LCD Soundsystem
Encyclopedia
LCD Soundsystem was a prominent American
dance-punk
band from New York City
. It was fronted by American singer-songwriter and producer James Murphy, co-founder of record label DFA Records
. The group released three critically acclaimed albums, with 2010's This Is Happening
charting in the Billboard Top 10
.
On February 5, 2011, a statement was posted on the band's website that announced its disbandment following a farewell concert, which took place on April 2, 2011, at Madison Square Garden
. Their last live televised performance was on February 14, 2011 on The Colbert Report.
". Described as "an eight-minute, laugh-out-loud funny dissection of cool over a dirty electronic beat"; the single became an underground dance favorite. 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 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.
In June 2005, the band covered
a Siouxsie and the Banshees song, "Slowdive
" for the B-side of "Disco Infiltrator
".
On December 8, 2005 the group received nominations for two Grammy award
s in the Electronica category for their self-titled album and in the Dance category for "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House." This album was also chosen as #94 of Amazon.com
's "Top 100 Editor's Picks" of 2005.
" as part of a promotion with Nike
for download from iTunes. Despite its name, the track is 45 minutes and 58 seconds long, and was claimed to "reward and push at good intervals of a run". However, it was later revealed that this was not the case, but that Murphy merely wanted the opportunity to create a long piece of music, akin to E2-E4
by Manuel Göttsching
.
LCD Soundsystem's second album, Sound of Silver
, was released on March 12, 2007, to near universal critical acclaim. Praise included Mixmag awarding it the title Album of the Month, a 9.2 score from Pitchfork Media
and a 5-star review from The Guardian
. 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
. 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 and the band went on tour with Arcade Fire. 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. 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
. The album was also named the best album of 2007 by publications such as The Guardian
, Uncut
and Drowned in Sound
.
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." The track was later named the second best song of the 2000s by Pitchfork Media. The album was also nominated for the 2007 Shortlist Prize, where it lost out to The Reminder
by Feist.
After finishing touring for Sound of Silver the band recorded and released a song entitled "Big Ideas
" on the soundtrack of the film 21
. This song was ranked number 63 on Rolling Stone
the band released a cover of Suicide
member Alan Vega
's song "Bye Bye Bayou
".
On February 23, 2010, the official LCD Soundsystem website announced that the album had been completed. The first single was set to be "Drunk Girls" and on March 25, a stream of the song was put on music site One Thirty BPM
. The title of the album and the cover were revealed on the DFA site on March 30. The album, titled This Is Happening
, was released in the UK
on May 17, 2010 and in the US on May 18, 2010. Prior to the release Murphy promised that it will be "definitely better than the other two." Murphy also stated that it was likely to be the last LCD Soundsystem album.
The band performed two secret gigs in New York on April 9 and April 12, 2010, at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (Brooklyn) and Webster Hall in New York respectively. James Murphy made an impassioned plea with fans and industry attendees at the New York gig not to leak the album to the internet in advance of the May 17 release date. It was reported in the NME
that Murphy went down on his knees onstage and stated:
"If you got a copy of the record early and you feel like sharing it with the rest of the world, then please don't ... We spent two years making this record and we want to put it out when we want to put it out. I don't care about money – after it comes out, give it to whoever you want for free but until then, keep it to yourself."
For the 2010 edition of Record Store Day, the band released 1000 copies of a single-sided 12" single of This Is Happening track "Pow Pow." When speaking to The Quietus
in August, Murphy insisted that LCD Soundsystem would continue to record music, stating: "We’ll do some 12”s and things like that. I just need to get away from it being a big thing."
The first single released from This Is Happening was "Drunk Girls
" featuring a video co-directed by Murphy and acclaimed director Spike Jonze
. This was followed later in the year by "I Can Change". On the 8th November 2010 the band released a "live-in-studio" album called The London Sessions, designed to invoke the spirit of Peel Sessions
. In addition to this they released a vinyl single of longtime live cover
"Throw" by Paperclip People on Carl Craig
's Planet E label.
On February 8, 2011, LCD Soundsystem announced on its website that it would be playing its last show ever on April 2 at Madison Square Garden
in New York City. The band also announced that it would play four warm-up shows March 28–31 at New York's Terminal 5. According to the Web site, "We are retiring from the game. Gettin’ out. Movin’ on." When tickets went on pre-sale and official sale, there were widespread problems with availability and online ordering, and the show became sold-out suddenly. Murphy pointed the finger at scalpers, writing on his Twitter account: "i will try to figure a way out to fuck these fuckers. NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, IT IS NOT WORTH THAT KIND OF MONEY TO SEE US!" and "1500 for a single ticket? Fuck you, scalpers. You are parasites. I HATE you." The final song performed by LCD Soundsystem at the farewell show was "New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down
". The show lasted almost four hours with appearances by Arcade Fire, Reggie Watts
and others. This officially marked the end of LCD Soundsystem.
On April 12, 2011 James Murphy confirmed via the LCD Soundsystem's Facebook
page the release of the final show on DVD, with a better quality than the stream who offered Pitchfork
, and is expected to be released early on 2012.
Murphy played the majority of the instrumental parts on LCD soundsystem's albums himself. However when performing live, Murphy was accompanied by the following band members:
Former live members included:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dance-punk
Dance-punk
Dance-punk is a music genre that emerged in the late 1970s, and is closely associated with the post-punk and No Wave movements.-Predecessors:...
band from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It was fronted by American singer-songwriter and producer James Murphy, co-founder of record label DFA Records
DFA Records
DFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI....
. The group released three critically acclaimed albums, with 2010's This Is Happening
This Is Happening
-Personnel:*James Murphy – synthesizer, guitar, bass guitar, claps, wurlitzer piano, piano, tambourine, drums, vocals, glockenspiel, cowbell, electronic drums, omnichord, vocoder, keyboards, programming*Gavin Russom – synthesizer, vocals...
charting in the Billboard Top 10
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
.
On February 5, 2011, a statement was posted on the band's website that announced its disbandment following a farewell concert, which took place on April 2, 2011, at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
. Their last live televised performance was on February 14, 2011 on The Colbert Report.
Early singles and self-titled album (2002–2005)
LCD Soundsystem gained attention with its first single, "Losing My EdgeLosing My Edge
"Losing My Edge" is the first single by LCD Soundsystem, released on July 8, 2002 and later featured on their eponymous debut.The song was listed at #13 on Pitchfork Media's top 500 songs of the 2000s...
". Described as "an eight-minute, laugh-out-loud funny dissection of cool over a dirty electronic beat"; the single became an underground dance favorite. This was followed by other well received singles "Give It Up" and "Yeah
Yeah (LCD Soundsystem song)
"Yeah" is the third single from LCD Soundsystem, released on January 12, 2004, featuring both versions of the song.-Notes:* "Yeah" is an earlier title of "Yeah" . The tracks are otherwise identical....
".
LCD Soundsystem released a double disc set simply titled LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem (album)
LCD Soundsystem is the debut album by American dance-punk act LCD Soundsystem, released in January 2005 by DFA Records. It contains 2 discs: the LP itself with new, unreleased songs and a second disc featuring singles released since 2002...
in February 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
Daft Punk Is Playing at My House
"Daft Punk Is Playing at My House" is the fifth single from LCD Soundsystem, released on February 21, 2005. The accompanying music video paid tongue-in-cheek homage to Spike Jonze's and Michel Gondry's music videos for Daft Punk's "Da Funk" and "Around the World," respectively...
" 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
SSX on Tour
SSX on Tour is a skiing and snowboarding game, the fourth title in the SSX series of video games for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, PSP and Xbox. The game was developed under the working title SSX 4. It was released in North America on October 11, 2005, In the PAL region on October 21, 2005 and in...
, Forza Motorsport 2
Forza Motorsport 2
Forza Motorsport 2 is a racing video game developed by Turn 10 Studios for the Xbox 360 console. It is the second title in the Forza Motorsport series, and is the sequel to the original Forza Motorsport and is followed by Forza Motorsport 3 .The box art features a tuned Nissan 350Z...
, Burnout Revenge
Burnout Revenge
Burnout Revenge is the fourth video game in the Burnout series of racing games, released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox on September 13, 2005 and Xbox 360 on March 7, 2006, alongside the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS title Burnout Legends....
, and FIFA 06
FIFA 06
FIFA 06, also known as FIFA Soccer 06, is a video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts based around the game of football. It was released in the United States on 4 October 2005 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Windows, PlayStation Portable, Game Boy Advance, and...
. The band toured with M.I.A.
M.I.A. (artist)
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam , better known by her stage name M.I.A. , is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, painter and director of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her compositions combine elements of hip hop, electronica, dance, alternative and world music. M.I.A...
In June 2005, the band covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
a Siouxsie and the Banshees song, "Slowdive
Slowdive (song)
"Slowdive" is a song written, produced and recorded by British rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees in 1982. It was released as the first single from the band's fifth album A Kiss in the Dreamhouse....
" for the B-side of "Disco Infiltrator
Disco Infiltrator
"Disco Infiltrator" is a song from the debut album by LCD Soundsystem, released as their sixth single on June 6, 2005. The single includes a cover of the Siouxsie and the Banshees' track "Slowdive," which was originally released on their 1982 album A Kiss in the Dreamhouse. The B-side was recorded...
".
On December 8, 2005 the group received nominations for two Grammy award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s in the Electronica category for their self-titled album and in the Dance category for "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House." This album was also chosen as #94 of Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
's "Top 100 Editor's Picks" of 2005.
45:33 and Sound of Silver (2006–2008)
In October 2006, James Murphy released a track entitled "45:3345:33
-CD reissue:Note: The first six tracks are listed simply as "45:33".-eMusic release:-Personnel:* James Murphy – drums, percussion, drum programming, handclaps, bass guitar, guitar, vocals, glockenspiel, clavinet, organ, synthesizer, vocoder...
" as part of a promotion with Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
for download from iTunes. Despite its name, the track is 45 minutes and 58 seconds long, and was claimed to "reward and push at good intervals of a run". However, it was later revealed that this was not the case, but that Murphy merely wanted the opportunity to create a long piece of music, akin to E2-E4
E2-E4
E2-E4, released in 1984, is the first solo recording album by Ash Ra Tempel / Ashra guitarist, Manuel Göttsching. The album consists of a minimalistic hour-long progressive electronic track that is subdivided into single tracks according to the stage of the song. The second half of the record is...
by Manuel Göttsching
Manuel Göttsching
Manuel Göttsching is a German musician and composer.As the leader of the group Ash Ra Tempel or Ashra, one of the most notable German groups of the 1970s and 80s, as well as a solo artist, he is one of the most important guitarists of the Kosmische Musik genre. He also participated in the Cosmic...
.
LCD Soundsystem's second album, Sound of Silver
Sound of Silver
Sound of Silver is the second album from LCD Soundsystem. The album was released in the UK on March 12, 2007 and in the U.S. on March 20, 2007.-History:...
, was released on March 12, 2007, to near universal critical acclaim. Praise included Mixmag awarding it the title Album of the Month, a 9.2 score from Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
and a 5-star review from The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
. The album release was preceded by the single "North American Scum
North American Scum
"North American Scum" is the first single from LCD Soundsystem's second album, Sound of Silver. It was released on February 26, 2007 as a digital download and on other formats on 5 March 2007. It reached #40 in the UK Singles Chart on 11 March 2007. The song was also featured in the 2008 film Step...
".
LCD Soundsystem's subsequent single "All My Friends
All My Friends
"All My Friends" is the second single from LCD Soundsystem's second album, Sound of Silver. It was released on May 28, 2007 in the United Kingdom, and reached #41 in the UK singles chart....
" included a cover of the song by both Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (band)
Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos , Bob Hardy , Nick McCarthy , and Paul Thomson .The band first experienced chart success when their second single, "Take Me Out", reached #3 in...
and former Velvet Underground member John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
. The digital download "All My Friends" EP also includes a cover of the early Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
song "No Love Lost". In September 2007, the "A Bunch of Stuff" EP was released and the band went on tour with Arcade Fire. Late in 2007, the band released "Someone Great
Someone Great
"Someone Great" is the third single from LCD Soundsystem's critically acclaimed second album Sound of Silver. The single was released on October 22, 2007 in the UK. The music video is directed by Doug Aitken...
" as the third single off of Sound of Silver and re-released 45:33
45:33
-CD reissue:Note: The first six tracks are listed simply as "45:33".-eMusic release:-Personnel:* James Murphy – drums, percussion, drum programming, handclaps, bass guitar, guitar, vocals, glockenspiel, clavinet, organ, synthesizer, vocoder...
on CD and vinyl through DFA Records. 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
Confuse the Marketplace
Confuse the Marketplace is an EP by LCD Soundsystem. The 12" single is a collection of songs for the North American market, all of which were previously only available on vinyl on European singles from Sound of Silver. All the songs are also available on the CD re-release of 45:33.-Track...
".
Also in December 2007, the band received a nomination for the Grammy for Best Electronic/Dance Album
Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album
The Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality albums in the dance music and electronica genres...
. The album was also named the best album of 2007 by publications such as The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, Uncut
UNCUT (magazine)
Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
and Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
.
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." The track was later named the second best song of the 2000s by Pitchfork Media. The album was also nominated for the 2007 Shortlist Prize, where it lost out to The Reminder
The Reminder
The Reminder is the third full-length album by indie artist Feist. It was released on April 23, 2007 in countries outside of North America, and May 1, 2007 in the United States and Canada....
by Feist.
After finishing touring for Sound of Silver the band recorded and released a song entitled "Big Ideas
Big Ideas (LCD Soundsystem song)
"Big Ideas" is a song by LCD Soundsystem, released as a single on August 11, 2008. It was originally written for the film 21 and appears on its soundtrack album.This song was ranked number 63 on Rolling Stones list of the 100 Best Singles of 2008....
" on the soundtrack of the film 21
21 (2008 film)
21 is a 2008 drama film directed by Australian director Robert Luketic and stars Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Bosworth, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, and Aaron Yoo. The film is inspired by the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team as told in Bringing Down the House, the...
. This song was ranked number 63 on Rolling Stone
This Is Happening (2009–2011)
On November 18, 2008 Al Doyle seemed to suggest in an interview with 6 Music that the band would soon be discontinued. However the following day both Doyle and James Murphy quashed this rumor, with Murphy indicating a new LCD Soundsystem album was on the way. Murphy began recording in the summer of 2009 in Los Angeles. Possible song titles mentioned at that time included "Why Do You Hate Music?" and "Love in LA." For the 2009 Record Store DayRecord Store Day
Record Store Day is an internationally celebrated day observed the third Saturday of April each year. Its purpose, as conceived by independent record store employee Chris Brown, is to celebrate the art of music...
the band released a cover of Suicide
Suicide (band)
Suicide is an American electronic protopunk musical duo, intermittently active since 1970 and composed of vocalist Alan Vega and Martin Rev on synthesizers and drum machines. They are an early synthesizer/vocal musical duo....
member Alan Vega
Alan Vega
Alan Vega For several years other sources stated that he was born in 1948 – see 'Myth' section is an American vocalist, primarily known for his work with electronic protopunk duo, Suicide...
's song "Bye Bye Bayou
Bye Bye Bayou
"Bye Bye Bayou" is a single by LCD Soundsystem released on November 7, 2009, to coincide with the Record Store Day offshoot, Vinyl Saturday. The song itself is a cover of Suicide vocalist Alan Vega's 1980 song of the same name.-Track listing:...
".
On February 23, 2010, the official LCD Soundsystem website announced that the album had been completed. The first single was set to be "Drunk Girls" and on March 25, a stream of the song was put on music site One Thirty BPM
One Thirty BPM
One Thirty BPM is a New York-based online publication providing reviews, news, media, interviews, features, and more from both the independent and mainstream spheres of the music world...
. The title of the album and the cover were revealed on the DFA site on March 30. The album, titled This Is Happening
This Is Happening
-Personnel:*James Murphy – synthesizer, guitar, bass guitar, claps, wurlitzer piano, piano, tambourine, drums, vocals, glockenspiel, cowbell, electronic drums, omnichord, vocoder, keyboards, programming*Gavin Russom – synthesizer, vocals...
, was released in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on May 17, 2010 and in the US on May 18, 2010. Prior to the release Murphy promised that it will be "definitely better than the other two." Murphy also stated that it was likely to be the last LCD Soundsystem album.
The band performed two secret gigs in New York on April 9 and April 12, 2010, at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (Brooklyn) and Webster Hall in New York respectively. James Murphy made an impassioned plea with fans and industry attendees at the New York gig not to leak the album to the internet in advance of the May 17 release date. It was reported in the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
that Murphy went down on his knees onstage and stated:
"If you got a copy of the record early and you feel like sharing it with the rest of the world, then please don't ... We spent two years making this record and we want to put it out when we want to put it out. I don't care about money – after it comes out, give it to whoever you want for free but until then, keep it to yourself."
For the 2010 edition of Record Store Day, the band released 1000 copies of a single-sided 12" single of This Is Happening track "Pow Pow." When speaking to The Quietus
The Quietus
The Quietus is a British online rock music and pop culture magazine, focusing on arts news, reviews, and features. The site is an editorially independent publication led by John Doran and a group of freelance journalists and critics, some of whom have worked for other media outlets...
in August, Murphy insisted that LCD Soundsystem would continue to record music, stating: "We’ll do some 12”s and things like that. I just need to get away from it being a big thing."
The first single released from This Is Happening was "Drunk Girls
Drunk Girls
"Drunk Girls" is the first widely available single from LCD Soundsystem's critically acclaimed third album This Is Happening after the limited release single "Pow Pow". It was released on May 3, 2010...
" featuring a video co-directed by Murphy and acclaimed director Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
. This was followed later in the year by "I Can Change". On the 8th November 2010 the band released a "live-in-studio" album called The London Sessions, designed to invoke the spirit of Peel Sessions
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
. In addition to this they released a vinyl single of longtime live cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
"Throw" by Paperclip People on Carl Craig
Carl Craig
Carl Craig is a Detroit-based producer of techno music, and is considered to be one of the most important names in the Detroit second generation of techno producers and DJs...
's Planet E label.
On February 8, 2011, LCD Soundsystem announced on its website that it would be playing its last show ever on April 2 at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York City. The band also announced that it would play four warm-up shows March 28–31 at New York's Terminal 5. According to the Web site, "We are retiring from the game. Gettin’ out. Movin’ on." When tickets went on pre-sale and official sale, there were widespread problems with availability and online ordering, and the show became sold-out suddenly. Murphy pointed the finger at scalpers, writing on his Twitter account: "i will try to figure a way out to fuck these fuckers. NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, IT IS NOT WORTH THAT KIND OF MONEY TO SEE US!" and "1500 for a single ticket? Fuck you, scalpers. You are parasites. I HATE you." The final song performed by LCD Soundsystem at the farewell show was "New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down
Sound of Silver
Sound of Silver is the second album from LCD Soundsystem. The album was released in the UK on March 12, 2007 and in the U.S. on March 20, 2007.-History:...
". The show lasted almost four hours with appearances by Arcade Fire, Reggie Watts
Reggie Watts
Reggie Watts is a Seattle-based comedian and musician. His shows are mostly improvised and consist of stream of consciousness stand-up in various shifting personae, mixed with loop pedal-based a cappella compositions. He also performs regularly on television, radio, and in live theater...
and others. This officially marked the end of LCD Soundsystem.
On April 12, 2011 James Murphy confirmed via the LCD Soundsystem's Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page the release of the final show on DVD, with a better quality than the stream who offered Pitchfork
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
, and is expected to be released early on 2012.
Band members
- James Murphy – vocals, drums, bass, percussion, claps, organ, programming, drum machine, synths, guitar, effects, keyboards, piano, clavinet, wurlitzer piano, snaps, omnichord, vocoder
Murphy played the majority of the instrumental parts on LCD soundsystem's albums himself. However when performing live, Murphy was accompanied by the following band members:
- Nancy WhangNancy WhangNancy Whang is an American singer and musician known for her work with The Juan MacLean and LCD Soundsystem. She has also recorded with Soulwax, and appears in the film Part of the Weekend Never Dies...
– vocals, keyboards, synths - Pat Mahoney – drums, percussion, drum machine, claps, synths, vocals,
- Tyler Pope – bass, guitar, synths, claps, drum machine
- David Scott StoneDavid Scott StoneDavid Scott Stone is a musician who has recorded and toured with artists like The Melvins, Unwound, Fantômas, The Locust, Jello Biafra, Keiji Haino, Mike Patton, Adam Jones , Merzbow, Masonna, Big Business, No Age, Joe Lally and others. He is currently a member of LCD Soundsystem...
– guitar - Matt Thornley – percussion, snaps
- Gavin Russom – synths, vocals
- Al Doyle – guitar, percussion, synths, bass (also of Hot ChipHot ChipHot Chip are an English electronic indie band. They have released four studio albums—Coming on Strong, The Warning, Made in the Dark and One Life Stand.-Formation:...
)
Former live members included:
- Phil Skarich – bass
- Phil Mossman – guitar, percussion
- J.D. Mark - Guitar
- Nick Milheiser
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Record Label | UK | US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | LCD Soundsystem LCD Soundsystem (album) LCD Soundsystem is the debut album by American dance-punk act LCD Soundsystem, released in January 2005 by DFA Records. It contains 2 discs: the LP itself with new, unreleased songs and a second disc featuring singles released since 2002... |
DFA DFA Records DFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI.... |
20 | - | UK British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... : Gold |
| 2007 | Sound of Silver Sound of Silver Sound of Silver is the second album from LCD Soundsystem. The album was released in the UK on March 12, 2007 and in the U.S. on March 20, 2007.-History:... |
DFA | 28 | 46 | UK British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... : Silver |
| 2010 | This Is Happening This Is Happening -Personnel:*James Murphy – synthesizer, guitar, bass guitar, claps, wurlitzer piano, piano, tambourine, drums, vocals, glockenspiel, cowbell, electronic drums, omnichord, vocoder, keyboards, programming*Gavin Russom – synthesizer, vocals... |
DFA | 7 | 10 | - |
| 2011 | London Sessions |
Other releases
- IntronsIntrons (album)Introns is an album by LCD Soundsystem released in March 2006 as a digital download. It is a compilation of b-sides and remixes from the LCD Soundsystem album and associated singles. The cover image shows James Murphy's record collection....
remix album (March 13, 2006) DFADFA RecordsDFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI.... - 45:3345:33-CD reissue:Note: The first six tracks are listed simply as "45:33".-eMusic release:-Personnel:* James Murphy – drums, percussion, drum programming, handclaps, bass guitar, guitar, vocals, glockenspiel, clavinet, organ, synthesizer, vocoder...
Nike+ Original Run (October 17, 2006) NikeNike, Inc.Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
(re-released November 12, 2007) DFADFA RecordsDFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI....
#128 UK - A Bunch of StuffA Bunch of StuffA Bunch of Stuff is a digital-only EP by the band LCD Soundsystem released on . It is a US-only release as all the songs on the EP were included on the "Someone Great" single which was released in all other territories.-Track listing:# "All My Friends" # "Get Innocuous!" # "Sound of...
EP (September 18, 2007) DFADFA RecordsDFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI.... - 45:33 Remixes45:33 Remixes45:33 Remixes' is an album by LCD Soundsystem consisting entirely of remixes of their 2006 release 45:33. It was released as a series of 12" singles and a CD compilation on September 14, 2009.-Critical Reception:-CD Compilation:...
(September 14, 2009) DFADFA RecordsDFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI.... - The London Sessions (November 8, 2010) DFADFA RecordsDFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI....
Singles
- "Losing My EdgeLosing My Edge"Losing My Edge" is the first single by LCD Soundsystem, released on July 8, 2002 and later featured on their eponymous debut.The song was listed at #13 on Pitchfork Media's top 500 songs of the 2000s...
" – (July 8, 2002) #115 UK - "Give It Up" – (July 28, 2003)
- "YeahYeah (LCD Soundsystem song)"Yeah" is the third single from LCD Soundsystem, released on January 12, 2004, featuring both versions of the song.-Notes:* "Yeah" is an earlier title of "Yeah" . The tracks are otherwise identical....
" – (January 12, 2004) #77 UK - "Movement" – (November 8, 2004) #52 UK
- "Daft Punk Is Playing at My HouseDaft Punk Is Playing at My House"Daft Punk Is Playing at My House" is the fifth single from LCD Soundsystem, released on February 21, 2005. The accompanying music video paid tongue-in-cheek homage to Spike Jonze's and Michel Gondry's music videos for Daft Punk's "Da Funk" and "Around the World," respectively...
" – (February 28, 2005) #29 UK - "Disco InfiltratorDisco Infiltrator"Disco Infiltrator" is a song from the debut album by LCD Soundsystem, released as their sixth single on June 6, 2005. The single includes a cover of the Siouxsie and the Banshees' track "Slowdive," which was originally released on their 1982 album A Kiss in the Dreamhouse. The B-side was recorded...
" – (June 6, 2005) #49 UK - "TribulationsTribulations"Tribulations" is the seventh single from LCD Soundsystem, released on September 27, 2005. It appeared as the third track on Disc 1 of the band's eponymous debut double album...
" – (September 26, 2005) #59 UK - "North American ScumNorth American Scum"North American Scum" is the first single from LCD Soundsystem's second album, Sound of Silver. It was released on February 26, 2007 as a digital download and on other formats on 5 March 2007. It reached #40 in the UK Singles Chart on 11 March 2007. The song was also featured in the 2008 film Step...
" – (February 26, 2007) #40 UK - "All My FriendsAll My Friends"All My Friends" is the second single from LCD Soundsystem's second album, Sound of Silver. It was released on May 28, 2007 in the United Kingdom, and reached #41 in the UK singles chart....
" – (May 28, 2007) #41 UK - "No Love Lost" (Joy DivisionJoy DivisionJoy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
cover) / "Poupée de cire, poupée de sonPoupée de cire, poupée de son"Poupée de cire, poupée de son" was the winning entry in the Eurovision Song Contest of 1965. It was performed in French by French singer France Gall, representing Luxembourg....
" (cover of a France GallFrance GallFrance Gall is a popular French yé-yé singer.Gall was married to, and had a successful singing career in partnership with, French singer-songwriter Michel Berger....
song penned by Serge GainsbourgSerge GainsbourgSerge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
) – (September 17, 2007) Split 7" with Arcade Fire - "Someone GreatSomeone Great"Someone Great" is the third single from LCD Soundsystem's critically acclaimed second album Sound of Silver. The single was released on October 22, 2007 in the UK. The music video is directed by Doug Aitken...
" – (October 22, 2007) - "Confuse the MarketplaceConfuse the MarketplaceConfuse the Marketplace is an EP by LCD Soundsystem. The 12" single is a collection of songs for the North American market, all of which were previously only available on vinyl on European singles from Sound of Silver. All the songs are also available on the CD re-release of 45:33.-Track...
" – (December 11, 2007) EP - "Time to Get Away" – (February 25, 2008)
- "Big IdeasBig Ideas (LCD Soundsystem song)"Big Ideas" is a song by LCD Soundsystem, released as a single on August 11, 2008. It was originally written for the film 21 and appears on its soundtrack album.This song was ranked number 63 on Rolling Stones list of the 100 Best Singles of 2008....
" – (August 11, 2008) - "Bye Bye BayouBye Bye Bayou"Bye Bye Bayou" is a single by LCD Soundsystem released on November 7, 2009, to coincide with the Record Store Day offshoot, Vinyl Saturday. The song itself is a cover of Suicide vocalist Alan Vega's 1980 song of the same name.-Track listing:...
" (Alan VegaAlan VegaAlan Vega For several years other sources stated that he was born in 1948 – see 'Myth' section is an American vocalist, primarily known for his work with electronic protopunk duo, Suicide...
cover for Record Store DayRecord Store DayRecord Store Day is an internationally celebrated day observed the third Saturday of April each year. Its purpose, as conceived by independent record store employee Chris Brown, is to celebrate the art of music...
2009) – (November 7, 2009) - "Pow PowPow Pow (song)"Pow Pow" is the first single from LCD Soundsystem's third album This Is Happening, released on April 17, 2010 to coincide with the 2010 Record Store Day. It was initially released with only 1000 copies of a one-sided vinyl record....
" (for Record Store Day 2010) – (April 17, 2010) - "Drunk GirlsDrunk Girls"Drunk Girls" is the first widely available single from LCD Soundsystem's critically acclaimed third album This Is Happening after the limited release single "Pow Pow". It was released on May 3, 2010...
" – (May 3, 2010) #179 UK - "I Can Change" – (July 26, 2010)
- "Throw" – (October 27, 2010)
Compilations
- DFA Compilation, Vol. 1DFA Compilation, Vol. 1DFA Compilation, Vol. 1 is a compilation of tracks by various artists signed to the dance-punk label The DFA. The only two tracks contributed here that were not produced by The DFA are "Endless Happiness" and "Cone Toaster", both by Black Dice...
(2003 · DFA) - DFA Compilation, Vol. 2DFA Compilation, Vol. 2DFA Compilation, Vol. 2 is a three disc box set released by the dance-punk label DFA Records. It contains tracks and remixes of various artists signed to DFA Records as well as other artists with a close affinity to the label. The first two discs are a collection of recording previously only...
(2004 · DFA) - Music from the OC: Mix 5 (2005 · Warner Bros./Wea)
- DFA Holiday Mix 2005DFA Holiday Mix 2005DFA Holiday Mix 2005 is a compilation of tracks and remixes by various artists on the dance-punk label The DFA. It was released on October 31, 2005 in the UK and October 25, 2005 in the US. In the UK it was sold cheaply and was widely available across many record stores...
(2005 · DFA) - FabricLive.36 (2007 · FabricFabric (club)Fabric is a nightclub in London, United Kingdom. It was voted number 1 in DJ Magazine's "Top 100 Clubs in the World" poll in 2007 and number 2 in 2008, 2009 and 2010...
) - 21 Soundtrack (2008 · Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
) - Greenberg Soundtrack (2010 · DFADFADFA may refer to:* Directory of Financial Advisers, DFA a private directory of Financial Advisers in New Zealand-Computing:* Data-flow analysis, a technique for gathering information about the possible set of values calculated at various points in a computer program* Deterministic finite automaton,...
/ParlophoneParlophoneParlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
)
Grammys 2006
- Best Electronic/Dance AlbumGrammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance AlbumThe Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality albums in the dance music and electronica genres...
– LCD SoundsystemLCD Soundsystem (album)LCD Soundsystem is the debut album by American dance-punk act LCD Soundsystem, released in January 2005 by DFA Records. It contains 2 discs: the LP itself with new, unreleased songs and a second disc featuring singles released since 2002... - Best Dance RecordingGrammy Award for Best Dance RecordingThe Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for works containing quality vocal performances in the dance music genre...
– "Daft Punk Is Playing at My HouseDaft Punk Is Playing at My House"Daft Punk Is Playing at My House" is the fifth single from LCD Soundsystem, released on February 21, 2005. The accompanying music video paid tongue-in-cheek homage to Spike Jonze's and Michel Gondry's music videos for Daft Punk's "Da Funk" and "Around the World," respectively...
"
Grammys 2008
- Best Electronic/Dance AlbumGrammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance AlbumThe Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality albums in the dance music and electronica genres...
– Sound of SilverSound of SilverSound of Silver is the second album from LCD Soundsystem. The album was released in the UK on March 12, 2007 and in the U.S. on March 20, 2007.-History:...