Customer Reviews

Sound of Silver

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

James Murphy has like, totally, outdone his debut with this fantabulous soundclash between the Talking Heads, Scissor Sisters, Trail Of The Dead, Flaming Lips and just about every decent British electronic band who plugged in an analogue synth in the Eighties.

This is a rock record, made with technology as ancient and relevant as old Les Paul guitars and valve amplifiers, which also happens to be great to dance or drive to, and is possibly even more conducive to just sitting down and listening. Accompanied by furious head nodding, obviously.

'North American Scum' is a shockingly perceptive song, and a timely reminder that the US does not have an exclusively Midwestern mentality.

The title track pulses with social satire while lampooning the basso profundo pretensions of the Human League and Heaven 17, but it is all sweetness and light next to the damning tribute to the Big Apple that closes the record. "Like a rat in a cage pulling minimum wage," croons Murphy on 'New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down', before a surprise second ending, sounding like a Glitter Band encore. And there aren't many of those these days.

Don't talk to James Murphy about maturity. The purveyor of the first cowbell revival of the 21st century has seen it all before. Here, Mr. DFA builds on the success of debut smash `LCD Soundsystem' and relative acclaim of Nike-sponsored jog soundtrack '45:33' to bring in something equal in warm calculation as it is to dance-friendly smiles on your face.

Opener "Get Innocuous" is reminiscent of Casio-chop debut single "Losing My Edge", with tasty space and Telex-induced bassline to boot.
Tour Anthem 2007 duties go to "North American Scum", an affair effectively indebted as much to the glam of Sweet as it is to the post-disco tendencies of 1980s New York City.

Murphy is happy to point out that he might be showing his age.
Although endlessly rhythmic and throbbing, middle-order batter "All My Friends" signals a shift on "Sound Of Silver" from frantic to wistful, (""wouldn't trade one stupid decision/For another five years of life") .
On his deathbed he isn't, but Murphy knows he can't keep miles ahead of the pack forever. Let's hope he never becomes a sweating, faceless member of the chasing dance pelaton.

James Murphy's 2005 debut as LCD Soundsystem received acclaim from virtually everyone who was willing to lend it an ear. It's flawless production and Murphy's unparalleled ability to craft smart dance music (which is no longer an oxymoron) was appealing to clubbers and hipsters alike. Still, Murphy is not without blemish, as his vocals often make him sound like he's battling a serious case of nasal congestion. This made it very hard for me, someone who really values a good vocalist, to really get into LCD Soundsystem's debut album. Even though I could see the brilliance of it, it wasn't as good as I felt it could have been. "Sound of Silver," however, is the LCD Soundsystem I've always waited for. Though Murphy's vocals are still less than perfect, there's just no denying that this album is one that should be enjoyed for months and months.

"Get Innocuous" immediately showcases Murphy's talents as a dance producer in ways that no other song of his has really done to date. Here, his vocals are at their absolute best, sounding like something straight out of the 80s. On the contrary, "Time to Get Away" features everything that I dislike about his voice. But this is dance music, so vocals are always going to take a backseat. It's not that they're totally unlistenable either, just not optimal. There are other times, however, when the vocals are completely excusable because the song itself is just so awesome.

Take, for example, "North American Scum," one of the best tracks on the album and one of the most fun songs of 2007 thus far. Murphy's tongue-in-cheek humor is unparalleled here, as he sings, "New York's the greatest if you get someone to pay the rent, and it's the furthest you can live from the government. Some proud American Christians might disagree, here in north America. But New York's the only place we're keepin them off the street." The song travels from a steady dance beat in the verses to an all-out rock guitar heavy chorus almost effortlessly. It truly is a fantastic song.

"Someone Great" is a synth-heavy masterpiece that once again features Murphy's vocals at their best. In fact, they've never been better than when he's repeating "When someone great is gone!" towards the end of the song. Slowly but surely, he's forming me into a true LCD Soundsystem fan, and I'm loving every minute of it. The frantic piano line that begins "All My Friends" continues throughout it's length and eventually builds into an layer-heavy, semi-anthem that rivals The Killers or U2. It is completely unexpected, yet entirely welcomed!

Truly, "Sound of Silver" is fantastic. It's an album that should be remembered as one of the best dance albums in recent memory and, in my opinion, LCD Soundsystem's best yet! Whether it's the cowbells of "Us v Them," the earnestness of "New York I Love You, but You're Bringing Me Down," the brilliant intricacy of "Sound of Silver," or the undeniably fun sing along of "Watch the Tapes" ("Read all the pamphlets and watch the tapes!"), every second of this album is enjoyable! Sure, I may be a little tough on Murphy's vocal abilities every now and then, but I'm honest enough to admit that "Sound of Silver" is an incredible album! Listen to it, soak it up, enjoy it, dance to it, and rest. Then do it all again! You won't regret it!

Recommended for fans of LCD Soundsystem and anyone who want to hear what good, smart dance music sounds like.

Key Tracks:
1. "Get Innocuous"
2. "North American Scum"
3. "Someone Great"
4. "Watch the Tapes"
5. "New York I Love You, but You're Bringing Me Down"

8 out of 10 Stars

Much has been made about the growth of James Murphy, the warmth and wit of his composition and performance. What I hear are the strong influences of some of the best and brightest bubbling up through his production. Early on there are multi-tracked choruses that sound every bit like early Eno, followed by Jack White growl and power chords, a little Tom Tom Club sweetness, and a song to NY, NY that could easily be mistaken for the awkward sensitivity of Sparklehorse. This is all to the good. Music grows when styles are effectively alloyed. And Mr. Murphy has done a great job of it.

The universal acclaim for this CD is well deserved. This is not necessarily what you want on your stereo to keep folks dancing at some carefully choreographed clambake, but it is definitely what you want to be hearing when you're driving home at 2 am from said soiree.

I ran into a friend in a bar recently who insisted on playing "North American Scum" to me on his Ipod; as he thought it was so amazing. I liked the track a lot but couldn't quite figure out why it sounded so familiar until he pointed out that it sounded exactly like Pete Shelley's 1981 hit "Homosapien". It isn't like "Homosapien"; it is a total rip off. That doesn't mean it's not a lot of fun to listen to though. Welcome to post-modernism 2.0.

LCD trade in nostalgia, it's simply what they do. For the first part of their career the blueprint was Public Image Limited and to a lesser extent the Fall; but now they've expanded their horizons to mine a larger field of 80's innovators and they do it with overall really strong (sometimes amazing) results. Opening track "Get Innocuous" is Berlin Bowie meets Kraftwerk in such an obvious way you almost want to cringe. And yet by the end of this tune I was absolutely sold on the track. They just do it so damn well I found it impossible to resist.

There are other highlights. "Someone Great" is the best track the Human League never made. It's wonderful. "All My Friends" is daring and amazing. It also features the best lyrics I have heard in a long, long time. It also has the punk rock ability to send people running out of the room with its repeating piano figure. I later played this record at a cocktail party and it utterly polarized everyone in the room. Mission accomplished.

The album has two general themes; the first, that NYC is tired and overrated; and the second the challenges of encroaching age. These may not be the most fun themes for a pop record but exploring them does justice to the band's influences.

A great effort. That rare thing: The sophomore improvement. LCD Soundsystem didn't get there first, but they got there.

LCD Soundsystem had somehow escaped my attention until I read a review in Rolling Stone Magazine not too long ago. Everything they said pointed to me liking this CD. Sure enough, I ordered it and I love it! It's catchy, melodic, beat heavy and hook laden. In places it has strange electronic sounds and gimmicks that play with your ears and your mind. It has wonderful vocals and multi-layered harmonies, including an utterly charming female background vocalist that wails and yelps a few additions to a couple of the tracks. James Murphy and company presents a wonderful array of danceable electronica music. In listening, I'd say it is very modern and unique but it also has a retro feel. In places, it sounds somewhat like a friendly battle between Devo and Talking Heads, two of the quirkiest bands of the New Wave era.

All the tracks are quite good and it would be difficult to rank them. My favorite track, however, is "North American Scum." Somehow it has a very amateurish sound, but it's playful, happy and uplifting at the same time. It's a wonderful combination and the vocals are especially good on this track. If I had to somehow pick the weakest track, ironically it would be "Sound of Silver," the song that provides the title to the album. One song that really stands out as atypical of the entire album is the melancholy "New York, I love You but You're Bringing Me Down." It's a great song and, strangely enough, provides a wonderful close to the album.

Altogether, this CD provides catchy, quirky and uplifting dance music. It's fun. When I listen, I have a smile on my face. That's my kinda music.

I purchased this CD after hearing a thumbs-up music review from Ken Tucker on NPR a couple of weeks ago...and I was not disappointed.

I think the album has an 80s sound (kind of a mix of the Talking Heads, Blondie, and The Cars). Lead singer, James Murphy, sounds a lot like David Byrne (of the Talking Heads). At times, the lyrics can be fairly repetitive, although they are always clever and often quite funny.

For me, what makes this compilation of songs so good is the phenominal beat of this energizing music. Murphy has effectively infused into this sound an interesting use keyboard, funk guitar, and cowbell (Murphy must have taken to heart Christopher Walken's advice to Will Ferrell in the now-famous SNL skit when he said "I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!").

Man, how this guy grows on you...I thought his thump-thump-bleep-ping sing/talk was a gimmick, but it's borderline brilliant...! These layered hooky songs are fun, sassy, and funky. Smart, too. "North American Scum" is great, as is the intro "Get Innocuous". Grab your earphones and sing-a-long, who cares if you're in the office or at the gym? LCD, uh, says you can...!

LCD Soundsystem are a US electronic rock group, with a very British sound, a fact not lost on them as they sing "and for those of you who still think we're from england / we're not, no" on the buzzing, incredibly catchy "North American scum".

The album comprises just 9 songs, averaging 5 minutes each. Each track takes 1 to 2 minutes to build up to the vocal delivery.

Case in point is "Someone great" with loads of layering and electronic effects building up to a Human League-like song with eighties sounding synths.

Similarly, "Get innocuous" takes about 2 minutes to build to a shimmery dance song (with disembodied vocals) which takes no prisoners.

"Time to get away" has lead singer James Murphy singing and yelping over a pulsing guitar drenched house groove. The title track is a sparse but hypnotic effects laden song. "All my friends" is a pulsing U2-esque song.

Closing is the lone ballad; "New York, I love you but you're bringing me down", starting off deceptively like a Coldplay song, building up to a blistering guitar solo, and an unexpected twist at the end. They sound like a totally different band on this one.

It does take a few plays to get into but once it gets into your head, you can't get it out. One of the best dance CDs of the year!

Honestly I don't generally like this genre of music unless I'm liquored up and soaked with sweat in a body car wash on a dancefloor in the early morning hours with my mind on pause and my butt in overdrive. Through my headphones or my ear pods the sound and fury generally is so minimized that I tend to get bored by the sameness and repetition of the beats and the mindlessness of the lyrics.

Somehow with this new release LCD Soundsystem manages to sidestep most of the potholes that can cause this genre to rattle like a cheap car with worn out shock absorbers. From the rousing "Get Innocuous!" (which is anything but) to "Time To Get Away" which sounds like David Byrne and Giorgio Moroder having sex under a disco ball, "Watch The Tapes" with it's social commentary ("read all the pamphlets and watch the tapes,") the wry, anti-nostalgia of the title tune "Sound Of Silver" and the downtempo closer "New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down" which is a great cooldown after dancing all night, either at a club or between the sheets.

And yet for reasons I'm not sure I can fairly express it is "Someone Great" that transcends the best of the genre into "Something Great." Listen out loud and I think you'll understand.

LCD Soundsystem - maybe the initials should stand for Laughing, Clappinng & Dancing. Crank it up.