Workout Regiment

A few weeks ago I wrote about LCD Soundsystem, referring specifically to their album Sound of Silver.  Recently James Murphy retired LCD Soundsystem, having worked as a group since 2001.  I read in December that he wants to pursue ownership of a hotel in New York City, which is odd but not out of the ordinary for Murphy.  Of course, there are other members of the band, but Murphy was the brains of the operation.

So, how much impact did LCD Soundsystem have on the music community?  What contributions did LCD Soundsystem make to music that will last?  These questions are both easy and challenging.  Frankly we don’t know the legacy they will have left behind to the music community, but Murphy’s quirkiness and abilities will not go away in the minds of many artists and bands out there.  He created music that would appeal to those that loved to dance, those that love to exercise, and those that just like to have fun at a party or concert.  He knew how to combine sounds and create these soundscapes that would wrap around listeners’ minds and get them going.

45:33 fulfilled this very idea.  The album has an interesting story behind it and came in a period when Murphy seemed to be at a creative peak.  The album is a part of my listening list and is the next entry.

#127 – LCD Soundsystem, 45:33 (Metascore = 86)

Now, as for the story of the song, Nike® commissioned Murphy to compose a song designed to accompany jogging workouts, the idea being “to reward and push at good intervals of a run.”  Murphy or someone connected to Murphy even had stated that the composition had been refined after several runs on a treadmill.  Murphy admitted after some time that this was a lie; his original intent was to make a long-form record like artist Manuel Göttsching did with E2-E4.  Regardless, the album actually does work well in a running format.  I’ve tried it (or at least for part of it).

The flow of the record is the biggest asset to the overall experience.  Each track segues into the other effortlessly.  Part 1 sounds like something from Tron but eventually becomes a piano riff that leads into the longer Part 2.  The reason I mentioned earlier that Murphy seemed to be at a creative peak begins with Part 3 of 45:33.  Part 3, which really starts with about 2 minutes left in Part 2, eventually would be used by Murphy to craft “Someone Great”, which would appear on Sound of Silver.  But the other reason for saying he was at a creative peak is the cohesiveness of the overall set.  The songs just fit together so well and are not bogged down by bizarre lyrics or other things.

Thinking about the overall score for this record, I am comfortable with the 86.  While this is not the best album I have heard, it’s certainly a very good record.  Many elements I have already mentioned point to this: cohesiveness, effortlessness, interesting.  In listening to it again I realize how complex yet simple the music sounds.