Stimpy586

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 18:32:34 -0800

I wrote this when the album was firts leaked awhile back: The new LCD Soundsystem just leaked. IMHO, this disc confirms that any genius material this band previously released was just an accident (I'm talking about Tribulations, Losing My Edge, Beat Connection, and Yeah!). The production is too similar to the that last (awful) Daft Punk album, and James voice... which wasn't half bad on Tribulations... is cringe inducing on most of the tracks. The nadir being the ballad "New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down".. what a fucking mess! It sounds like one of these pussy bands on "The OC". I almost can't believe this is the same band I used to obsess over back in 2003. It felt like an eternity waiting for their first proper album... which was another letdown. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised that this isn't so hot? The DFA sound and aesthetic is looking and sounding very dated all of a sudden. The best tracks here are inferior cousins of their great output from 2002-03. "Get Innocuous" is probably the best thing on here, but it is rather by-the-numbers DFA and doesn't really get started until about 4 minutes in when a great female vocal chants "You can normalize". This track is basic DFA-disco with a liberal sampling of Kraftwerk's "The Robots". Later on there is some OK disco on the repetitive title track, which sounds like a much slighter version of Black Leotard Front's "Casual Friday" from 2004. There is really nothing on this disc that begs for future listening. The best on here is just "OK". The other flicker of promise is in "Someone Great", which is almost lovely in a basement demo kinda-way. It's a nice song but deserves to be sang by someone who can sing with a proper production. It's 2007...enough Lo-Fi please. The sound on the last disc, in spite of most of it sucking, was actually crisp, clear and bright (as were the early singles). This just seems so lazy in comparison. 1.5/5 stars

trantastikk

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:39:25 -0800

Thanks for the great review...I was contemplating buying it...so now I think I am! I do love their use of cowbells...

Jeff Butler

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:38:40 -0800

I just got this album and she is exactly right.

LAist: CD Review: LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver

Stimpy586

trantastikk

Jeff Butler