I’m gonna keep my LCD review pretty short. I really got into this album. It took a couple listens for me, but it’s really a lot of fun. Since getting it I’ve noticed that it has been playing at bars and parties, and why not. Musically it really all comes down to layers. The opening minute or so of the album is the perfect example of where most of these songs start. Just a bare bones drum and synth followed by sound explosions, crescendos, and then layers get stripped away and feel even more intense. It’s all great fun. This would be really cool show.
4 out 5 red stripes Favorites –I Can Change and All I Want (How bout the Bowie\Smiths influences here. Reminds me of Heroes which is a good thing)
Duds - Drunk Girls- I don’t get why this is the hit. It’s growing on me a bit and I think its funny, but its my least favorite.
5. Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way 4. The Roots - How I got Over 3.Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 2. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid 1. The Suburbs
So this is my first real experience with LCD Soundsystem, and for the most part I really enjoyed the album. I find myself just repeating the most random shit when I'm listening to the album (ONE TOUCH).
The only band I could really compare these guys to would be Ween I guess with the toungue-in-cheek approach to lyrics, but that's not really fair to either group.
I'm going 3.5 out of 5 on this, since I really didn't like the last 4 tracks on the album or the song "Drunk Girls".
On the plus side I really enjoyed the other 6 track on the album. Favorites would be "You Wanted a Hit" and "Dance Yrself Clean". Great songs.
LCD...what can I say...highs and lows. Dance Yrself Clean? - Probably the best first track on an album I have ever heard. There I was, pumping away on the eliptical machine at the gym. Head phones in...I kept turning the volume up thinking something was wrong with my ipod or headphones. Then......wham....sonic orgasm in my ears!!!! The synth work is unbelievable. Overall, a fun and danceable album with a few low points.
I like the sound. It's good dance with actual lyrics and a voice that is tolerable...unlike most dance music with lyrics. I'd like to see them live. That would probably be the best way to experience this band.
3.5 out of 5 red stripes and I'll definitely have a number of the tunes on rotation.
Great pick OB...I like the blind chance choice making.
That was some outstanding beer chugging Kevin in that video.
This forum probably won't do justice to a good conversation about the new Kanye album. I think it'll have to take place over a few drinks on Feb. 12th.
Looking forward to it.
Oh and as you can see, Al Davis is officially a follower of this blog and I'm writing as Old Dirty Bastard, since I couldn't really figure out how to set up my profile.
I'm purchasing Kanye's new one as we speak. I love his tweets so much...how could I not buy his artistically acclaimed album. "Fur pillows are hard to actually sleep on" "I make great decisions in bike stores" "Classical music is tight yo"
Maybe our first snag. I did a little research. You can embed video in the posts but not the comments. We can test to see if we can edit each other's posts. Also from YouTube if you click share you can directly post a video to Blogger.
Also you can use this format to create a link in your comments
So apparently my motivation for posting is adversely affected by my direct involvement with the monthly selection. Sorry for the delay, as I know you’ve been all anxiously checking your electronic devices in breathless anticipation.
# of spins: 25+ Medium: vinyl and ripped to mp3 from vinyl First impression: left wanting
“This Is Happening” has been a fun musical adventure. James Murphy is a wonderfully perplexing character, and the medium I’ll somewhat arbitrarily call electropop is relatively new to me. It interests me because LCD is musically related to what my brother has been doing with Vanimal.
I think “Dance Yrslef Clean” is my favorite track on the album. It is incredibly brave and, like the album, displays a stubborn refusal to compromise. That song could have been a radio hit (and I guess still could be with a simple edit), but Murphy went a different direction. Like my brother Tim said, “he accomplished exactly what he wanted to with that song.” So many VVers commented on the volume difference and their first impression of the album in track 1’s first couple minutes. The fat reverberating beat that explodes in our ears was a relief and a thrill. Like so many great jam band and classic rock songs, LCD employs the musical device of the misleading-anxious-build-up to make the payoff 10x more effective.
I really worked hard at resisting the initial overwhelming temptation to write off “Drunk Girls” as a novelty song. Certainly, elements of that distinction exist. However, from the surprisingly intriguing and funny lyrics (if I could do college again, I would surely get drunk and approach a girl with “I believe in waking up together”), to the workmanlike R&B rhythm riffs, to the David-Bowie-as-Beach-Boy background vocals, there is a lot to be taken seriously here. I feel like if the words “drunk girls” weren’t on the track, the novelty label would be pretty irrelevant. It would be called a fun pop song with a dirty on a rugged R&B chassis.
Although I appreciate the technical musicianship of “One Touch”, and that fact that it IS typically never enough – I don’t like this song and think it’s unfortunate filler on a very good album. It lacks a lot of the pop sensibilities that make the record special, and strikes me as soulless.
Murphy displays LCD’s evolution into a rock band with “All I Want”. That concept is something he’s spoken about in interviews and cited as a reason, “This Is Happening” is the likely final LCD LP (very briefly/generally: he hates the business and expectations that come with leading a popular, full-fledged rock band in 2011). I found Wally’s “Hero’s” comparison really astute. The band I could never stop thinking of during this song was Velvet Underground. The monotonous but memorizing guitar was VU vocabulary. The synth hook is great – this song just washes over me in a wonderful way.
“All I Want” or “I Can Change” have been my favorite track at some point. The latter is just an incredibly professional piece of songwriting and display of musicianship – the obvious single. Murphy’s trademark vulnerability is all over “Change”.
“You Wanted A Hit” and “Pow Pow” really grew on me. I like the FU lyrics in the former. These are the types of songs I was expecting with LCD.
“Somebody’s Calling Me” is (in my weird brain) VU’s “Heroin” minus lyrical similarity, if it were written today. I feel like I should hate this song, but I just don’t.
“Home” has an obvious and very strong Talking Heads influence. Me gusta Talking Heads. Me gusta “Home”.
IN CONCLUSION, a lot of people compare this album and Murphy to 2010 version of Bowie. Although that’s probably a bit lazy, I can certainly see the reference. The album is sequenced brilliantly, and is a rigid aesthetic vision from record cover to liner notes, to tunage. Murphy is not Bowie. Bowie is effortlessly cool. Despite the album cover photo, Murphy is consciously aware of his biological, structural restrictions which prevent him from being cool (neurosis, name, body type, face, age), so he pushes the self-deprecating irony which creates an illusion of effortlessness and a semblance of coolness. Doesn’t hurt that the music is as effortlessly cool as Bowie.
21 comments:
I’m gonna keep my LCD review pretty short. I really got into this album. It took a couple listens for me, but it’s really a lot of fun. Since getting it I’ve noticed that it has been playing at bars and parties, and why not. Musically it really all comes down to layers. The opening minute or so of the album is the perfect example of where most of these songs start. Just a bare bones drum and synth followed by sound explosions, crescendos, and then layers get stripped away and feel even more intense. It’s all great fun. This would be really cool show.
4 out 5 red stripes
Favorites –I Can Change and All I Want (How bout the Bowie\Smiths influences here. Reminds me of Heroes which is a good thing)
Duds - Drunk Girls- I don’t get why this is the hit. It’s growing on me a bit and I think its funny, but its my least favorite.
Also my quick top 5 for 2010
5. Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way
4. The Roots - How I got Over
3.Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
2. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid
1. The Suburbs
So this is my first real experience with LCD Soundsystem, and for the most part I really enjoyed the album. I find myself just repeating the most random shit when I'm listening to the album (ONE TOUCH).
The only band I could really compare these guys to would be Ween I guess with the toungue-in-cheek approach to lyrics, but that's not really fair to either group.
I'm going 3.5 out of 5 on this, since I really didn't like the last 4 tracks on the album or the song "Drunk Girls".
On the plus side I really enjoyed the other 6 track on the album. Favorites would be "You Wanted a Hit" and "Dance Yrself Clean". Great songs.
I could only come up with a top 4 for the year...
4 - The Big To Do - Drive By Truckers
3 - Recovery - Eminem
2 - Guitar Song - Jamey Johnson
1 - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye
5 - Ain't no grave - Johnny Cash
Nice Wood. Can't wait to get to talk some Kanye with you.
Woah...the holidays bogged us down a bit.
LCD...what can I say...highs and lows. Dance Yrself Clean? - Probably the best first track on an album I have ever heard. There I was, pumping away on the eliptical machine at the gym. Head phones in...I kept turning the volume up thinking something was wrong with my ipod or headphones. Then......wham....sonic orgasm in my ears!!!! The synth work is unbelievable. Overall, a fun and danceable album with a few low points.
I like the sound. It's good dance with actual lyrics and a voice that is tolerable...unlike most dance music with lyrics. I'd like to see them live. That would probably be the best way to experience this band.
3.5 out of 5 red stripes and I'll definitely have a number of the tunes on rotation.
Great pick OB...I like the blind chance choice making.
How do I embed this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJWCTxHDr3s&feature=related
Do yourselves a favor and get some good laughs at LCD Skate Town!
That was some outstanding beer chugging Kevin in that video.
This forum probably won't do justice to a good conversation about the new Kanye album. I think it'll have to take place over a few drinks on Feb. 12th.
Looking forward to it.
Oh and as you can see, Al Davis is officially a follower of this blog and I'm writing as Old Dirty Bastard, since I couldn't really figure out how to set up my profile.
Thanks Scott. It's like riding a bike.
I'm purchasing Kanye's new one as we speak. I love his tweets so much...how could I not buy his artistically acclaimed album. "Fur pillows are hard to actually sleep on" "I make great decisions in bike stores" "Classical music is tight yo"
Maybe our first snag. I did a little research. You can embed video in the posts but not the comments. We can test to see if we can edit each other's posts. Also from YouTube if you click share you can directly post a video to Blogger.
Also you can use this format to create a link in your comments
Skate Town!
Format:
a href="URL of target site">anchor text</a
just add carrots to the beginning and end
More on Links
Skate Town!
Corrected
I can't believe the editing on this video. And only 300 hits so far...
This is fantastic.
Right?!? Imagine how bad that movie is!
I think music videos are getting better now that MTV deals exclusively with shows about pregnant teenagers.
Had to add the movie trailer...enjoy
Final show announced
So apparently my motivation for posting is adversely affected by my direct involvement with the monthly selection. Sorry for the delay, as I know you’ve been all anxiously checking your electronic devices in breathless anticipation.
# of spins: 25+
Medium: vinyl and ripped to mp3 from vinyl
First impression: left wanting
“This Is Happening” has been a fun musical adventure. James Murphy is a wonderfully perplexing character, and the medium I’ll somewhat arbitrarily call electropop is relatively new to me. It interests me because LCD is musically related to what my brother has been doing with Vanimal.
I think “Dance Yrslef Clean” is my favorite track on the album. It is incredibly brave and, like the album, displays a stubborn refusal to compromise. That song could have been a radio hit (and I guess still could be with a simple edit), but Murphy went a different direction. Like my brother Tim said, “he accomplished exactly what he wanted to with that song.” So many VVers commented on the volume difference and their first impression of the album in track 1’s first couple minutes. The fat reverberating beat that explodes in our ears was a relief and a thrill. Like so many great jam band and classic rock songs, LCD employs the musical device of the misleading-anxious-build-up to make the payoff 10x more effective.
I really worked hard at resisting the initial overwhelming temptation to write off “Drunk Girls” as a novelty song. Certainly, elements of that distinction exist. However, from the surprisingly intriguing and funny lyrics (if I could do college again, I would surely get drunk and approach a girl with “I believe in waking up together”), to the workmanlike R&B rhythm riffs, to the David-Bowie-as-Beach-Boy background vocals, there is a lot to be taken seriously here. I feel like if the words “drunk girls” weren’t on the track, the novelty label would be pretty irrelevant. It would be called a fun pop song with a dirty on a rugged R&B chassis.
Although I appreciate the technical musicianship of “One Touch”, and that fact that it IS typically never enough – I don’t like this song and think it’s unfortunate filler on a very good album. It lacks a lot of the pop sensibilities that make the record special, and strikes me as soulless.
(continued...)
(LCD thoughts part II)
Murphy displays LCD’s evolution into a rock band with “All I Want”. That concept is something he’s spoken about in interviews and cited as a reason, “This Is Happening” is the likely final LCD LP (very briefly/generally: he hates the business and expectations that come with leading a popular, full-fledged rock band in 2011). I found Wally’s “Hero’s” comparison really astute. The band I could never stop thinking of during this song was Velvet Underground. The monotonous but memorizing guitar was VU vocabulary. The synth hook is great – this song just washes over me in a wonderful way.
“All I Want” or “I Can Change” have been my favorite track at some point. The latter is just an incredibly professional piece of songwriting and display of musicianship – the obvious single. Murphy’s trademark vulnerability is all over “Change”.
“You Wanted A Hit” and “Pow Pow” really grew on me. I like the FU lyrics in the former. These are the types of songs I was expecting with LCD.
“Somebody’s Calling Me” is (in my weird brain) VU’s “Heroin” minus lyrical similarity, if it were written today. I feel like I should hate this song, but I just don’t.
“Home” has an obvious and very strong Talking Heads influence. Me gusta Talking Heads. Me gusta “Home”.
IN CONCLUSION, a lot of people compare this album and Murphy to 2010 version of Bowie. Although that’s probably a bit lazy, I can certainly see the reference. The album is sequenced brilliantly, and is a rigid aesthetic vision from record cover to liner notes, to tunage. Murphy is not Bowie. Bowie is effortlessly cool. Despite the album cover photo, Murphy is consciously aware of his biological, structural restrictions which prevent him from being cool (neurosis, name, body type, face, age), so he pushes the self-deprecating irony which creates an illusion of effortlessness and a semblance of coolness. Doesn’t hurt that the music is as effortlessly cool as Bowie.
3.5 Red Stripes
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