Album Review: Sound Of Silver by LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy is chiefly regarded as a man with a gargantuan record collection. Less appreciated is the depth of his songwriting, and the unsettling accuracy with which he depicts the fretful ageing hipster whose gargantuan record collection is no longer enough. Beneath the jokes in his signature tune, Losing My Edge, lurks real fear of growing old and redundant.

Full Review >>

Compared to the first LCD Soundsystem album, Sound of Silver is less silly, funnier, less messy, sleeker, less rowdy, more fun, less distanced, more touching. It is just as linked to James Murphy's record collection, with traces of post-punk, disco, Krautrock, and singer/songwriter schlubs, but the references are evidently harder to pin down; the number of names dropped in the reviews published before its release must triple the amount mentioned throughout "Losing My Edge." There's even some confusion as to which version of David Bowie is lurking around. One clearly evident aspect of the album is that Murphy has streamlined his sound.

Full Review >>

”Daft Punk Is Playing at My House” is no longer playing at my house. Yes, my ass shook along as that unlikely hit grooved LCD’s 2005 eponymous full-length debut all the way to two Grammy nominations. But a couple years will mellow ya, as Soundsystem guru James Murphy can attest. While Sound of Silver still delivers terrific buzzy dance-space jams (e.g., single ”North American Scum”), it also contains wispy hints of New Order and Bowie (”Someone Great,” ”New York I Love You”), and Murphy’s best song-making efforts to date.

Full Review >>

Review Summary: LCD Soundssystem's second release is just as fun and derivative as their first and nothing is really new or original here, but thats not required to get up and shake your booty a little. When traversing the world of Electronica or some sort of hybrid of such, its important not to get caught up in the perceived intellectualism sometimes attached and just have a good time. And while many an indie poser may attempt to dissect or put too much thought and study onto electronic beats and simple melodies simply designed to get you up and moving, the more adept and familiar among us know that to relax and let the music move you, as with all good music, is what brings out the essence in the belly of the beast.

Full Review >>

At this point, James Murphy is a man who needs little, if any, introduction. Having staked his reputation as one-half of the esteemed DFA production team, Murphy sealed his place in the then-nascent dance/post-punk revival of the early aughts either behind the consoles of some of the movement’s best tracks or as the creative polymath at the head of them. To be sure, when the morass of millennial disco gets dusted off again in a couple of decades, his song “Losing My Edge” will stand as one of the rightful high water marks of all that was said and done in that field.

Full Review >>

If you were at a club and heard "Get Innocuous!," the lead track to LCD Soundsystem's sophomore album, Sound of Silver, you'd be hard-pressed not to throw your hands in the air, then wave them like you just don't care. Deep, repetitive grooves match fat synth lines, and something primal happens. James Murphy is good at that. Remember, he lost his "edge" on LCD's eponymous 2005 debut, dance music's self-hating hipster.

Full Review >>