 
With a first track that kicks and let you know you are about to dance your ass off such as “Daft Punk is Playing at my House,” how could this album ever go wrong? With James Murphy’s obsession with Can and Liquid Liquid and such musical reference points as Suicide, Eno, ESG, Talking Heads, the Fall, and on and on and on. . . in simplest terms, LCD Soundsystem refuses to go so far as to become so much hipster wallpaper. Crisp, simple tracks with a drum machine attack crescendo and the infamous use of cowbell that isn’t cliché or tired find Murphy’s tight dance punk anthems almost flawless. Imagine this composed among more contemplative numbers such as “I’m Never as Tired as When I’m Waking Up,” think Beatles White Album/Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon some kind of mid-morning telegram to George Harrison. Perhaps one of the most beautiful things about this album, besides it’s undeniable dancability, is its simple familiar feeling. With such nods to legions of 70’s and 80’s hip rock icons but without the retrospective irony, one finds upon repeated listening that there are not a lot of surprises therein, but do you always need that? As a whole Murphy’s effort is a bit unfocused, however, filled with infectious grooves—the singles are undeniably stronger than other album tracks. LCD Soundsystem is mandatory listening/dancing for anyone serious about either of those things. – Denah Johnston, indie editor
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