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I have to confess, I wasn’t completely sold on LCD Soundsystem’s original full-length release, a sprawling double album that almost overflowed with ideas. Therefore I had some reservations when approaching their sophomore album Sound of Silver.
For those who aren’t aware, LCD Soundsystem is James Murphy, James Murphy is LCD Soundsystem. In his spare time, Murphy is a renowned producer/DJ, having co-founded dance-punk label DFA Records. He uses the LCD Soundsystem moniker as a vehicle to deliver his own heady mixture of dance, pop, punk and disco to the mainstream. Murphy unashamedly states that his goal for this latest album is to hit the top 40 in the Billboard charts.
On first listen, chart success won’t be long in coming. This is a much tighter album than the original, seamlessly morphing from vital seven minute club tracks to four minute ‘radio friendly’ numbers. While it appears effortless here, this is something that Murphy has struggled with in the past.
It doesn’t take long for Sound of Silver to break into its’ stride. Opener ‘Get Innocuous!’ can only be described as a dance floor anthem, best played loud. The title deliberately misleads, as the track slowly builds in tempo, plateauing, then soaring to its’ finale with a propulsive techno beat.
The lead single, ‘North American Scum’, then funks along, with its hand clapping rhythm and tongue in cheek lyrics;
“ New York's the greatest if you get someone to pay the rent,
Wahoo North America!
And it's the furthest you can live from the government uh huh huh”
Not much is safe in this broad political and cultural swipe.
But then you realise that these tracks are merely a precursor to the main event… as we are transported back to the 80’s for the two album highlights, ‘Someone Great’ and ‘All My Friends’. Think synthesizers, drum machines and New Order vocals and you are half way there. This is intelligent, emotion filled dance music – dare I say it, aimed at the more mature listener? On further listens, you increasingly pick up the pop/rock heart that beats underneath, a trend seen in so much of Murphy’s music. These latest creations are a fusion in every sense, drawing the album together and providing a bloody hard act for the remaining songs to follow.
Now, many have commented that ‘Someone Great’ is simply new vocals over the top of an old LCD Soundsystem track (part of Nike 45:33) – while this is true, the re-work more than justifies its’ inclusion.
Rounding things off in style (with what should have been the finale) is the title track. It harnesses a metallic background beat, then overlays it with robotic vocals – before mixing things up with a multi-instrumental chill out jam at the end – great stuff.
It takes until the last track for Murphy to let himself down. This is due to his decision to include the overly self indulgent ‘New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down’. While it may carry on with a central theme, it is a disappointing end to an album that deserves to go out on a high.
Don’t let it bring you down though, just stop at track eight.
Essential Tracks
Get Innocuous
Someone Great
All My Friends
Full Track Listing
1. Get Innocuous (7:11)
2. Time to Get Away (4:12)
3. North American Scum (5:26)
4. Someone Great (6:25)
5. All My Friends (7:37)
6. Us v. Them (8:30)
7. Watch the Tapes (3:55)
8. Sound of Silver (7:07)
9. New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down (5:35)
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