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Holistic Guidance - Sound of Silver
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List Price: $12.98
Our Price: $12.99
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Capitol
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0094638511427
Label: Capitol
Manufacturer: Capitol
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Capitol
Release Date: 2007-03-20
Studio: Capitol
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Editorial Reviews:
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Two years after LCD Soundsystem's eponymous full-length debut sent indie scenesters rushing to the dancefloor, the outfit headed by dance-rock producer James Murphy serves up another stiff cocktail of punk, dance, and funk with Sound of Silver. Analog synths, chugging basslines, chunky guitars, and Murphy's wild falsetto excursions are once again the foundation to which is added the new and strange, such as the heavily chorused voices that suggest backward-masking in the opener "Get Innocuous" and the captivating harmonics keyboardist Nancy Whang bounces off of Murphy's vocals on "Someone Great." If this album has its own version of "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House," it has to be "North American Scum," an infectious stormer that breezily dismisses Europe as a place where "the buildings are old and you might have lots of mimes." Such lines are good evidence that LCD's music would rather ridicule itself than fall into the kind of pretense and nostalgia it constantly lampoons. The album's title track reflects that hankering after one's teenage years is often interrupted when "you remember the feelings of a real live emotional teenager--then you think again," while the power ballad "New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down" wearily serenades the Big Apple as "still the one pool where I'd happily drown." True, LCD's music is not for everyone, which may have something to do with why their fans love them as they do. If you fall into the latter category, however, Silver is gold. --Brent Kallmer
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: takes me back
Comment: I was skeptical of this band a while now, being weary of all things hipster and hyped. I love good electronic music though, be it ambient, idm, 80's style dance. As with many trends, I jump on the bandwagon a bit late, but I'm so glad I didn't miss this one. Luckily my local library had this and I took it out and gave it a few listens and was immediately engaged. Every so often a release drops and makes your ears perk. This is definitely one of 'em. From start to finish it's a gem. Growing up in the 80's, being big into New Order, Human League and the underground dance music of the time, this disc gave me chills, it was so dead on as far as getting that special sound that so many imitate but fail at. this is a band who KNOWS. At the same time, this is a very current release, and in my opinion, will be a classic from this decade. It's tough to pick favorites--the music and lyrics are all very good. "Someone Great" is beautiful and reflective, in the best way, and "Get Innocuous" is a storming, strobe and smoke opener with Enoesque vocals. "Time To Get Away" is an extremely catchy, dance-funk number reminding me of Gang Of Four, as well as some other releases from back in the day. "North American Scum" has some of the freshest lyrics I've heard from anyone in a while and is another that will have you dancing, if you know what's good for you.
I don't want to label this band as a "retro" outfit. I see them more as a group who loves and knows a particular era (or several for that matter) and assimilate that love and knowledge into the now. I plan on picking up all their stuff (just heard "45:33" and thoroughly enjoyed it). I just hope they keep dropping more good stuff like this (and maybe tour again for those who were late to the table).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great from the start
Comment: I'm by no means an expert on how to appreciate music, but I must say I was really impressed with Sound of Silver's quality. There were a few songs that I enjoyed from LCD Soundsystems first release, but those took a bit of time for me to get into. Sound of Silver got me right from the start in a way I haven't experienced from a CD for some time. Normally I expect to have to give some time for a CD to grow on me, but this one didn't require any extra effort. Having said that, I know a few of the songs will not have a great deal of staying power in my "everyday playlist", but enough of them do that I would strongly recommend this CD. "Get Innocuous!", "North American Scum", and "All My Friends" all deserve the positive attention they've been given and I know I will continue to enjoy them for years to come.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Catchy but repetitive
Comment: Lots of great songs on this cd, especially the first four songs on the cd. The first song rocks. The third track, "North American Scum," will have you jumping up and down and chanting like an English football hooligan. And the forth song, "Someone Great," will bore its way into your subconscious like a mole. But while there are truly some catchy songs here, I have to admit sometimes it does get a bit too repetitive with the Casio-like keyboards and early 90s electronic effects, sounds I know far too well from a misspent youth. This is still worth getting, though.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sound of Boredom
Comment: I like dance music, but this CD is just too repetitive. True, there are some cool sounds, but nothing I haven't heard before. In fact, this James Murphy character cribs plenty from other artists. I can't always put my finger on it, but much of what I hear on this album rings a bell of familiarity. For example, I hear some elements of Can (and Murphy doesn't hide his affection for that group either).
Having influences isn't in itself a problem; everyone has influences. But you have to build on those influences and take them in different directions for the music to be worthwhile. Everything on this record makes me think, "been there, done that." True, the songs do subtly evolve, but the repetitive elements are so prominent that they render the album monotonous. I much prefer dance music that has more to offer in the way of actual songs.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not That Great
Comment: I read the reviews of this cd and expected to get something I did not. My favorite track was "Us v. Them" which sounds a bit like a poor man's Talking Heads. The songs tend to get monotonous and the vocals do not seem appropriate to the music at all, in fact they got on my nerves most of the time. If you want a great electronic/dance/rock cd check out MGMT's first full length LP Oracular Spectacular. I has everything that Sound of Silver lacks and a lot more.
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