LCD Soundsystem

Sound of Silver

Capitol / DFA

originally published April 18, 2007

In the abstract, Sound of Silver isn't that different from James Murphy's debut as LCD Soundsystem. There's a dance-punk single, numerous analog disco workouts, and a '70s AOR song. But instead of leading off with the single, as on the debut, we've got an opener with obscured vocals, followed by a peppy but vague number, before we get to "North American Scum." It's a total masterpiece of recording and rhetoric, describing the awkwardness of being an American in Europe, resented for your nationality but not actually supporting its actions, but the song comes out almost patriotic, and hard as hell.

The album's two best songs follow, one a blurry recital of loss, the other a slowly building whirl whose huggable lyrics describe the sound. Murphy smartly ends the album with the other best song, a "Perfect Day" homage/ rip-off that bittersweetly serenades NYC. The danceable songs in between are great if they seem to speak directly to you (hello!), but probably just good otherwise.

So is Sound of Silver a better album because its songs are better (they are) or because it's sequenced better? It doesn't really matter - they're both elements of Murphy's craft, after all - but it's interesting to see the power of good sequencing. Instead of starting strong but scattering its good tracks throughout, like the debut, Sound of Silver builds and builds, then uses this momentum to coast to a fantastic finish. It's a great album, but it also shows that, scarily, Murphy is still learning new things.

Michael Barthel