Jan 29 2022
5
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of The Strokes
- 1 cup of Devo
- 1.5 tsp of Television
- .5 tsp of Daft Punk
- 2 heaping tbsp of cowbell
Directions:
1. Add all ingredients to silver saucepan. Stir to combine.
2. Bring to a boil, then let simmer on medium-low heat for 56 minutes and 12 seconds.
3. Pour into a silver bowl. Garnish with extra cowbell and percussion as desired.
4. Serve and enjoy.
👍
Mar 03 2021
4
The year is 2007. It's summer. I just turned 21, built myself a fixie, and am living in Seattle in a party house. At any time of any day or night you can find me at one of the 4 following places: Zeeks Pizza. Riding my fixie around the city. Crashing dance parties. Sitting on my front stoop drinking a bum jug of burgundy and vibing to this album. It was a summer of self discovery. Weed, mushrooms, ecstacy. I fingered strange women, parachuted envelopes of molly, turned every pair of jeans into jorts, smoked filterless Lucky Strikes in softpacks rolled into my tshirt sleeves. I had neon sunglasses. I was a huge fucking chode but was having the goddamn time of my life. And LCD Soundsystem was there every sweaty, drunk, sunny, indulgent step of the way. This album was anthemic. It played at house parties, bonfires, sunny day bike rides, dive bar patios. It fueled my self-indulgence and was a comforting backing track as I eschewed my religious upbringing and discovered there is nothing inherently sinful in the pursuit of pleasure. I don't think I'm interested in reliving 2007 but I'm glad for the memories. Thanks for helping me get laid so much, James Murphy.
👍
Jun 08 2021
2
You know, this started strong and I was like, "heck yeah, this is four stars easy!" but dang does it ever get repetitive as hell. Halfway through, my ears were exhausted. An few songs later, I wanted to stab things. By the time I was finished, I was mostly just angry that there is more than one LCD Soundsystem album on this list because that means that I have to do this again at some point. Also someone needs to have their cowbell confiscated until they can prove that they can be responsible with it.
👍
Jan 14 2023
2
Listening to this album feels like being poked gently with a dull object for 55 minutes and 55 seconds. At first it's just kinda irritating. Then as you get used to it, it's not so bad, you start to tune it out. Then there are actually moments where the poking feels invigorating, almost like a massage, but not quite as pleasant. And you almost feel sad and empty when the poking finally stops, like an integral part of you just disappeared. And then it hits you - you were sitting there letting someone poke you for almost an hour, when doing just about anything else would have been more enjoyable.
2 gentle pokes out of 5
👉👉
👍
Mar 19 2021
5
Indie dance music for people who don’t like indie dance music.
👍
Oct 03 2022
3
My bird liked this very much and chirped along with the music.
👍
Apr 05 2022
1
So obnoxiously repetitive. “North American Scum” might be one of the ugliest songs I’ve ever heard. Trying to sound 80s without the authenticity.
👍
Nov 08 2022
3
James Murphy wears his influences on his sleeve here. If you’re a fan of David Bowie, Brian Eno, Talking Heads and/or Kraftwerk, you’ll probably find something to like. Conversely, you might hate it because it’s a little on-the-nose.
👍
Jan 13 2021
5
New York, you're bringing me down.
👍
Nov 28 2022
4
“Sound of silver, talk to me, makes you want to feel like a teenager, until you remember the feelings of a real life emotional teenager, then you think again.”
The most improbably lengthy, yet still catchy, hook I have ever known.
I’ve been a fan of LCD Soundsystem for quite some time, but have never strayed far beyond their excellent 2010 album “This is Happening” (sadly not in the 1001 list- I checked). I’ve tried to get into Sound of Silver before but have never made it through, so I’m glad to have given it more time here, because it’s brilliant.
The best or worst thing about LCD Soundsystem, depending on one’s angle, is that James Murphy is a born magpie, shamelessly cherry-picking from his record collection and spinning old hits and deep cuts into new concoctions. Is this a smart skewing of DJ and electronica sampling in a rock environment? Is it an example of post-modern bricolage to reflect our increasingly fractured world, just like a shattered mirrorball? Or is it just a huge rip-off? Kraftwerk, Pete Shelley, Bowie, David Byrne and many more could put a reasonable case in after hearing this album, as well as any other by Murphy.
Bowie’s response to Murphy’s plagiarism admission?
“You can’t steal from a thief, darling.”
My feelings are similar: everything is borrowed in one way or another. All heroes have heroes and nothing is made in a vacuum, like it or not. With this album, Murphy just about stays on the right side of pastiche.
“Get Innocuous” is a very well-constructed opening, from the distinctive synth percussion intro, to the bassline filtering its way into existence, to the echoing foreboding vocals right up to the chant towards the end. It’s completely addictive and had me hooked as it unfurled all the way. The third track, “North American Scum” is an adrenaline-fuelled stomper with a satisfyingly beefy sound and passionate, furious vocals from Murphy. But “Someone Great” and “All My Friends” are on another level: sublime tracks making up the heart of the record. Immediate, emotive, simple: true modern classics, and the fact we get them back to back here is astonishing.
My only gripe is that these two centrepieces set such a high bar for the rest of the record. The other two highlights are “Us v Them”, an admirable epic which manages to keep the momentum going against all odds after “All My Friends”, and the stirring, dejected “New York I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down”.
On the other hand, “Sound of Silver” and “Watch the Tapes” could have arguably been trimmed out to make a much tighter album. “Time to Get Away”, too, is relatively lightweight, enjoyable but failing to reach the same heights as most of the other songs here.
Still, this is an immediate, irresistible hit. Catchy, immaculately produced and full of humour and heart, it’s a nine out of ten for sure.
👍
Jul 08 2021
5
Don't have eloquent enough words to describe how great this album is. Entwined with crystal clear memories of the euphoria of dancing with friends at their gigs and hazier memories of dancing in fields at sunrise.
👍
Dec 30 2020
5
Bowie with an 808, innovative, bouncy and fun
👍
Jan 14 2021
2
Derivative. Some songs remind me of Talking Heads, but without any passion. Oh hey, I remember this song from KEXP. “New York I love you but you’re bringing me down”
👍
Mar 03 2021
5
Great album. It’s an interesting mix of fun danceable (get innocuous, tone to get away, North American scum) juxtaposed with a few emotionally resonant masterpieces (Someone Great, All My Friends, New York I Love You). I hear prince, I hear electronic, I hear punk, I hear tribal rhythms. The repetitive style of the songs either put you in a dance trance or hammer home the reverence. I want to give this a 5, it deserves it, but I think Sound of Silver and Watch the Tapes, could’ve been left off for a perfect album. I’m stuck between 4-5. Might have to sleep on it.
👍
Jun 24 2021
1
They don't do brevity, do they? Not sure I really get on board with combining Kraftwerk and Moroder with post-millennial irony. There's a kind of lassitude that squats at the heart of this project that turns me off. The music isn't good enough to pull me back. Repetition has its place as a tool for creating an ambience, but alas, that place is not on an LCD Soundsystem album.
👍
Jul 13 2021
2
meh
👍
Aug 30 2022
5
The best single LCD Soundsystem studio album for sure. I love everything they did through the MSG "farewell" run, shame that James Murphy has become cringe ever since reforming the band
👍
Jan 29 2022
5
Massive Open, consistent diverse sounds somewhere between White Stripes and OK GO, and it does it for me. Hell yes.
👍
Oct 21 2021
5
An amazing album in its own right and my favourite by LCD. On rotation at least once every couple of months with James Murphy's trademark idiosyncratic style and attention to detail it always makes me smile/dance.
👍
Feb 16 2024
3
This is the archetype of what everything seemed to sound like when retired from listening to popular alternative music and retreated to a bar to grow a beard instead. This isn’t bad, just pick n mix industrial-emo-garage-danceable bullet points on a mid-noughts A&R dude’s bullshit bingo card.
👍
Nov 29 2023
2
Decidedly uncool, it feels too self conscious and try hard. There are parts that threaten to tickle my fancy but ultimately I just feel bleh about this album. Someone needs to tell this bloke he ain’t Prince.
👍
Oct 19 2024
5
Sound of Silver
I’m very familiar with this album, one of my favourites by one of my favourite ‘modern’ bands. I listened to it A LOT when it came out and I still return to it pretty regularly. I cannot believe it's actually 17 years old.
Its influences are worn very obviously on its sleeves, with James Murphy clearly magpie-ing from Bowie, Can, Kraftwerk, Daft Punk, Talking Heads, Brian Eno, dance, disco, house, new wave, punk. And while those influences are easily identifiable, they are shepherded together to make something that, although not totally unique, is definitely a great synthesis of all of the above in its own nice
The triumvirate of North American Scum, Someone Great and All My Friends is superb, the cornerstone and heartbeat of the album, and encapsulates what I love about LCD Soundsystem. The new wave/punk edged North American Scum with its wryly amusing lyric, the hypnotic drive and build around the rhythmic and pounding keyboard and sincerity of the lyric of All My Friends. But best of all, Someone Great, which I absolutely love, with its pulsing keyboards and noises and its vaguely cryptic lyric about loss, emotionally resonant yet slightly out of touch.
Either side of that, I love the layering of Get Innocuous! and the insistency of the groove and drum pattern. I love the drum sound on Time to Get Away, and again the groove is great, with the little riff/break for the chorus and angular/new wave guitar.
Brilliant bass groove on Us V Them, I love the cowbell and the breakout into the ‘Block out the sun’ part. Watch the Tapes is yet another great, mesmeric groove with a great beat and another sardonic lyric - 2 new wave dance bangers.
I’ve always liked the lyric of Sound of Silver and the song is a great dazed and moodily atmospheric track built around those words and some excellent keyboard noises. New York I Love You is a great closing track after all the dance driven grooves, with it’s more conventional arrangement and almost doo-wop verses.
I love this album, from the sound of the drums and keyboards to the vocal style, the wry lyrics and the fantastic danceable grooves interspersed with genuinely emotionally impactful moments. It’s very easy for this type of album to fall into the trap of hipsterish imitation, but the fact that James Murphy is a bit older than his peers and his undoubted skill as a synthesist of his influences makes this a cut above, and one of my favourite albums of the last 20 years. Easy peasy 5.
🪩🪩🪩🪩🪩
Playlist submission: Someone Great
Ps, the album after this, This Is Happening is also excellent, and if you like it it’s worth checking out their other 2 albums. The first one is a little rough around the edges but has some great tracks and American Dream, their last one, has a slightly older, more mature feel to it. The 45:33 mix is also good, some of the musical moments and parts in that got pulled into Sound of Silver.
👍
Jul 15 2021
5
such a cool album, definitely a nostalgia trip. New York I Love You singlehandedly brings it from an 8 to a 9/10. my main criticism is that some of the songs feel a little too drawn out, but its still great
👍
Apr 20 2021
5
Sharp and funky and emotional and cool all at the same time.
👍
Jul 08 2024
4
Corny throughout but I think after getting over the stink of dance pop there's something heartfelt and good to jam around to.
👍
Feb 23 2022
4
Listened just yesterday to it. Infectious and driving referencing all the good stuff that's came before and inventing new things along the way. James Murphy is a great guy and his personality just flows out of the music. 'All My Friends' is such an anthem.
👍
Feb 06 2021
3
The first song is an absolute banger, was actually a little disappointed with the rest of the album :(
👍
Jun 04 2025
2
Never understood the popularity of this band. Not bad, not good.
👍
Jul 12 2025
5
One of my favourites of all time. Simple as.
👍
Jul 10 2025
5
LCD Soundsystem is another group whose name I've heard yet never listened to their music until now. They were formed in the early 2000s by frontman James Murphy, who operated his independent label, DFA Records. They seem to be labeled as a dance-punk revival band with notes of electronica, and their second album, Sound of Silver, sounds emblematic of that description in a manner that blew me away.
This album is fully entrenched in its influences. From the opening "Get Innocuous!" that builds over what sounded like a sample flip from Kraftwerk's "The Robots", the band was able to conjure hypnotically tight electronic grooves amidst the driving guitar riffs, accented percussion with an extra helping of cowbell, and James's off-kilter delivery, at times paired with Nancy Whang's softer vocals. Throughout this album, I kept hearing elements borrowed from the likes of the previously mentioned Kraftwerk, David Bowie, Brian Eno, and Talking Heads. Considering I liked all of those acts, I was onboard for this sound.
Juxtaposing the grooves are the spare yet intense lyrics focused on the melancholy of getting older, becoming disillusioned as loved ones pass away, and what was once great can turn sour over time. From the hipster's contemplation on "Get Innocuous!", to the stereotypes lived in on "North American Scum", to the heartfelt tribute likely to James's therapist Dr. George Kamen on "Someone Great", and the self-destructive behavior observed on "Watch the Tapes", there's a degree of disenfranchisement and dry wit that James captured. These sentiments culminate in two poignant closing numbers - the title track, which in its five-phrase refrain summarizes the emotional turmoil faced when confronting nostalgia, and the bombastic "New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down" about James's love-hate relationship with his hometown as it had went through major overhauls in image and operation under then-billionare-mayor Michael Bloomberg. They all tie in to the notion of a past that can't be easily captured again.
Sound of Silver was an excellent album that got me moving, yet at the same time got me reflecting with its striking lyrics. This is the kind of sound I can come back to.
👍
Jan 23 2025
5
Made me wanna shake ass. Really cool sounds. Extremely fun. Honestly blown away. Making plans to go to the club as we speak
👍
Jan 13 2025
5
11/30/2023 - it was a rainy November day and my neighbour/friend died upstairs. People were in & out of my apartment all day, sirens blaring non stop. I'd been staring at the wall for hours.
My LCD Soundsystem tickets that night seemed like a selfish idea given the timing but I still went. I needed something so incredibly loud that I couldn't hear my own thoughts.
Someone Great comes on and I just start sobbing in my boyfriend's arms, in a room full of people who didn't notice. It's something I'll always remember. I wish that we could talk about it, Emilio </3
👍
Jan 10 2025
5
Perfection. It’s all bangers. Its the perfect length for an album. Every song is unique but stays within the themes of the album. Multiple of the songs are massive hits and rightfully so. This is easily in the top 10 maybe even top 5 albums I have heard on this platform. 10/10
👍
Jan 04 2025
5
Every songs rhythm is fucking electrifying. There’s no need to listen to closely to the words (apart from on New York I Love You) but if you do I know you’ll connect to something. This is my first listen to LCD and won’t be my last. I think people that don’t like this have never smiled to themselves in a mirror and it shows.
👍
Jan 02 2025
5
I listened to this on acid and it ruled
👍
Oct 29 2024
5
LCD was one of the first shows I saw with my wife, back in 2017 at Brooklyn Steel - just a great live act. I don’t really care for pure electronic music in general, but I love when a band can pull off that sound and vibe with a full band.
I also love a full circle/serendipity moment - this was the assigned album on the day my first kid was born - two days ago, over seven years after that first show with my wife. I only got through a few songs in the morning when I went to grab coffees, before things got real. And here I am a few days later back home listening to New York I Love You with him sleeping on my chest.
So far fatherhood gets 5 out of 5 stars, and I can’t give his first album anything less.
Can’t wait to introduce him to Kollaps.
👍
Oct 08 2024
5
That was excellent! I had never heard it before and I will be hearing it many many times in the future.
👍
Oct 02 2024
5
LCD Soundsystem brought back my hangover. 6/5
👍
Oct 02 2024
5
Life changing
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Sep 28 2024
5
Unreal album any EDM or electro fans ...this is a must
👍
Aug 26 2024
5
I really don’t think this band is for everyone. But, this is one of my favorite albums by one of my favorite bands. It combines so many of my favorite genre elements, from punk to disco to even Phillip Glass-esque repetitive sound. More LCD Soundsystem.
👍
Jul 15 2024
5
A perfect example of music that's dancy, electric, eclectic, and dynamic all at the same time. The comparisons to Talking Heads are apt, although they definitely lean into the electronics more, and are not as globally influenced as some of the Talking Heads stuff. With the exception of "All my friends" (frankly, a bit of a dud), all the songs are incredibly solid and fill out their time well. As an album, it never gets boring with its sound, each song has its own strongly unique fingerprint on this album. I'm a bit biased because I've listened to this album a lot before, but I know I love it, and getting it in this challenge was a treat.
👍
Jul 12 2024
5
The first half of this album is god tier and 'all my friends' is one of my top five songs of all time.
It's fun, clever, cool, funky, danceable, heartfelt, energetic, uplifting and well made in terms of musicality and production.
It does what good music does and fills my heart with happiness.
👍
Jul 09 2024
5
A modern classic. Their debut album had its moments but was irritating at times. This album is more consistent and has much better songs. I can also appreciate their later work, but overall those albums are not as good as Sound of Silver.
👍
Jul 03 2024
5
Quando as guitarras encontram com o melhor das batidas eletrônicas garantem 55:55 imersos num espetáculo sonoro.
👍
Nov 13 2021
5
Awesome album. Not usually a big fan of electronic music but this one hit right. Last song was my fav.
👍
Oct 21 2021
5
Their absolute peak. Lyrically brilliant and untouchable for much of it. Pretty much no missteps and just a joy start to finish.
👍
Feb 10 2021
5
Wondered if it would have aged well. It did. Awesome.
👍
Feb 01 2021
5
ONe of my fav electronic albums
👍
Jan 18 2021
5
Awesome!
👍
Jan 02 2025
4
Completely won over by this album. Great fun
👍
Jul 12 2024
4
I never gave this a chance when it came out, and that was a mistake it’s full of great tunes!
👍
Jul 09 2024
4
Get Innocuous is amazing and by far the best track on the record. The rest of the album is just okay.
👍
Jul 06 2024
4
All song were fantastic but like 8 minutes
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Jul 05 2024
4
really fun album! my first of lcd soundsystem, and im glad i listened, it was a blast. 8/10
👍
Jul 03 2024
4
1st time listening.
Very enjoyable; loved the first 2 reviews about it.
Good time had by me.
👍
Jun 30 2025
3
I should like this. It ticks every box of my interests. I should like this. It ticks every box of my interests. I should like this. It ticks every box of my interests. I should like this. It ticks every box of my interests. I should like this. It ticks every box of my interests. I should like this. It ticks every box of my interests.
👍
Feb 04 2025
3
My first time listening to this album. Somehow I missed out on LCD when growing up although I remember the name. Overall, I enjoyed it, especially the mix of dance-punk with early 2000s vibes. Pretty cool, but also maybe too repetitive and it gets old pretty quickly. Didn’t care for the ballads either, definitely the best part of the album were the fast tempo tracks with 16s on hi hats.
👍
Aug 20 2024
3
I'm in a bad mood at the moment and have a headache, but I'm pretty sure I like this.
👍
Feb 16 2024
3
Another one I've owned forever and never really listened to. In this case, a pleasant surprise! It's no more than the sum of its parts, but those parts are among my favorites. It's pretty hard to mess up a margarita given quality ingredients, and similarly if you put "The Man-Machine", "Lodger" and "Extricate" in a blender the result will taste pretty good regardless. 1 + 1 + 1 = 3
👍
Jun 01 2021
3
J'ai été très surpris de ne pas tomber sur un album mais sur un Fast & Curious avec Hugo Clément. Pour autant je dois dire que certains moments m'ont beaucoup plu, comme par exemple celui où l'intéressé doit choisir entre les mots "réfléchir" et "agir" et qu'il répond "agir".
👍
Jun 05 2025
2
It's aight, a bit boring at times.
Like the sound is good after a while it all mashes together
👍
Jun 05 2025
2
5/10
Best: All My Friends and New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down
👍
Jun 04 2025
2
I went out on a walk this morning when this came on my playlist. This type of music is not exactly one I listen to, but went ahead and listened to it. It was percussive, repetitive. Few vocals. It came to the point where I couldn't stand it. Some people keep talking about the bass, but to be honest, I have heard better bass lines from other genres.
New York, I love you , but you're bringing me down, was a song I liked. The others should have been more thought out.
I will give this a 2. Nothing more, nothing less.
👍
Jun 04 2025
2
Very early 2000s sonically. Voice is annoying. Too many noises for the sake of noises
👍
Mar 30 2025
2
Weird start.
Has alot of repetition.
'Someone great' probably best song.
Interesting mix of electronic music and rock.
Decently fun.
Semi cringe lyrics 😅
Last song is like a song from the Muppets
👍
Mar 18 2025
2
Some of the music sounds fun to dance to but a lot is ruined by boring vocals & dumb lyrics. More than awful this album is just disposable.
👍
Mar 17 2025
2
This was really big in the early 2000s, I never got it.
Repetitive dance music with cringey vocals and a general snarky sense. The music is some mix of Bowie, Talking Heads and a general post punk vibe but without the fun. Disaffected and sarcastic.
I don’t even get the band name. What is an LCD Soundsystem? It’s kinda like the music, tries to sound cool but actually kinda pointless.
Some high points are not that bad (All My Friends, but even this song is twice as long as it should be), but I think you can die in peace even not having listened to this band at all. Two stars.
👍
May 28 2021
2
В Max Payne 3 было пару миссий-флешбеков, где действия разворачивались в нуарном Нью-Йорке вместо бразильских фавел. Контраст, что они производят, должен привносить разнообразие, дополнять происходящее. Мною же это воспринималось как издевательство, мол "Чувак, смотри, мы умеем, могли бы всю игру сделать приятной и интересной... но не захотели, хы-ы-ы-ы". На этих миссиях понимаешь, что смена сеттинга в триквеле - это просто лютый кал в рамках серии.
Казалось бы, при чём тут ключи? Вроде очевидно, что последний трек альбома... похож на нормальную музыку. Перед этим ты почти смиряешься, что вот это монотонное повторение неприятных звуков и рандомных фраз может в определённый момент определённому человеку немного доставить. Но потом начинается последний трек и понимаешь "Ой не, нахуй это дерьмо, я ебал просто, нахуй этот кал, когда люди уже давно нормальную музыку придумали?". А, наверное, "чтобы расширять рамки восприятия, создавать что-то, отличное от созданного"? Не, ну ребят, давайте вы этот монотонный кал на фоне для себя как-нить наклепаете, а в топ уже чё-нить нормальное выкатите, а? Шоб вот включить, и весело. Или грустно. Или одухотворённо. А не скучно. Для последнего у меня есть "Две минуты тишины" за авторством Джона Леннона и Йоко Оно, захочется - на репит поставлю.
Вышесказанное характерно для вступительного трека и с 5 по 8. В 2-4 всё же можно найти адекватные элементы. Но отличной музыкой назвать - вряд ли. North American Scum - хорошей, ладно. Отличной можно назвать лишь последний трек. Но это всё не вытягивает альбом даже до середняка.
👍
Feb 10 2021
2
Not really a fan of this one, I knew of North American Scum already but the rest of the tracks all drone on for at least 2 minutes longer than necessary.
👍
Feb 02 2024
1
Annoying
👍
Oct 02 2021
1
By golly, I really did not like this album. Yuck. Some of the songwriting is good, but even then, the background instrumentals are just awful. I don't like the looping approach taken on a lot of these songs. The songs will start by slowly adding each layer, and then the song is just kind of stuck with that as it goes on. It can't really change much from then on. The melody will change, and they might add another layer, but that's it. I liked the last song okay I guess, although it was off to a rocky start. The second to last song though...ugh. Too long, and very bad.
👍
Jul 23 2025
5
"get innocuous" and "us vs them" alone are incredible dance punk classics. An amazing mix of 8 minute dance punk bangers with poppier tracks and 2 incredible slow jams. "Someone great" is likely the best song in LCDs discography. And that doesn't even mention the incredibly catchy universal hit "all my friends". Easiest 5/5 and an album that will stand the test of time. Absolute classic.
👍
Jul 22 2025
5
5/5 no notes
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Jul 07 2025
5
I am fond of a few LCD Soundsystem songs, but generally capitalised on the ones more based on melody than the disco/indie/dance sound that they are well known for. As a result, I've never really bothered to listen through a whole album. School boy error!
I knew I'd like this from the first song that I'd like this album. And the opener 'Get Innocuous!' was like a demo version of the album. It had the drum machine type beats, the understated disco guitar, quirky vocals and grimey bass.
In fact, the grimey/garage bass that ends up on the album throughout was a highlight. I haven't done HUGE research into this group, but I can imagine a guy in his bedroom with drum machines, keyboards and a bass really having a great time coming up with there. Boy! I should have been doing that in 2007.
'All My Friends' and 'New York, I Love You but You're Bringing me Down' are epic indie tunes, and I am a huge fan of the latter. But, the rest of the album was a real pleasure to listen to.
My highlight would be 'Someone Great', a dance tune that captured the indie song sensibilities in the lyrics/vocal performance. I enjoyed the dance elements as well.
5 Stars
Album 4 (done over the days of 2 and 3)
23/7/2025
👍
Jul 19 2025
5
Packed full of hits - a definitive electro indie album. More cow bell!
👍
Jul 19 2025
5
A superb album from the coolest band.
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Jul 19 2025
5
The amount of patience displayed on this record is staggering. Their willingness to let every idea ride out for as long as it can doesn’t dampen the urgency of the LP. For how long and awkward these songs are, they are oddly poppy and accessible. It would be easy for seven minute long, repetitive synth based tracks to alienate a broad listenership, but James Murphy and co seem to have no trouble in making this an album for everyone.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about Sound of Silver is how different this LP is from their debut. All the rock elements are gone and are replaced with a much better and more refined set of dance sensibilities (with the exception of the closing song). LCD Soundsystem seem to realise their remit on Sound Of Silver. They take this new, improved sound and manage to fill almost an hour with no duds.
Their unique blend of indie infused dance scratches an itch that music fans cannot find elsewhere. ‘Get Innocuous!’ is confident and brave opening track, it doesn’t show its hand immediately but slowly beckons the listener in before rewarding them with a belter of a dance track. We have to wait two minutes and ten seconds to get vocals on this record - which is a statement of intent on an indie album. When the vocals do hit, they are so weird, so bold, so perfect. It’s intoxicating. LCD Soundsystem do have clear influences directing their writing, but it’s their specific blend of these ideas which is inspired.
James Murphy is a highly talented and versatile lyricist. ‘North American Scum’ shows off his talent for humorous observation - “And for those who think we are from England. We’re not. No.” Just one track later he is bringing us to tears with ‘Someone Great’, a track which always floors me with its brutally honest sentimentality and kindheartedness. “I wake up and the phone is ringing, surprised as its early. And that should be a perfect warning that something’s a problem. To tell the truth I saw it coming, the way you were breathing. But nothing can prepare you for it: the voice on the other end.” Wow. Perhaps his most well observed moment sits on the title track. “Sound of silver talk to me. Makes you want to feel like a teenager. Until you remember the feelings of a real life emotional teenager. Then you think again.” A line good enough to be repeated a thousand times.
The repeating piano line on ‘All My Friends’ is superb and manages to pump through the entire song without getting tired. Also, the trademark DFA records cow bells* throughout this album are so much fun (*see The Rapture’s Echoes).
‘New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down’ is a great closer and acts as a reward for any listener for whom a dance album isn’t their usual bag. You could see this track fitting snugly amongst older songs like ‘Movement’ and ‘Tribulations’.
I think it takes a bit of time for some albums to settle into their “classic” status. People never want to believe that 10/10 albums are currently being released. Eleven years on from its creation it is clear now more than ever that this is an almost perfect album.
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Jul 17 2025
5
i love this album.
Groovy, fun, chaotic.
The closer is one of my all time favourites.
Fav tracks
- All
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Jul 17 2025
5
Simply one of the best albums ever
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Jul 16 2025
5
5 all day, every day.
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Jul 15 2025
5
This is in my honorable mention list on StoryWorth about my Top Ten albums of all time. Was surprised to see the vast majority of the music came from James Murphy, given he has a huge band in concert.
All great tracks, although I have to be in the mood for New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down. Favorites are Us v. Them, Get Innocuous!, and the title track. North American Scum is the title sequence music on an Apple+ show we like, The Buccaneers, done by another artist.
If you like the album, check out the 6 track EP, A Bunch of Stuff — cool remixes of songs from SOS. Obvy, a 5 for me.
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Jul 14 2025
5
Djdj
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Jul 10 2025
5
Certified Banger 5/5
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Jul 08 2025
5
This is a personal one for me. When I first started the 1001 list I got a Miles Davis album as my first one. I expected that for some music history. The second album I got was this one. I had never listened to LCD Soundsystem before, but I absolutely fell in love with this album. The driving beat has me entranced throughout. The first song had me worried about the vocals but then they immediately change for the next. This whole album is a masterclass in pushing a song right to the limit of being too repetitive, but changing it right before it gets annoying.
The three song combo of "North American Scum", "Someone Great", and "All My Friends" is one of my favorite music experiences of all time. "North American Scum" is a funny group song. It up beat and light hearted. "Someone Great" does the best job I've ever seen of properly describing grief. When you lose someone it feels like you're whole is crashing down, but everyone else is just going about their day. Don't they know that nothing will ever be the same again? "All My Friends" brings the mood back up. It's a song about growing up and seeing less of your friends over time, but it's still the best thing when you do.
I love this album, and it's definitely my most listened to one I've discovered on this list. This album is the reason that we have this 1001 album music group.
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Jul 05 2025
5
This is it! This is why I started the journey through these 1001 albums. To find gems like this. For some reason this absolute masterpiece has been under my radar up until now. Amazing, original, thrilling listen.
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Jul 05 2025
5
Album is smoke, from to to bottom.
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Jun 27 2025
5
So great. Love the energy but also the questions of meaning and existence.
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Jun 25 2025
5
This is one of my favourite albums of all all time so I chuckled as it came up as my first of this project. Maybe it’s meant to be. Fave songs: someone great, NYILY, get innocuous. Honorable mention to all my friends as it was the first LCD soundsystem I heard & fell in love with a few summers ago. Just brilliant
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Jun 24 2025
5
I feel like I checked out this album from the public library on CD around the time it came out. The back half of the album got a little more Hives than I wanted. The bass player should be paid double what they are making now. Great stuff, fun, was happy to hear the 1975 connection on All My Friends.
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Jun 23 2025
5
Magnum Opus van James Murphy. Op Sound of Silver had hij het recept juist. Ook al is Dance Yrself Clean is mijn ogen het nummer waar al het goede van LCD samenkomt, is Sound of Silver de plaat. Someone Great en All My Friends zijn spannend, enerverend en ook op fesitvalsweides enorme bangers. Bij All My Friends gaat het dan alleen om die laatste paar zinnen. Maar dan ben je al zo volgestopt en sta je op ontploffen, dat de ontlading des te groter is.
En dan de plaat afsluiten met New York I Love Your laat zien dat Murphy niet voor één gat te vangen is.
8,5/10
Highlights
Someone Great
All My Friends
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Jun 19 2025
5
dang hitting all the high notes lately. Perfect indie electronic/rock album.
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Jun 19 2025
5
I had no idea how good this is, and now I feel stupid.
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Jun 17 2025
5
Tremendous. I dare you to keep from moving to the amazing beats on this record.
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Jun 16 2025
5
Loved it 10/10
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Jun 16 2025
5
Howdy James Murphy just wanted to say thanks for bringing these bouncy, crunchy ear worms to the party. I listened to this album a couple of times over now since popping up. Currently making a playlist centered around it, for butt shaking.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6gS489vz9ZXdfTBhHh4ePq?si=4f6ce47cdb434c33
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Jun 16 2025
5
I'm always sad that I was never hip enough to LCD at their peak. I would have played daft punk at my house, at my house, with friends...LCD is the ultimate house party music. It sounds like being 23 to me, and I love it.
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Jun 11 2025
5
So good. I love individual songs, but I haven't taken the time to really listen to this whole album on repeat. Head bobbing track after track. Feels very New York in my 20s.
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Jun 08 2025
5
Amazing album
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Jun 06 2025
5
All criticisms are valid. Nonetheless when he gets it right, examples on this album being "Someone Great" and "All My Friends", I find it hypnotic and cathartic. Full body exorcism of emotional turmoil.
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