LCD Soundsystem

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

LCD Soundsystem
James Murphy
James Murphy
Background information
Origin Flag of the United States New York City, USA
Genre(s) Dance punk
Electro house
Years active 2002-present
Label(s) DFA Records
Website Official website
Members
James Murphy
Nancy Whang
Pat Mahoney
Al Doyle
Phil Skarich
Former members
Tyler Pope
Phil Mossman

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]

Contents

[edit] Band members

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:

  • Tyler Pope - bass (also in !!! and the now-defunct Out Hud)
  • Phil Mossman - guitar, percussion

[edit] 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 television advert for the video game Grand Theft Auto IV, and is also played on the radio station "Radio Broker" in the game.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

[edit] Digital releases

[edit] Singles

[edit] Compilations

[edit] Award nominations

[edit] Grammys 2006

[edit] Grammys 2008

[edit] References

  1. ^ everyhit.com
  2. ^ 'I speak as a lifetime failure' | | Guardian Unlimited Arts
  3. ^ http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/34916-mia-announces-headlining-tour M.I.A. announces Headlining Tour
  4. ^ LCD Soundsystem covered a Siouxsie & the banshees song on this CD
  5. ^ 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"
  6. ^ Amazon.com Message
  7. ^ LCD Soundsystem records track for Nike
  8. ^ http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/39145/LCD_Soundsystem_Makes_45Minute_Track_for_Nike
  9. ^ Is this it?: James Murphy | The Guide | Guardian Unlimited
  10. ^ Metacritic - Sound of Silver
  11. ^ Pitchfork Media Review
  12. ^ Guardian review
  13. ^ LCD Soundsystem covered by Franz Ferdinand and John Cale for new single
  14. ^ SPIN.com: Arcade Fire, LCD Team for Seven-Inch; Vedder, Malkmus, Tweedy Cover Dylan
  15. ^ 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"!
  16. ^ http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/45244-lcd-soundsystems-ifabriclive-36i-mix-revealed LCD Soundsystem's FABRICLIVE 36 Mix Revealed
  17. ^ "50th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominations List" for Sound of Silver
  18. ^ "2007's Best Albums" The Guardian, December 7, 2007.
  19. ^ "Uncut Sings the Paries of SOund of Silver"
  20. ^ DiS's albums of 2007
  21. ^ Tyrangiel, Josh; "The Best Top 10 Lists of the Year"; "The 10 Best Songs"; Time magazine; December 24, 2007; Page 39.
  22. ^ Time magazine's Top 10 Songs of 2007 at time.com
  23. ^ New LCD Soundsystem - "Big Ideas" (Stereogum Premiere) - Stereogum

[edit] External links