Wake up with somebody near you
And at someone else's place
You took acid and looked in the mirror
Watched the beard crawl around on your face
Oh, the...
Old sweetens the deal, with tracks as good as anything from previous releases. However it’s New that intrigues, confuses, saddens and ultimately tempts you back with its sheer vulnerability--this is far deeper than the cash grab landfill this reunion could’ve spawned.
Tonite and Call the Police are as good as anything they’ve done, while Oh, Baby miraculously manages to outshine their dazzling previous work--even if not every track keeps up with this exhilarating pace. The only thing able to overshadow American Dream is LCD’s own formidable past, suggesting that, yes, in fact they are.
As gratifying familiar as much of American Dream will be to longtime fans, it also feels like exactly the album 2017 needs--urgent, angry, achingly self-aware. And catchy as hell, too. [1 Sep 2017, p.53]
An album that advances the sound of LCD Soundsystem and more than justifies their return, while retaining all that was brilliant about them in the first place. [Oct 2017, p.98]
Well, the good news is American Dream rocks, rolls, pops, fizzes and snaps. The energy is still there, no two songs sound the same and the ambition is somehow even more future-retro than before.
oh baby-9.5/10
other voices-10/10
i used to-9.5/10
change yr mind-10/10
how do you sleep-10/10
tonite-9.5/10
call the police-10/10oh baby-9.5/10
other voices-10/10
i used to-9.5/10
change yr mind-10/10
how do you sleep-10/10
tonite-9.5/10
call the police-10/10
american dream-10/10
emotional haircut-9.5/10
black screen-10/10
Consensus: 10/10 or 9.8/10, originally I wrote a bigger review describing what makes each of the songs individually great when I accidentally deleted my essay... so I'm just going to do this quick summary instead. This album contains extremely haunting tracks from oh baby to black screen, and also contains amazing dance pieces such as tonite and other voices, let alone outstanding rock tracks such as call the police and emotional haircut. My point is, that this album has an amazing amount of variety for an extremely consistent work. The lyrics tell outstanding stories of love and regret, and ultimately about obsession (especially with the internet and drugs.) James' vocals are truly powerful and I never wanted this album to end despite the fact that it's over an hour long. Please listen to this album, it's too damn good to be passed aside. My favorite lyric: **** the shuffle, put this **** on repeat.…Expand
If You can really see how time has taken its time in James Murphy and his music, but in a good way. Using a lot of themes related to death,If You can really see how time has taken its time in James Murphy and his music, but in a good way. Using a lot of themes related to death, age, and change, Murphy has made ANOTHER great LCD Soundsystsem, both musically and lyrically. Even if one has too much high hopes, this album doesn't disapoints in any way.…Expand
The least happy album of the band, I must say one of the best records of the year, as Peter Murphy manages to give us those sounds that areThe least happy album of the band, I must say one of the best records of the year, as Peter Murphy manages to give us those sounds that are needed today. I perceive great influences of Joy Division and Talking Heads.…Expand
I'm not going to say it's perfect, but it's damn close. If Sound of Silver is LCD's perfect party album, then this is its brooding darkerI'm not going to say it's perfect, but it's damn close. If Sound of Silver is LCD's perfect party album, then this is its brooding darker brother. James clearly went through some **** during the bands 5 year hiatus, and he has poured his soul out onto this record. I was worried about this release and couldn't be happier that the band went in a new direction yet still maintaining all the good qualities that make them special.
Highlights: Oh Baby, Other Voices, I Used To, Tonite, American Dream and How Do You Sleep? How Do You Sleep? might be the best thing James has ever created. If you're a fan then you should be welcome this addition to their existing catalog. If you're new, there's a lot of interesting ideas going on in this album that may catch your attention. If you're a lover of synths then go to listen to this album NOW.…Expand
Everything James Murphy seemed to be poking fun at in the previous LCD projects has resurfaced on this album but in a much darker and moreEverything James Murphy seemed to be poking fun at in the previous LCD projects has resurfaced on this album but in a much darker and more serious way. Mostly themes like personal relationships are dark realizations masked as fun and beautiful electronic/pop-rock tracks, almost as if Murphy has become less naive with his age. Of course, on top of the dense lyrical content is an immaculately mastered musical experience that we've come to expect from LCD Soundsystem.…Expand
Quite possibly their weakest release since self titled it still commands as an impressive album by a veteran band in full control of theirQuite possibly their weakest release since self titled it still commands as an impressive album by a veteran band in full control of their sound. Murphy's lyrics are still as funny and observational as ever and the production feels nostalgic and forward thinking all at once. Favourites: emotional haircut,call the police, other voices…Expand
Note that I'm not a core-fan of LCDSS, so this isn't going to be a 9/10 rating like the others. It's very hard to rate music like this, so I'mNote that I'm not a core-fan of LCDSS, so this isn't going to be a 9/10 rating like the others. It's very hard to rate music like this, so I'm just going to rate its effect on me and the likelihood for me to buy it and/or recommend it. I've read several industry pub reviews on the album so I'd have some frame of reference for evaluating. Most, if not all, praise the new effort, but I find it hard to listen to. It uses a lot of noisy, rhythmic drumming with discordant strings so it comes off as audibly offensive. As such, most of this is listen once and forget, you're not going to playlist any of this. Only three tracks - oh baby, call the police and american dream - are even close to radio friendly and at 6+ mins each they'd have to be cut and re-pkg'ed for radio. As with industry pubs, I did detect a lot of musical/rhythm influence from the 80s, and in a few cases the Talking Heads in particular, though I think "oh baby" recalls Spandau Ballet. Also, most if not all these tracks would've sounded better, been more tolerable with a soft female vocalist. Lead singer James Murphy just doesn't have an attractive vocal style at all and his falsetto in "american dream" was just labored. Why not use a female's vocal talent, especially after a 7yr break? Vulture.com noted that Murphy had a stated fear about LCD being overdue for a flop after three sterling studio albums. "American Dreams" might be that flop, won't buy/recommend.…Expand
Over the next month, we'll be collecting year-end top 10 album lists from over 200 music critics, publications, record stores, and other sources. Find individual lists and this year's cumulative rankings inside.
Published: January 5, 2018See which albums, games, movies, and TV shows ranked among our users' favorites in 2017.
Published: November 27, 2017Over the next month, we'll be collecting year-end top 10 album lists from over 200 music critics, publications, record stores, and other sources. Find individual lists and this year's cumulative rankings inside.