A00-09 23. LCD Soundystem - Sound Of Silver

LCD Soundsystem is really the work of one man, James Murphy, a DJ, producer and co-fonder of DFA Productions, a dance-punk label.

LCD Soundsystem's two best known tracks would probably be Daft Punk Is Playing In My House and North American Scum. Neither track really gives an impression of what the band's second album Sound of Silver is like. They are both slightly jokey, punchy songs that are a good choice as singles. However most of their songs are longer, more serious and are built from repeating elements that help build to a crescendo. In fact, before the release of Sound Of Silver produced a very long song called 45:33, which is actually slightly longer than 45:33. It was made in conjunction with Nike and was supposedly designed to accompany jogging. Part of 45:33 was turned into Someone Great on Sound of Silver.

Sound of Silver has only nine tracks, and the middle three tracks (Someone Great, All My Friends and Us V Them) are all amazing. On previous releases Murphy had decided not to go into the vocal booth with any pre-written lyrics for fear of Losing His Edge (to better-looking people with better ideas and more talent. And they're actually really, really nice). He has seemingly abandoned this idea on Sound Of Silver and it is better for it, as the lyrics are more meaningful than before.

As would be reasonable to expect from a producer, it is the sound of the record that really makes it. It has a lot more spacious, full bodied sound, compared with compressed sound of most dance music.

Recommended Track: Someone Great