and, while never offensive, do sometimes border on annoying." The Guardian, clearly not a fan, calls the album "witless" and states, "Harris’s two plodding instrumentals are bad enough, but on most tracks he chants repetitive lyrics so stupid they feel like an insult to the listener." And Drowned In Sound’s feelings toward the album go beyond mere hatred: "This is a repetitive, patience-bending, mind-crippling, shit-shovelling slice of beyond-basic drivel. And, more importantly, you can’t dance to it."

This LP really only has one glitterball of an idea, but it’s an idea put to great use.

- Lou Thomas, BBC

Review roundup

Tracklisting and media

1. Merrymaking At My Place
   
   
2. Colours
3. This Is Industry
4. The Girls
   
   
5. Acceptable In the 80’s
   
   
6. Neon Rocks
7. Traffic Cops
8. Vegas
9. I Created Disco
10. Disco Heat
11. Vault Character
12. Certified
13. Love Souvenir
14. Electro Man

Also on the web

• Official Artist Site
• Calvin Harris @ MySpace