LCD Soundsystem is an American rock band formed in 2002 in Brooklyn, New York, by James Murphy. It comprises Murphy (vocals, various instruments), Nancy Whang (synthesizer, keyboards, vocals), Pat Mahoney (drums), Tyler Pope (bass, guitar, synthesizer), Al Doyle (guitar, synthesizer, percussion), and Korey Richey (synthesizer, piano, percussion). They have been signed to Murphy's label DFA Records since their inception, and signed to Columbia Records in 2016.
LCD Soundsystem released its debut single, "Losing My Edge", in 2002. Their debut album, LCD Soundsystem (2005), received acclaim and a Grammy Award nomination for Best Electronic/Dance Album. Their most successful single, "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House", received a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording. In 2006, LCD Soundsystem released 45:33, promoted as workout music for Nike. In 2007, they released Sound of Silver to acclaim and another Grammy nomination for Best Electronic/Dance Album. This Is Happening (2011) was their first top-ten US album.
In 2011, LCD Soundsystem disbanded and played a sold-out farewell concert at Madison Square Garden, New York. It was followed by the documentary Shut Up and Play the Hits (2012) and the live album The Long Goodbye (2014). In 2015, they reunited, released the single "Christmas Will Break Your Heart" and embarked a tour. Their fifth album, American Dream (2017), was their first US number-one album. It was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, and the single "Tonite" won for Best Dance Recording. LCD Soundsystem have since played a series of concert residencies, released two further singles, and are working on a sixth album.
LCD Soundsystem blends live instrumentation with electronic instruments such as analog synthesizers and drum machines, incorporating elements of post-punk, electronica and dance. Murphy's lyrics combine irony and sincerity, with themes of aging, love and letting go. LCD Soundsystem is associated with the hipster subculture of the 2000s. By the time of its disbandment in 2011, it had become one of the most acclaimed and influential American bands. Sound of Silver has been named one of the greatest albums by multiple publications, and in 2013 Rolling Stone named LCD Soundsystem one of its "new immortals", acts they predicted would "stand the test of time".
History First singles and debut album (2002–2005)
LCD Soundsystem emerged as part of the New York City post-punk revival scene in the 2000s.B. Greenfield, and R. Reid, New York City (London: Lonely Planet, 4th edn., 2004), , p. 33. It was founded by James Murphy, who began working as a producer in the 2000s and co-founded the record label DFA. After producing the Rapture, Murphy was disappointed when they signed to Universal Records. Murphy had recently lost his parents, split with his girlfriend and was sleeping in his office. He described it as a "lonely period ... But something really radical happened. It broke me free, in a way." Mattie Safer of the Rapture said James did not prioritize his own music until the Rapture left DFA.
The first LCD Soundsystem single, "Losing My Edge", was released in 2002. Paul Lester described it as "an eight-minute, laugh-out-loud funny dissection of cool over a dirty electronic beat". Pitchfork wrote later that it set the parameters for future LCD Soundsystem songs: "dance vs. punk, sincerity vs. sarcasm, wordy self-analysis vs. surrendering to the rhythm". It was followed by further singles, including "Yeah" and "Tired".
LCD Soundsystem released its first album, LCD Soundsystem, in January 2005. It received acclaim and was voted number 11 in that year's Pazz & Jop, an annual poll of hundreds of music critics. "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House", which imagines Daft Punk performing at a house party, became their most successful single, reaching number 29 on the UK singles chart. In December 2005, LCD Soundsystem was nominated for the Grammy awards for Best Electronic/Dance Album and Best Dance Recording (for "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House)". Initially, LCD Soundsystem records were written, performed, and recorded solely by Murphy, with Nancy Whang contributing backing vocals. He recruited members for live shows. LCD Soundsystem toured with M.I.A.
"45:33" and Sound of Silver (2006–2008)
In October 2006, LCD Soundsystem released a 45-minute composition, "45:33", commissioned by Nike. In a press release, Murphy said it was designed to accompany a running workout. However, he later said he had lied and had instead wanted to make a long record in the style of E2-E4 (1984) by Manuel Göttsching.
LCD Soundsystem's third album, Sound of Silver, was released on March 20, 2007, to acclaim. It was nominated for the Grammy for Best Electronic/Dance Album"50th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominations List" for Sound of Silver and named the album of the year by The Guardian,"2007's Best Albums" The Guardian, December 7, 2007. Uncut and Drowned in Sound. "North American Scum", "All My Friends" and "Someone Great" were released as singles. In September 2007, LCD Soundsystem released the EP A Bunch of Stuff and toured with Arcade Fire.
Sound of Silver was nominated for the 2007 Shortlist Music Prize, but lost to The Reminder by Feist. Time named "All My Friends" the fourth-best song of 2007, with Josh Tyrangiel writing that its "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".Tyrangiel, Josh; "The Best Top 10 Lists of the Year"; "The 10 Best Songs"; Time magazine; December 24, 2007; Page 39. It was named the second-best song of the 2000s by Pitchfork. After finishing touring for Sound of Silver, LCD Soundsystem released a song, "Big Ideas", for the soundtrack of the 2008 film 21. Rolling Stone named it the 63rd-best song of the year."The 100 Best Songs of 2008". Rolling Stone (December 25, 2008). Retrieved January 12, 2009 This Is Happening, disbandment and farewell show (2009–2011) For Record Store Day 2009, LCD Soundsystem released a cover of the Alan Vega song "Bye Bye Bayou". In April 2010, they performed two secret gigs in New York at the Music Hall of Williamsburg and Webster Hall. Their third album, This Is Happening, was released in May 2010, promoted with singles including "Drunk Girls". Murphy said he expected it to be their final album. For Record Store Day 2010, they released 1000 copies of a single-sided 12" single of the This Is Happening track "Pow Pow".
On February 8, 2011, LCD Soundsystem announced that they were disbanding. Murphy said it had become bigger than he planned and he wanted to pursue other projects. Additionally, he said he did not want to continue LCD Soundsystem past the age of 40, was uncertain if EMI would release another LCD Soundsystem album, had become sick of touring, and wanted to "go out happy".
Tickets for their farewell show at Madison Square Garden on April 2 sold out in minutes. The band played for more than three hours, with guest appearances from the musicians including Reggie Watts and members of Arcade Fire. The concert was followed by the documentary Shut Up and Play the Hits (2012) and the live album The Long Goodbye (2014). Following the disbandment, Murphy became a father, directed films, opened a wine bar, created a mobile DJ sound system with the band Soulwax, contributed to the David Bowie album Blackstar (2016), produced albums for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Arcade Fire, and launched a brand of coffee.
Reunion and American Dream (2014–2019)
On December 24, 2015, LCD Soundsystem released their first single in five years, "Christmas Will Break Your Heart". On January 4, 2016, LCD Soundsystem were announced as the headline act of the 2016 Coachella Festival. The following day, they confirmed they would tour and release a new album. Murphy said he had written new music and had decided to reunite LCD Soundsystem rather than create a new project after consulting the band members. He later said Bowie had convinced them to reunite, saying that if the idea made him uncomfortable then he should pursue it. The reunion angered some fans, who felt it cheapened the "farewell" show at Madison Square Garden. Murphy released an apology, saying he had underestimated the response.On February 13, LCD Soundsystem signed with Columbia Records. In March, they performed two shows at Webster Hall in East Village, Manhattan, in March, their first in almost five years. Tickets were distributed by lottery. During the rest of 2016, they headlined the Outside Lands, Primavera Sound, Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, LouFest, Lollapalooza Festival and Wayhome festivals. In August 2016, LCD Soundsystem canceled shows in Asia and Australia to complete their new album. They performed their first show of 2017 at Brooklyn Steel on April 6, including several new songs. On May 5, LCD Soundsystem released the digital double A-side single "Call the Police" and "American Dream". They performed the songs during the May 6 episode of Saturday Night Lives 42nd season.
LCD Soundsystem released their fifth album, American Dream, on September 1, 2017, through Columbia Records and DFA. It was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album, and "Tonite" won Best Dance Recording at the 2018 Grammy Awards, earning LCD Soundsystem their first Grammy win. They performed three songs at Electric Lady Studios as part of a Spotify Singles release, including a cover of the Chic song "I Want Your Love". On November 2, they released a cover of the Heaven 17 song "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang". In late 2018, Whang and the synthesizer player Gavilán Rayna Russom performed a DJ tour as the Ladies of LCD Soundsystem. In February 2019, LCD Soundsystem released a live album, Electric Lady Sessions, recorded at Electric Lady Studios, and entered a hiatus.
Holiday Special (2021–2022) In 2021, Russom left LCD Soundsystem to focus on other projects. From November to December 2021, LCD Soundsystem played a 20-date residency at Brooklyn Steel, their first shows in three years. They canceled the final three dates and offered refunds due to an increase of COVID-19 cases in New York. The New York residencies became an annual tradition.
On December 22, Amazon Music broadcast The LCD Soundsystem Holiday Special on Amazon Prime Video and Twitch. It comprised a one-off episode of a 1990s-style sitcom, All My Friends, directed by Eric Wareheim, with comedians and actors portraying the band members, including Wareheim as Murphy, Macaulay Culkin as Mahoney and Christine Ko as Whang. It was followed by a prerecorded performance. Wareheim said that he and Murphy had been developing the sitcom for 15 years. The special was produced during November and December 2021; the band's performance was filmed in New York City with the sitcom episode filmed immediately afterward in Los Angeles, over a span of two days. Wareheim and Murphy expressed amazement at Amazon Music's willingness to air the episode. Singles and concert residencies (2022–present) In 2022, LCD Soundsystem was the musical guest for the February 26 episode of Saturday Night Lives 47th season, hosted by John Mulaney. They performed "Thrills" and "Yr City's a Sucker" from their debut album, and appeared in a sketch as members of the Guardian Angels. In March, Murphy announced they would prioritize live shows without a new album for 2022. Murphy, Whang, Mahoney, and Pope reunited with the former member Phil Mossman as LCD Soundsystem at a DFA Records 20th anniversary show on March 26.