The Rise, Fall and Legacy of LCD Soundsystem
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- Опубліковано 11 бер 2023
- / alfomedia Written by: Brin DeRouen (except for the Shawn Michaels intro)
Intro Animator: @icarogabriel17 on Twitter
Intro Music Composer: Chase Ceglie
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/ alfomedia
/ renshawhs
/ renshawhs
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LCD Soundsystem is one of the most important and influential indie bands of the 21st century. Their meteoric rise to popularity, in despite of James Murphy's own self-doubt and battle with relevance, was a sight to behold. However, after blessing the world with hits like Daft Punk is Playing At My House, Someone Great, Losing My Edge, All My Friends, Dance Yrself Clean, etc...it was that same battle with relevance that sent the band into a premature exit. And then a reemergence. And then kind of another exit? It's hard to tell. What's a legacy? Does it matter? Again, kinda hard to tell.
video essay / favorite / band / indie / legacy / story / best / worst / evolution / timeline / story
I started listening to LCD last year so I hold a different perspective. To me, LCD breaking up doesn’t weigh over the music. I understand why it’s a big deal but, as you put it, I never went through the goodbye so it’s never factored in to my LCD experience
even so this video feels so pointless, a band "broke up" and decided they wanted to release another album 7 years later, that is seen as a pretty good album. It doesn't feel any different that new body rhumba, which is a good song, came out after a "goodbye"
Same here, I was 8 when they broke up and I did not know who they were
Same here, had they not released American Dream (which had radioplay in my country) I wouldnt have gotten to know them at least not at that time.
daft punk never left their house 😔
i wish daft punk would never leave MY house 😟
MY HOUSSSEEEeeeeEEEEEeee
Personally the breakup + reformation thing hasn't really bothered me at all, I'm just glad that such a great band is still around having fun and making music. I saw them live last year and it was phenomenal, so they're clearly still enjoying performing their old tracks. And New Body Rhumba I thought was their best new song in years
We like Murphy because he is human. He’s flawed. he genuinely wanted to end it when he did, he probably believed a lot of the things he said leading up to the ‘end’ of the band.. he really didn’t want to keep getting bigger and bigger, he wanted to cut the legs from underneath his own success and then he did... but then life went on and he realized he couldn’t stop making music and he didn’t want to stop working with the band that had meant so much to him, (people who are some of his best friends btw) so now he’s doing it on his own terms and while they’re well respected, they’re not as huge *(in certain ways, they’re still a very well known band) as they would have been had they kept going, which is what he wanted and ultimately why he stopped the band in the first place. To not become a band whose identity he couldn’t relate to. (He probably realized as years went on that this was unavoidable to an extent). And so he sold out MSG in the process… so what ? Would we not all have cashed in on an opportunity like that if we could have? Especially if we had truly convinced ourselves that it would be the last big show we’d do ? The people who are taking this personally either aren’t listening to what Murphy has said about it or think it was all some huge ploy, but here’s my question for people who believe that: would he not have made waay more money by now then the money he made those couple years leading up to the breakup had he done what we wanted him to do ? (Release another album every few years, toured bigger and bigger etc) ? He can’t help wanting to keep going and anyone whose really a fan of his understands that and understands that it was never something we were meant to take personally. Also, if any of us had David Bowie telling us to get back to playing music, I think we’d all get back on the saddle 😂
This is my favorite band of all time. Last thing I cared about was how their “legacy” was impacted when they announced they were coming back. All that mattered was we were getting more amazing music
Exactly
Genuinely one of my favourite bands of all time. Many people were disappointed when they reunited in 2017 as they saw it as an almost transparent sell-out move, but that allowed me to finally see them live in my country, Argentina.
They were supposed to play at the local edition of Lollapalooza, but heavy rain forced then to cancel that gig and they only played at the smallest venue imagineable for an international band. It was genuinely the best show I've ever been at, extremely tight and at the same time really emotional. The ground was SHAKING when the Dance Yrself Clean beat dropped.
They might have sold out, but I'll be eternally grateful to them for doing it.
I think the Shawn Michaels comparison is kinda unfair. LCD still have it now, I saw them live last year and they were still as good as ever. American Dream as a comeback album was also, imo while not their best album, still a breath of fresh air for their discography and an 8/10. While the NFT fest stuff sucked, I can't also feel like they just played them for a shit ton of money knowing the deal. I understand though why other LCD fans feel let down by the band coming back at all - for me I guess it's just a case of wanting more of a good thing.
It was just their greatest mistake, just remember what he said in the interview in "Shut up and play the hits" docu.
I honestly think american dream is their second best album, and listening to it in the context of their breakup and reformation and the passage of time between This is Happening and american dream is essential to fully “getting” it. It’s a beautiful melancholic album, it clearly reflects on time and aging and regret.
@@thomasmerzlak6001 love this summary of american dream tbh. simply brilliant album
i just loved lcd soundsystem growing up. didn't even know they broke up. honestly just glad they are still around and making music
7:53 James Murphy is ~my age. And I think you're being incredibly, unfairly hard on him and the band - especially after you so poignantly point out at 4:00 that one of the core themes of LCD Soundsystem is life, aging and _change_ - and you're allowed to decide that you really liked what you were doing, and you miss it, and you want to do more of it - _especially_ when you're working on *_Blackstar_* and David-freaking-Bowie encourages you to change your mind and go make more music.
The slap in the face here isn't that James Murphy & Co. came back and made more music... The slap in the face is that your take here is an unspoken judgement from a point of view that every decision a human being makes absolutely must be a permanent one, and...you're holding a human being doing human being stuff against them here. Right after pointing out how _life is about change_ That's certainly a weird angle to be taking here.
I absolutely love LCDss, but I mean, everyone's different. This isn't really disrespectful. He feels like ever since it ended, it ruined it for him.
@@jacaanthony The message I got loud and clear was "I would feel _very_ differently about this if they never had A FAREWELL CONCERT" - It sounds like a Seinfeldian Cold Open...
"Jerry! Did you hear Murphy is getting the BAND back together?"
"What?"
"Yeah! He's getting the band back together and going on tour!"
"You can't do that! He had a FAREWELL CONCERT!
"I know! A Farewell Concert! _gestures_ Who does he think he is? Having a _Farewell_ Concert, then making another album!"
"Wasn't it at the Garden?"
"The what?" _George looks thoughtful a moment, remembering, then wags his finger for emphasis_ "Yeeeeahhh. It *WAS* at the Garden... You can't do _that_ - have a FAREWELL CONCERT at the GARDEN and then just _gesticulates_ make more music! What about all the fans that paid to see your Farewell Concert!"
_Jerry nods_ - "You know what that is..."
_George looks curious_ "What?"
_Jerry lands the punchline_ "It's a *_Faux-Well_* Concert, that's what THAT is..."
_George nods vigorously_ "Yeah, you can't have a Faux-Well Concert packed with fans who paid to see you one last time and then, _makes explody gesture_ BAM, make another album? What about the fans?"
"I _know_ , right? _Jerry nods sagely_
**_FAMILIAR BASS RIFF_**
@@JonathonBarton LMAO
@@jacaanthonynot at all.
LCD always had some of the craziest "builders" for me. The ways songs like All my Friends, Someone Great, or Dance yrself Clean progress and evolve without losing the key elements of the song is so sick to me. Reminds me of a house song that has a foundational beat but continously adds layers and texture as the song goes on. But you can always hear that foundation.
Fantastic video! Murphy's story is inspiring in a way. Making art is complex mentally
Well all I can say is that their first 3 albums are very good and that's all I care for
I need to see dance yrself clean live before I die
Honestly, I only know LCD as the band black dresses hates, so this is cool to know more about the nft fest band
Gives me more reasons to like Black Dresses.
@@wheelsofmercury those videos were legendary, Demi went after everybody
Gives me more validation to stop listening to black dresses
Didn't that band break up cause Tiktok kids were using one of their songs?
@@astral_plane_crash they "broke up" cause of transphobic harassment, haven't heard a word about whatever you just said
Can't say I've ever seen a video essay about LCD. Thank you! One of my favorite bands :) As someone who joined the LCD party WITH American Dream, I love that album to death, especially how do you sleep.
this is how i felt when kevin abstract kept announcing that the next album would be the band's last album
I have to say I love your channel lost it for a while and just started to listening a lot of LCD and always looked for a video like this since they are so good but nobody talks about them today. I was happy to see this video when I found your channel again!
i LOVE that they're still performing and hope they work on another album
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I’ve never understood artists who “quit while they’re ahead” not because they’ve lost enjoyment in the craft or ran out of things they want to do, but out of some fear that there’s a some strict time limit where what they create matters and anything they do after that is a shameful crime. I feel like a more practical solution would be to take more time to create more meaningful work than to just quit full turkey.
As a relatively new fan of LCD, I'm glad they're still making music. I just wish it was under a different name and was stylistically different. LCD Soundsystem died that night at Madison Square Garden. What has come since is a cover band of the original.
I saw them at format festival, best show I've experienced yet. This is a good video but relivence and legacy changes over time. In the end, none of the commercial success ever matters as long as you can play and uplift spirits like I felt at their concert. THEY ARE A MUST TO SEE LIVE. THEYRE PLAYING IN NEW YORK THIS NEW YEARS EVE. Definitely go if you are in the area
oh god, i needed this story and this message. artand being creative, it's hard. specially for a job, the backbone of your living, open to criticism. you just have to keep going, and hope that something works out. you might just strike gold.
In my mind, !!! (Chk Chk Chk) and LCD Soundsystem should make a collaboration album, both having kinda the same sort of music but in 2 styles; for !!! It’s ecstatic, it’s having a great time at CBGB’s after having some drugs while it clashes with LCD Soundsystem’s Cynicism and imposter syndrome and witty lyrics. I hope it spark something of two of my personal favourites of the 00’s a defying indie rock and dance punk bands competing with some great competitors in their record labels (for !!! With Warp Records its the likes of Aphex Twin, Boards Of Canada and Danny Brown whilst for LCD its Hot Chip and Holy Ghost!).
You completely bypass the challenge of managing a vinyl record label with an amazing roster of artists > D.F.A. ! Not a signle word about that !
One of my favorites
Sorry for double commenting, but it's so funny that you think we need to hold our contempt as we watch a video essayist compare something to pro wrestling. ALL VIDEO ESSAYS COMPARE THEIR THING TO PRO-WRESTING!!
super eyepatch wolf especially 💪💪💪
Pro wrestling is insanely versatile like that
at this point, i just want another full length album
i feel proud to still be a fan of the band. after sitting with american dream for 7 years, and new body for a year… it feels like the same band.
i’d rather them have never left, but it’s out of our control.
i just want another album from one of the greatest and most consistent bands of all time.
I get what he did. Being an older man and making electronic music, I've always been wary of the younger kids coming up from behind. I didn't have the opportunity to see them live but I was there at Sundance when the documentary debuted. It was bittersweet. Honestly, I could not have been happier when they reformed and released American Dream. It was a more difficult album than the others but it eventually became my favourite. It was a more mature album. And thx to his decision, I finally saw them live in London. I'm glad they are back and don't feel cheated in any way. This world is a better place with LCD Soundsystem.
I honestly waited for more than half of the video for songs like "born to be wasted", "with a spirit", etc to be mentioned lol
Shawn Michaels reference.
Immediately hooked.
Maybe it's because I mostly got into their music around 2016 and I didn't get hit with the hiatus blues but I loved American dream and new body rhumba has become one of my favorite tracks
Happy to be first here. I love LCD Soundsystem
Good video overall. The only thing I think you should have added is that James did apologize for breaking up the band. He said that a lot of the fans felt like the reunion after their “final shows” were like a slap in the face to the fans and everyone who worked on that documentary. He promised to never sell a show as their “last show” ever again. Overall he did make a mistake but this video leads someone to believe that he never felt bad about it, which isn’t quite true. Overall good stuff tho !!
The break-up for me personally didn't ruin American dream. I will always say this, but from the "Shut Up And Play The Hits" Docu, ending the band was LCD's greatest mistake, the one thing they are remembered by the most. They just took a large hit, they're back. And New Body Rhumba was an amazing song.
They're still my favorite band of all time.
New body rhumba slaps 👏👏
Yes, it is one of their best songs by far. Cmon now
Saw them live in August 2022, LCD rocked & never sounded better (saw them open for Arcade Fire back in '06) . . . Your point sounds good on paper but I would recommend you hold off on judgement of JM's motivations until you see them live.
Love the analogy to WWE.
I’m of the opinion that I want all of my favorite bands to break up. I think of a band like FUN. who gave us fucking bangers and then split up. Robert Plant said by the end of touring with Zeppelin he felt like they were a cover band.
I have a weird relationship with LCD. Their songs that I love, I absolutely LOVE. But the songs I don’t like, I hate. They are so hot and cold with me.
Also, didn’t they do some concert at like some NFT festival? lol. I remember seeing a video of how awkward and terrible it was
I think it speaks to the entitlement of modern fandom that there was so much butthurt over their return.
I doubt many who were at the Garden in 2011 feel ripped off. I would've loved to just have been there losing my mind to "All my friends" with all my friends.
should have come back with oled soundsystem fr
I got my best friend a Shawn Michaels action figure for his 12th birthday in 1996 and since HBK was his favorite, he never took it out of the package. Even when we were roommates in college he still had it in the package. Hahaha still makes me laugh.
Yahoo
HELL YESS
I think daft punk played at their house
Mixing my two of my favorite things legend of the game
American dream was 10/10, I love the new wave influence
Tbh, I disagree. Shit, I even think New Body Rhumba is their best song.
*takes a break from watching wrestling videos to watch an LCD video* *video starts by talking about wrestling* Aww shiiiit
Sometimes you gotta burn it all down tho
cool thanks for talking about sean michaels in a video about lcd soundsystem for a fifth of the time, you redacted cool guy
people should try to view songs for what they are and put the other aspects like it being a comeback or whatever aside. also 'cheapening the legacy' might be the stupidest criticism ive ever heard, like what they shouldnt release music anymore cause they cant quite reach the enormous heights they set themselves so they could leave your ocd intact so you could think about them having a grandiose ending and get hard thinking about their discography bc its quality over quantity or whatever
What a strange video and wrestling comparison. Kudos for making an asinine point tho
They are juat a band making music when they can and want. You're reading too much into it
Was this written with AI? Just a rambling nonsensical bunch of gibberish. MEH
I love LCD, but I don't really like James Murphy.
that intro still mid as fuck