The 500 - #395 - Sound of Silver - LCD Soundsystem

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

Album # 395

Album Title: Sound of Silver
Artist: LCD Soundsystem
Genre: Dance Punk, Electronica, Indie Rock
Recorded: Long View Farm, Massachusetts
Released: March, 2007
My age at release: 41
How familiar was I with it before this week: Not at all
Song I am putting on my Spotify Mix: Someone Great 

Sound of Silver Album Cover - LCD Soundsystem

In music, the term Electronica casts a wide net over many styles. It is a genre that is difficult to define and one that comes with many labels, including ambient, house, techno, jungle, dub, chill and trance. Sound of Silver, is no exception. The sophomore release from LCD Soundsystem has been described by critics as dance-rock, art-rock, alternative-dance, and even post-punk-revival. Perhaps, it is best experienced and not labelled at all.

LCD Soundsystem was the brainchild of Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter James Murphy. Formed in 2002, the band has become a performer's collective, recruiting a diverse group of musicians and producers to help create their unique sound. 

LCD Soundsystem performing in 2016

However, the core members include Murphy, drummer Pat Mahoney and guitarist/bassist Tyler Pope, as well as Nancy Whang and Ranya Russom providing keyboard and vocal support.

Typically, music from the world of electronic dance relies heavily on beat and melody. Lyrical content is often sparse, or simple and repetitive. After all, dance music is for dancing.

James Murphy - LCD Soundsystem

Sound of Silver, however, offers something different. Murphy was an English major. He even turned down a job as a scriptwriter for the seminal television program Seinfeld. Additionally, his musical influences include an eclectic assortment of new wave, punk and art rock acts, including The Talking Heads, The B-52s, David Bowie, Brian Eno, The Velvet Underground, and even the progressive rock band Yes. Consequently, mixed into the rhythmic electronic sound of this record are lyrics that are poignant and thought provoking.

In preparing to write this entry, I posted a picture of the record cover on my social media accounts with a simple question: "Any fans out there?"

A fellow educator, Viki Kotarba, responded, celebrating her love for the track Someone Great, a song full of tantalizing contradictions. It is both sleek and uncomfortably peppy. It bounces rhythmically while delivering a message that, although it seems to be about loss and grief, is ultimately inconclusive. 

"I wake up and the phone is ringing
Surprised, as it's early
And that should be the perfect warning
That something's a problem
To tell the truth I saw it coming
The way you were breathing
But nothing can prepare you for it
The voice on the other end."

At times, the speaker seems to be telling only part of a story. Consequently, there is plenty of room within the hypnotic music for the listener to fill in the blanks from their own experiences. Much like the genre of electronica, it's a song that defies simple labels. 

Over the past week, I have played this record many times. I've invested time with the lyrics, but I enjoy it most when I simply let it play in the background -- washing over me as I busy myself with everyday life.