Sound Of Silver - LCD Soundsystem
Metascore
86 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 41 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 41
  2. Negative: 0 out of 41
  1. 'Sound Of Silver' is the album of the year.
  2. 100
    The vocals are where Murphy has developed the most, trading in his Mark E. Smith yelp for various crooning styles. [Jan/Feb 2007, p.75]
  3. This is dance-rock for grown-ups: extraordinary.
  4. Taken end to end, Sound Of Silver is a thrilling, exhilarating ride on a fast machine.
  5. It's a straight-up masterpiece, blending indie-rock attitude and clattering dance beats with lethal sardonic humor.
  6. Murphy succeeds by stretching in two directions - finding a new musical center, and showing his humanity beyond the laughs.
  7. As close to a perfect hybrid of dance and rock music's values as you're likely to ever hear.
  8. While Sound of Silver still delivers terrific buzzy dance-space jams ... it also contains wispy hints of New Order and Bowie... and Murphy's best song-making efforts to date.
  9. Yes, of course, it's a total homage to his favorite music-but it's an extraordinarily moving one, both emotionally and physically.
  10. [A] strong contender for album of the year.
  11. A big, fun, and passionate record that sounds enormous. [#16, p.92]
  12. I'd be surprised if the genre can produce anything much better than this.
  13. 90
    A fantastic consolidation of everything good about LCD. [Apr 2007, p.108]
  14. 90
    Rarely has anyone making such exciting and fashionable music been so unapologetic about being mature, too. [Apr 2007, p.97]
  15. Compared to the first LCD Soundsystem album, Sound of Silver is less silly, funnier, less messy, sleeker, less rowdy, more fun, less distanced, more touching.
  16. Not only do the rhythms here sound tighter and more intensely focused, Murphy's presence as a songwriter and frontman is a revelation. [Apr 2007, p.110]
  17. 90
    Over and over, these songs reveal how a wisecracking record geek can still achieve rapture. [Mar 2007, p.98]
  18. This is music that hits the head, heart and hips all at once.
  19. It's occasionally like a dream collaboration between Bill Hicks and New Order, with Giorgio Moroder producing.
  20. Make no mistake – the beats are still rigid, dabbling in taut funk and squelching electro as much as snotty punk moves and glorious polyrhtyhms. These nine songs, however, ring with a clarity of purpose and a true intent that was previously altogether lacking, presenting a far more cohesive image of Murphy and his many strengths.
  21. The strongest stuff of Mr. Murphy's career.
  22. Cleaned up, stripped down, and melding dance music seamlessly with post-punk, Sound Of Silver is as solid as a dance album can get.
  23. As a cohesive album and a personal statement, Sound of Silver is superior in most every way.
  24. The most extraordinary aspect of the album is that Murphy has managed to simultaneously make his music both more experimental and more thrillingly danceable.
  25. Sure, lots of other people have done this lately, but few do it with Murphy's flair.
  26. Whereas Murphy's wise enough never to let his showing off spoil the fun, he can't avoid investing these songs with heart and soul.
  27. While opening track 'Get Innocuous' gently apes his own 'Losing My Edge' for the first minute and a half, the rest of the LP gradually moves onwards and upwards; either improving and tightening the previous template, or trying new things altogether.
  28. This sounds more like an album and less like a collection of singles and ideas, and the pop and funk elements are a bit more refined than before.
  29. In the end, the nine songs and fifty-five minutes of Sound Of Silver find LCD Soundsystem really hitting a stride. It's no less playful, but at the same time it's more focused and varied. This is one I'm glad I gave a chance.
  30. Mostly he just wants to make big, fun, Bowie-esque declamations or work out a nervy punk jones.
  31. 70
    Turns out there's a functioning soul beneath the smirk. [Apr 2007, p.115]
  32. The great thing about this album is the same as was great about the last full length LCD Soundsystem album, and that is its effortless blend and execution of mix.
  33. The lyrics brim with grouchy wit. [24 Mar 2007]
  34. 70
    He's winking, sure, but this time it's through real tears. [Apr 2007, p.134]
  35. 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.
  36. You won't likely be amazed this time around, but be prepared to be thoroughly satisfied, all the same.
  37. Merely okay. [Apr 2007, p.194]
  38. 60
    I can't help but think we've all been here before. [#75, p.102]
  39. It's entertaining, sure, but also empty and a bit soulless.
  40. Murphy's willfully pretentious métier, his intentionally inadequate lyrics, and his monotonous sequencing expose a genuine fear of dance.
  41. Someone please get this man his edge back.
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 190 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 83 out of 105
  2. Negative: 8 out of 105
  1. MattB.
    10
    This album is extraordinary. The man is a genius Funk Soul Brother? Nigel, get a clue.
  2. j30
    9
    LCD Soundsystem's Sound of Silver grows on you whether you want it to or not. The first time I listened to it I was confused and wondered if had any place in modern music, with all the musical concepts seeming a bit dated. I was wrong. "Someone Great," "All My Friends," and "New York, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down" have staying power. The record is so irresistibly strange that you don't really know what hits you. Full Review »
  3. i loved it. 2 great songs wer on this album. someone great and get innocuous those are the highlights of the album to me. i love how they incorporated funk with electronica and dance music. Full Review »