It takes more than a day to process an album, and everyone is just jumping in the conversation to cash in on the hot topic before we all inevitably move on. The real story about this album is more complicated than the music. It’s about a genre, a gap between who Daft Punk mattered to THEN, who Daft Punk matters to NOW, and who is still trying to figure out why, exactly, Daft Punk matters so much. It’s not a simple situation.

It’s been over eight years since Daft Punk’s last studio album, Human After All. In that time, electronic music has gone through hyperactive growth and a series of transitions that has been the most exciting and confusing mainstream music explosion since hip-hop’s genesis.

Electronic music has been around for decades, but a huge portion of the audience is new. These are kids who don’t know about disco; they don’t know about the history of house; they don’t know about where Daft Punk came from and who the fuck Paul Williams is. Is this stuff important? Sure it is, but let’s not kid ourselves—the way we’re judging this Daft Punk album is distorted no matter who we are. Take into consideration the suspenseful roll-out, the state of electronic music, the undeniable influence of Daft Punk on so many of today’s most popular artists, and the fact that the audience is so desperately trying to wrap their heads around this as fast as possible because it’s been building up for. so. long. and. IT’S. FINALLY. HAPPENING. No matter what, it’s impossible to get a grip on Random Access Memories right now.

The new Daft Punk album is here. It has arrived. Sit with it for a minute. Let it sink in. Play it at your next party. Let it spin at 3 a.m. when you’re high/drunk/sober/happy/alone/with friends/depressed/whatever. Give it a little time. Let this album live.