american dream

There's a special kind of sadness that only shows up on the dance floor, and this record lives there. It's rock and electronic music fused so completely you stop hearing the seam. Nothing else out there sounds quite like this. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Oh Baby - Tonite - Call the Police - American Dream

hipster's death

This is a pretty good indie electro pop album but I don’t know why it was released included but This is Happening wasn’t. Also people get kind of weird about LCD Soundsystem. Not just on here, I’ve seen it on twitter too. People act like James Murphy killed their dog or something, they hate the band with vitriol and pure spite. Like it’s just beep boops guys, it’s not that serious

Production is excellent but the album is too long and pretty dull.

It was fine

I find LCD soundsystem incredibly overrated (though I like a few songs, admittedly)

Started and ended strong with nice crunchy synth, vaporwave/outrun vibes. Otherwise, I found many of the songs repetitive and forgettable. I wouldn't call it filler, though. Just didn't stick to my ribs this time. I'll probably listen again someday.

Not something I'd listen to again, I don't think; but it was ok

Listening to this almost ten years on, it really is a strong comeback record. Murphy didnt really miss a beat or return rusty. The singles especially are terrific, Call the Police into the emotionally weighty title track is a highlight.

Favorite Track: black screen

Mid

What do you get when you cross a talking head with some geese? An LCD sound system, apparently. Now, that joke isn't funny and doesn't actually make any sense, but you get what I'm saying, right?

First listen. Fun album. I prefer this to their self titled album.

preferi o primeiro que saiu, mas esse também tem músicas divertidas. algumas outras conseguem ser irritantes, mas nada muito gritante. um 3 tá bom.

He can produce music and has a nice voice. But I never understood what’s the appeal of this stuff. It’s not made for the club and it’s nothing to listen to at home.

Never understood zhe hype around LCD Soundsystem. I like the genres he is dabbling in, but the music is completely bland.

Second of 2 LCD albums in this experience. I really liked "Sound of Silver." I thought it was super fun and gave it a 4. However this album has none of the qualities that made me enjoy "Sound of Silver." Its too long, boring, and self indulgent. "Sound of Silver" had some memorable and danceable songs, the songs on this one just seemed to disappear into the background and blend into one another. I don't know what is keeping me from giving this a 1/5. Maybe its the fact that, when compared to other albums I've given 1's to, this is slightly more enjoyable? I don't know. Didn't enjoy this album but it's not the worst thing I've heard in 302 albums. 2/5

There were bits I liked, but ultimately not for me

🤮

7/10

Está bueno el album. Me gustó. Pero tampoco me fascinó ni le entendí lo innovador. 6/10

Not my favorite LCD record but boy do they make bangers

Interesting.

I really wish this was a 4 since the beginning was good. I’m receiving mid after mid this week.

The first track was ok, not really my thing, but it was listenable as far as pop music goes. Track 2 was a huge pile of shit, but I persevered until track 3, which wasn't any better. So I turned it off. If you are into this music then good for you, but it's not for me.

Mature electro & disco pop that explores existential worries within our crumbling and fast-paced society. It makes you feel like you are bored and there is a party going on but then you remember that most people there suck anyway. The ending to the record (black screen) was heartfelt and touching. There are great songs on here that require multiple listens.

Cool and styled sound

I really like that. I can see myself putting some relistens in on this one. It rides the edge of a few emotional tones in a unique way that caused me frisson.

I really hope this isn’t the only representation of LCD Soundsystem on this list. Sound of Silver or This Is Happening would have been a better fit. Those were influential albums. Maybe I’m just salty that a band in their prime would make such a big deal about calling it a day and then say ‘just kidding’. I knew they weren’t quitting and it felt like a cash grab. I’m probably holding that against this album. Anyway, it’s not a bad album. Some of it feels like a parody of themselves. But they have better. 3 stars

Last year, I enjoyed Sound of Silver as my first exposure to LCD Soundsystem. Since that album came out, they released one more record before retiring for a few years, but then they came back with their third release, American Dream, which drew a lot of critical acclaim. So, what did we get this time around? Honestly, I'm admittedly underwhelmed by this album. It's not bad, but compared to what I previously heard on Sound of Silver, this felt like a step backward. There are traces of their sound here, including the guitar skitters and James Murphy's howls on "change yr mind", the unsteady bite of "emotional haircut", the quick tempo groove of "call the police", and the wailing guitars behind the firm bassline of "other voices". But across the board, there's considerably less nervous energy and tension, with compositions that lean heavily on spacious, buzzy synths and ambient drones that usually run longer than they should. I'm not asking for every song to have that driving bass presence - "how do you sleep?" effectively channeled the groove through the dark skitter of kick drums - but on the flip side, you have the title track with its languid, oily swells and soft, tapping percussion, or those ugly tones that screech across "i used to". Even the closing "black screen", while I recognize it as the ambient homage it's trying to be, runs for twelve minutes and doesn't justify its length, despite the admittedly pretty keys on the outro. Here's the thing: on some level, I can see that James Murphy understands the styles of music he's trying to create here, cribbing notes from Talking Heads, post-punk, no wave, and New Order. I'm usually on board with that influence-taking approach, as I never expected James to make a "modern" sounding record. At the same time, when he's trying to work his David Byrne impression, or go for a falsetto that doesn't always work for him, it can be frustrating, especially when his vocals are placed deeper in the mix on cuts like "how do you sleep?" and the title track, which don't exactly conceal how underwritten some of these songs are. On that note, I might as well address the writing here. If you came to an LCD Soundsystem record expecting the overarching struggle between the fearful necessity of age and the anxious exuberance of youth, you're gonna get it, albeit colored by time away from the spotlight and the passing of David Bowie, whom James Murphy had gotten close to before his passing. It's clear that grief and ending haunt this record, as beyond the closing track "black screen" as a pretty solid tribute, Bowie's words of pushing Murphy into uncomfortable places resonate deeply, mostly coming from the realization that despite his inhuman skill, even Bowie faced that uncertainty too. It certainly makes me wonder why this album spends so much time in its comfort zone, then. Murphy seemed comfortable in his cushion of self-aware detachment that self-flagellates out of habit, an easy justification to aim at the world and music scene around him. To be clear, I understand why a track like "change yr mind" works in highlighting the stagnation of normalcy that can be broken free by reforming the band, but to follow that with the nine-minute screed against a former founder of his label, Death From Above, on "how do you sleep?" feels like a flimsy detour, despite being a solid enough song. But really, where this album gets obnoxious is with the next three songs, where the penchant for cynical Gen X detachment is evident. Sure, I get the message of "tonite" in rebuking the constant focus on "now" in modern pop culture, which ignores the passage of time, employs dangerous tactics of social alienation, and can be easily exploited by corporate brands. But the overarching answer of "it's all lies" is both lazy and remarkably hypocritical, especially on the corporate front; it's not like I can't look up and find that Nike commissioned 45:33. "call the police" might evoke the David Bowie and U2 comparisons, but it lacks the earnestness as the song steps out of the culture war to scoff at both the frightened and the frightening old men in power and the kids revolting, who are in turn described as triggered, clueless, and easily manipulated, with no idea of the consequences of the systems they're breaking - which there may be truth in that, but it ignores that Murphy has the comfort to make that observation because he benefits from those underlying systems. Then we have the title track, taking the depressed, disillusioned ex-punk from a drug comedown and a one-night stand, putting on a smile and dancing hard to mask any real emotion because, to quote, "You just suck at self-preservation/Versus someone else's pain". Golly gee, acknowledging that it's not all about you and showing empathy is so damn hard, ain't it? In all seriousness, it's just Murphy musing about an American dream that was always a societal construct built to serve him. Really, it sucks because there is a missed opportunity here. The album is at its best when embracing that uneasy discomfort and taking a chance in a fleeting world, like on "change yr mind", or the "bare all" moment that comes with "emotional haircut", and it's a damn shame that the band never took that next step to push sonically and thematically beyond Murphy's immediate headspace. I mean, if you're going to title your record American Dream and go big for your comeback, there is no reason not to go for broke. Unfortunately, Murphy wrote himself a justification for not doing so and being comfortable in his space, and maybe his haggardness would have prevented that next step, but it does undercut the social commentary, and preemptive justifications can feel all the more thin. Between that notion, a few less grooves, and more retro synth-heavy soundscapes, this album felt like a regression to me. Who knows, maybe it would have been better if LCD Soundsystem stuck to their retirement and kept their legacy intact.

Recycled '80s synth pop. Boring, nothing to see here.....

Сара 2 Марко 2

6.3/10

Legend

I’m not so sure I understand the appeal of this. I figured this would’ve been from the early 2000s or earlier but 2017? I can’t dance to this, I can’t chill to this, it’s in the limbo space and the sound scape they do create drags on. I like a droning beat but I think this misses the mark and sounds poorly executed.

I don’t like that I like this. It just feels so pretentious and gross. But honestly, I was kind of vibing. It really wedges itself into those hypnotic grooves, and there’s enough odd elements and dissonance that go on to still keep your attention. Saying that, pretty much all of the songs could’ve been shorter. I know I would likely not vibe with this singer if I ever met him. And I would probably have a miserable time at a live show. But, the tracks on the record are pretty decent. 3.5/5 rounded down to a 3 because of the self-indulgent length of some of the songs.

This album doesn’t really do much for me, actually lcd soundsystem just isn’t that good to me, I don’t really like the dudes vocals and the instrument work doesn’t do much for me either, it’s feels like such a chore to get through this album, I wanted it to end or just not finish the whole album so that I could stop listening cuz I was so bored, it doesn’t suck it’s just boring to me

Did this mf really make a 12 minute song???

Great indie electronic album. By 2017 LCD was independent by love of the game, but they were hugely popular. And highly influential. All or most of this album is awesome, but the tracks run a bit long and get repetitive. However there are 4 purely iconic and emphatic tracks that shaped a generation of taste. Those 4 tracks run it back up a whole star. I'm glad this is on here, I think alot of people will appreciate this upon discovery.

Would be a 5 if it weren't for the closing track. I just don't get that one ? It's ugly but is it somehow on purpose? Just makes me annoyed after an otherwise fantastic album

Nope. 1

He's not the Messiah, he's an over hyped annoyance from NYC. Every song on the album is too long and few are really good, just ok.

Yeah man, I like all those old bands too. But why would I listen to *you* for over an hour, when I could listen to a couple of those bands in the same timeframe?

Lets give this a go... oh baby - this is kinda nice, about 2 minutes too long and thats coming from someone that loves the longer songs of groups like The Cure. Which brings me to this, this feels like an amalgam of the groups I love. You can clearly hear the influence. Its just not done as well. other voices - yeah, i dont need this in my life. christ, this went on for almost 7 minutes. This feels like modern "we have Talking Heads at home". Same comments about the influence of this being very clear and present. i used to - well this sounds like a clear derivitive (sorry, influenced by) early The Cure records down to the overblown cymbal crashes. I mean, its not terrible but I dont want to listen to it again. This song somehow feels like its 10 minutes long. change yr mind - here we go with the same type of comment as we made on the prior songs. This is derivative to the point of often times sounding like it could be a cover version or a mash up of songs by other artists. And again, this FEELS like its 10 minutes long. how do you sleep? - There are interesting elements in this that could have been condensed into 4:30 rather than the 9:12 it runs. Honestly, this my be my favorite of the album thus far, I can at least appreaciate the build up even if it could be condensed. tonite - I love early 80s synth pop as much as anyone but there was no need for this. call the police - once again, I love the 80s but this just sounds like a mash up of 80s songs. Which would be great if this was at all compelling. At best it sounds like The Killers who are usually doing their best 80s cosplay as well. american dream - runtime 6:06 and it felt like 15 minutes. This song is about 6:06 too long. emotional haircut - I dont like this for all the same reasons as above. black screen - from about 7 minutes on I actually like this as ambient background noise. the first 7 minutes though I wish i had never heard. pulse (v.1) - i honestly feel like this is what a teenager that got a programmer and sequencer comes up with after messing with them for a year. Look, I get why people would love this I am however not one of those people.

Not my favorite LCD album, but pretty good.

This is nice, but, is it enjoyable? Not much. And, actually, there are some interesting things in this record, but it feels very bland too, making it not that much of a pleasant listening. So, what at first may be of my like ends up all the time being just a nonsensical song in which everything keeps on going with no true direction. And, with direction I mean somewhere to go rather than just becoming repetitive with nothing else to deliver. This album is long, and it does not benefit it. Mainly because most songs are just long, but would work the same with three minutes less, so, what is the point? It is just insipid and very repetitive. What may be good ends up all the time becoming bland. Sure, there are some interesting productions, but it is not enough to make the composition of this album better. And, as much as I hate to consider it a very mid album because I have enjoyed some songs and liked some productions, I must say that as a whole it works horribly, and most of the songs are just very little memorable or remarkable, not to add that they lose a lot of flow as they advance.

Why does this work? It should be too repetitive and pretentious, and I’m sure some think they are, but damn if LCD doesn’t fucking nail it. Their slow builds are fantastic, James’ anxious and insecure - yet somehow utterly cool - streams of consciousness suggest an artist’s life you wish you could live, and somehow it all comes together to occasionally even achieve transcendence. High 4

a couple individual songs bring it down from a 5 (especially if you’re rating the version with pulse)

While it has one or two whatever songs. The album has some really great songs, and the run from how do you sleep to American dream is nearly perfect

Good album. I get a mix of Talking Heads and U2, but way more dancy. I liked the philosophical lines towards the end. 4.1/5.0

I didn't spend much time with this one. I'm somewhat familiar with the group but not at all with this album. I liked it OK, but overall I wasn't that excited by the mostly slower, moody material. The first track started out OK but didn't really develop into much. The second track was a highlight for me, with a strong drum track and bassline, although it also felt a little aimless. The title track and "black screen" are more dreamy 80s synth-pop throwbacks than the "dance punk" I associate them with, which is better represented by the hilarious "emotional haircut." Not bad but nothing I can get excited about. Essential listen: no Desert island disc: no

Eh. Må ha noe molly for å tåle dette.

Still a good album even if they have better

Second half is good but otherwise below par

I was devastated when LCD Soundsystem retired in 2011 and was over the moon when they prematurely returned from retirement in 2015. They justified their return by doing something a little different with this record, much of it is skeletal and brave. With the exception of side C (where they have hilariously packed all of their singles). This is by far their least immediate and poppy release. From a quality perspective my feelings are a little mixed. ‘other voices’ is fidgety and infectious, the instrumentation is pretty well balanced considering how few elements there are (some tipedy tapping drums, with occasional guitar and synths). Despite this it sounds like a well-crafted rehash of something you’d hear on Sound of Silver, but not quite as good. Other songs are more successful. ‘i used to’ and ‘how do you sleep?’ are masterpieces that push the band into new and exciting territory. James Murphy sounds incredibly bitter performing these savage takedowns of old friends he has lost faith in. Being wistful for the past is an attitude that suits him. After the long and patient build up on ‘i used to’ the meaty guitar riff is hugely rewarding, before the band break into a silky smooth synth break “I’m still trying to wake up”. ‘oh baby’ is a wonderful take on Suicide’s ‘Cheree’, a reference that you wouldn’t hear from any other band working in popular music today. It eases the listener in gently to American Dream and sets the appropriate tone for quite an awkward record. ‘tonite’ and ‘emotional haircut’ are fun single worthy songs which tap into what a mainstream audience wants from LCD Soundsystem. You could imagine these being blared out of fifty foot speakers on a festival stage. ‘call the police’ and ‘american dream’ are somewhat satisfying singles which fall a tad short of this, they’re quite lethargic. ‘change yr mind’ is the only song that I do not like at all. I’m all for LCD Soundsystem borrowing from other artists and updating sounds in their image - that’s kind of their MO. But this song sounds like a poor Let’s Dance era David Bowie pastiche which falls flat to me. The band had already made their own version of Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ with ‘All I Want’ so this further dedication seems redundant. Like every LCD Soundsystem album Murphy’s lyrics are consistently good, but in the context of their previous records there seems to be a lot of regurgitation. “You’re still a baby now” is lifted from ‘You Wanted a Hit’. “Text the cops” is a hybrid of lyrics from ‘Somebody's Calling Me’ and ‘Daft Punk is Playing at My House’. “Oh I'm a reminder/ The hobbled veteran of the disk shop inquisition” is a rehash of lyrics on ‘Losing My Edge’. It’s a shame not to hear a fresh perspective from an artist who has never struggled to say something new. I guess it’s easier to criticise than say something nice. The truth is that there is more good material on American Dream than bad. It's the worst album in an almost perfect discography.

This LCD is tough, i actually preferred the first half, i think it's scraping the lowest of 4s, not being a follower of the band means no disappointment pulling it down buy it is noticibly weaker than their others

I really liked the first song, the beat sounded familiar. This album sounds old and new at the same time which I do appreciate. That being said, it does still feel very mid 2010s (which it is from so…). Favorite tracks: oh baby, & how do you sleep?.

No idea on this one. Seen the name around but never come across a single song. ________________________________ Post-Post-punk. If it wasn't for this challenge I'd have zero point of reference for this album. Thankfully I've already come across and love some of the post punk that is a heavy influence on this. It's got a modern edge through the use of more electronic elements. It's got a chill, meditative quality. I probably need to give this a few more spins to fully rate it. Provisional 3*

Meh

This comeback album is easily LCD's least essential album and it really shouldn't be on this list. LCD Soundsystem is a band that is beloved by the musical literati for their clever musical ideas and James Murphy's thoughtful lyrics, often dipped in irony. And shit, I guess I do too, because even on their worst day I see this as a 4/5

Not bad

We're past influences and straight to robbery. "other voices" is a complete Talking Heads ripoff, down to the "Houses in Motion" solos....

Цікаво) Я вже забув що вони грають)

3.5

It feels more like 1990s, doesn't sound very original. A bit too electronic for me, but I didn't mind as much as I though I would. 4/10

I have tried many times to enjoy LCD Soundsystem. I just don't.

Fun, a bit sanctimonious.

Not the best lcd album but ooooh

Loved

I managed to avoid listening to any LCD Soundsystem, until now. So, it was with some trepidation I started this, with absolutely no idea as to shat to expect. Turns out, some dancey new-wave, with its roots in 1980's UK electronica. Not that that's a bad think, but there were many places that I thought "That could be Brian Eno / Silicon Teens / New Order / Cabaret Voltaire / Depeche Mode / etc. Not bad at all.

Unique sound, nice to listen

I like this band but this is not their best album. Cool sound, but some of the songs could have used more editing.

Better than expected. At times I thought it had switched to Talking Heads.

Not interesting enough

Dance synth that sounds like every influence all at once. Black Screen is decent, albeit about twice as long as necessary.

This is the most mid thing I've ever heard.

Better than the other one but still boring

Everything's at such a dreary tempo, I don't like his singing, and it's all too long Very, VERY, generous 2

Very odd, but not in a way that I really can say I enjoyed.

Lcd soundsystem were showed to me by my fathers best friend on a seven hour snowtrip and it was such a vibe! This album reflects that! Love their sound!

Didn't really enjoy it. Sounds like a collection of influences of the bands I don't really enjoy much. Definitely hipster art-house music that is too cool for me.

Fantastic album. It’s hard to not compare to The debut, This is Happening and Sound of Silver. But if you asked to pick an LCD Soundsystem album to put on, this would be forth. That being said this album is still great. Just not a masterpiece

Раньше как-то лучше заходило

This is not their best album. And I need to be in the right mood. But there is enough here to warrant throwing this on from time to time. 4/5

Chille vibe doesn't fit the year lol

opening song hit me like a truck. after that, good working music

i am neutral on this matter

I've always heard so much about LCD so I've really been looking forward to listening to a full album. Admittedly, this was hard to rate though. A lot of the songs have this weird dance build out but the drop or breakdown really doesn't justify all the dramatics. The juice isn't worth the squeeze and I was really disappointed. There ARE however some songs that held up, so I gotta give them their credit. It just wasn't a mindblowing album. Highlights: Tonite, How do you sleep?

Trying so hard to be the new Talking Heads.

Good but goes on too long

I like LCD Soundsystem a lot, but this one only gets good right at the end. 3* basically for Call the Police and American Dream

I wasn't expecting much from this record, so it was easy to exceed my expectations which it certainly did. Some of the sound they produced I really liked, though too often the songs went on longer than they needed to. All the same, it was a decent listen. 3 stars.

A fun and diverse album. Changes in style over the tracks. One made it onto my playlist.

I keep holding off writing this review because there's really so much to say about this iteration of LCD Soundsystem, how it came to be and Murphy's general thought process. But honestly, I only like them a fair bit and don't feel qualified for that discussion. But this thing rips, it's awesome music for anxious people to dance to and I don't think those guys have had any music as fun as this since Talking Heads. Maybe it's not their best, but I like it more than their other albums I've heard, it's just super cohesive, but occasionally takes too long to build up.

2.5

Really bad. Was very difficult to actually force myself to listen to, especially the first half. Songs are way too long without any development and are mostly monotonous. One or two songs are ok but overall will not listen to again

Not sure why I don't just outright love this album, but it was still an enjoyable listen.

Whatever odd feeling came over me as I listened to this was completely unique and created a heavy retrospection

GOoOOOOOOd Album Rating:3/5 GEMV (12.08.2026)

3.2