LCD Soundsystem
Template:Infobox musical artist 2
LCD Soundsystem is the musical project of producer James Murphy, co-founder of dance-punk label DFA Records. The music of LCD Soundsystem is a mix of dance music and punk, along with elements of disco and other styles. LCD Soundsystem is particularly popular in Britain, with two albums reaching the top 40 of the UK Albums Chart.[1]
Band members
- James Murphy - vocals, instruments
When performing live, Murphy is accompanied by the following band members:
- Al Doyle - guitar, percussion (also of Hot Chip)
- Phil Skarich - bass
- Nancy Whang - keyboards, synthesizer
- Pat Mahoney - drums
Former live members include:
History
LCD Soundsystem gained attention with its first single, "Losing My Edge". Described as "an eight-minute, laugh-out-loud funny dissection of cool over a dirty electronic beat"[2] the single became an underground dance favourite. This was followed by other well received singles "Give It Up" and "Yeah".
LCD Soundsystem released a double disc set simply titled LCD Soundsystem in February of 2005 to critical acclaim. The first disc contains the album and the second contains re-releases of previous singles. The opening track "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House" quickly gained popularity and entered the UK Top 40 in March 2005 and was later featured on several video game soundtracks like SSX on Tour, Forza Motorsport 2, Burnout Revenge, and FIFA 06. The band toured with M.I.A..[3]
In June 2005, the band covered a Siouxsie And The Banshees song, "Slowdive" for the B-side of "Disco Infiltrator".[4]
On December 8, 2005 the group received nominations for two Grammy awards in the Electronica category for their self-titled album and in the Dance category for "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House"[5]. This album was also chosen as one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005[6].
In October, 2006 James Murphy released a track entitled "45:33" as part of a promotion with Nike for download from iTunes[7]. The track is, strangely, 45 minutes and 58 seconds long, and was claimed to "reward and push at good intervals of a run"[8]. However it was later revealed that this was a lie, and Murphy merely wanted the opportunity to create a long piece of music, akin to E2-E4 by Manuel Göttsching.[9]
LCD Soundsystem's second album, Sound of Silver, was released on March 12, 2007, to near universal critical acclaim.[10] Praise included Mixmag awarding it the title Album of the Month, a 9.2 score from Pitchfork Media[11] and a 5-star review from The Guardian[12]. The album release was preceded by the single "North American Scum".
LCD Soundsystem's subsequent single "All My Friends" included a cover of the song by both Franz Ferdinand and former Velvet Underground member John Cale[13]. The digital download "All My Friends" EP also includes a cover of the early Joy Division song "No Love Lost". In September 2007 the "A Bunch of Stuff" EP was released[14] and the band went on tour with Arcade Fire[15]. Late in 2007 the band released "Someone Great" as the third single off of Sound of Silver and re-released 45:33 on CD and vinyl through DFA Records[16]. In December 2007 there was a release of a 12-inch record containing b-sides from European singles for the North American market entitled "Confuse the Marketplace".
Also in December 2007 the band received a nomination for the Grammy for Best Electronic/Dance Album[17]. The album was also named the best album of 2007 by publications such as The Guardian[18], Uncut[19] and Drowned in Sound[20].
Time magazine named "All My Friends" one of The 10 Best Songs of 2007, ranking it at #4. Writer Josh Tyrangiel praised the “magic” in the song, saying that the song’s “straightforward repetition of the same guitar, keyboard and bass lines, combined with lyrics about life without regret, and life with all kinds of regrets pays off with a punch about what we lose as we get older."[21][22]
After finishing touring for Sound of Silver the band released a song entitled "Big Ideas" on the soundtrack of the film 21.[23]
In April 2008 the song Get Innocuous! from Sound of Silver was used for the UK television advert for the video game Grand Theft Auto IV, and is also played on the radio station "Radio Broker" in the game.
Discography
Studio albums
- LCD Soundsystem (January 24, 2005) DFA #20 (UK)
- Sound of Silver (March 12, 2007) (UK) March 20, 2007 (USA) DFA #2 (CMJ Radio 200) #28 (UK)#46 (USA)
Digital releases
- Introns remix album March 13, 2006 DFA
- 45:33 Nike+ Original Run October 17, 2006 Nike (re-released November 12, 2007) DFA
- A Bunch of Stuff EP September 18, 2007 DFA
Singles
- "Losing My Edge" - (July 8, 2002) #115 UK
- "Give It Up" - (July 28, 2003)
- "Yeah" - (January 12, 2004) #77 UK
- "Movement" - (November 8, 2004) #52 UK
- "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House" - (February 28, 2005) #29 UK
- "Disco Infiltrator" - (June 6, 2005) #49 UK
- "Tribulations" - (September 26, 2005) #59 UK
- "North American Scum" - (February 26, 2007) #40 UK
- "All My Friends" - (May 28, 2007) #41 UK
- "No Love Lost" (Joy Division cover) / "Poupee de cire" (Serge Gainsbourg cover) - (September 17, 2007) Split 7" with Arcade Fire
- "Someone Great" - (October 22, 2007)
- "Confuse the Marketplace" - (December 11, 2007) EP
- "Time to Get Away" - (February 25, 2008)
Compilations
- DFA Compilation, Vol. 1 (2003 · DFA)
- DFA Compilation, Vol. 2 (2004 · DFA)
- Music from the OC: Mix 5 (2005 · Warner Bros./Wea)
- DFA Holiday Mix 2005 (2005 · DFA)
- Fabric Live 36 (2007 · Fabric)
- 21 Soundtrack (2008 · Columbia Records)
Award nominations
Grammys 2006
- Best Electronic/Dance Album - LCD Soundsystem
- Best Dance Recording - "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House"
Grammys 2008
References
- ^ everyhit.com
- ^ 'I speak as a lifetime failure' | | Guardian Unlimited Arts
- ^ http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/34916-mia-announces-headlining-tour M.I.A. announces Headlining Tour
- ^ LCD Soundsystem covered a Siouxsie & the banshees song on this CD
- ^ EMI Music earns 54 Grammy nominations including honors in key categories "Album of the Year", "Record of the Year", "Song of the Year" and "Producer of the Year"
- ^ Amazon.com Message
- ^ LCD Soundsystem records track for Nike
- ^ http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/39145/LCD_Soundsystem_Makes_45Minute_Track_for_Nike
- ^ Is this it?: James Murphy | The Guide | Guardian Unlimited
- ^ Metacritic - Sound of Silver
- ^ Pitchfork Media Review
- ^ Guardian review
- ^ LCD Soundsystem covered by Franz Ferdinand and John Cale for new single
- ^ SPIN.com: Arcade Fire, LCD Team for Seven-Inch; Vedder, Malkmus, Tweedy Cover Dylan
- ^ http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/44834-arcade-fire-and-lcd-not-just-a-tour-but-a-split-7 Arcade Fire and LCD: Not Just a Tour, But a Split 7"!
- ^ http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/45244-lcd-soundsystems-ifabriclive-36i-mix-revealed LCD Soundsystem's FABRICLIVE 36 Mix Revealed
- ^ "50th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominations List" for Sound of Silver
- ^ "2007's Best Albums" The Guardian, December 7, 2007.
- ^ "Uncut Sings the Paries of SOund of Silver"
- ^ DiS's albums of 2007
- ^ Tyrangiel, Josh; "The Best Top 10 Lists of the Year"; "The 10 Best Songs"; Time magazine; December 24, 2007; Page 39.
- ^ Time magazine's Top 10 Songs of 2007 at time.com
- ^ New LCD Soundsystem - "Big Ideas" (Stereogum Premiere) - Stereogum
External links
- Official site
- DFA records
- LCD Soundsystem discography at Discogs
- LCD Soundsystem at Last.fm
- LCD Soundsystem on Myspace
- LCD Soundsystem discography at MusicBrainz
- Interview with musicOMH.com, 2007
- Interview with DJ Times, 2005
- Videos of James Murphy Press Conference (April 6, 2007)
- James Murphy podcast on Times Online