This is the LCD Soundsystem experience; the more you test it and the more you take a sip, the more you become engulfed in it. Suddenly you realize you're singing LCD at your school, in your dorm, in your bathroom. Suddenly your shower is the best party you have ever been to. Your life turns over like an overdone pancake and you're hooked to James Murphy. You buy all the albums and you can't stop. It's so bad that you talk about LCD to all your friends, your mom, your dad, your grandma, and your dog.
Then suddenly comes Sound of Silver. Your palms start sweating, your hair raises, and you forget your first name and start repeating your birthday just to make sure you remember that you're alive. This is a very big moment for you, why? Remember when your favorite band let you down with their new release? Remember the misery of realizing that the beauty and integrity of the band that changed your life, has now been traded for second hand commercialization? If you do, and you're obsessed with LCD Soundsystem like many of us, then relax, because this release is as promising as the previous.
Sound Of Silver doesn't actually sound like silver, it's actually more platinum sounding, or at least that's the goal. Murphy wants this to be a Top 40 Billboard chart album. Why? Because it seems the attitude of not only Murphy, but also this entire album, is go big or go home. And don't worry; this is big. Don't confuse this with the concepts of selling out, but instead prepare with your best pair of dance shoes and call this out selling.
Generally the most promising tracks on the album, such as "Us vs. Them," "Time to Get Away," and "Get Innocuous!" carry so much substance because of Tyler Pope. That's right Pope, once again, has contributed to them. However, other songs such as "All My Friends" and "New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down", probably the biggest disappointment in music history, are lacking in their artistry. "Watch the Tapes" is the album's dance punk anthem that will hold forever in our hearts and be out stretched to infinity in our shower curtains. Maybe even in our cars.
Unfortunately, lyrically the album is less lush. The previous album, LCD Soundsystem, was filled to the brim with wit. However, Sound of Silver does tend to get repetitive to the point of boredom, namely "Someone Great." Though the track has a hefty bass and cute little bells, it's really a song meant for a summer drive. Of course there is nothing wrong with that, until someone great is gone and it keeps coming until the day it stops. You'll know what I mean when you hear it.
What makes this album so important is simple; it actually makes you want to dance. There are tons of electronic/dance groups out there and they advertise their awesome dance songs. Well they really aren't that awesome because we still can't dance to them. When's the last time you actually found an album that you danced around in your underwear too? If the answer to that is James Murphy's previous release, than this album is definitely for you. If it's not, then you are deprived of life, and you too should get this album anyway.
P.S. You can listen to the album in remix form here.
