LCD Soundsystem
Electric Lady Sessions
Sony Music
In 2017, LCD Soundsystem released its brilliant American Dream, and not only was it the bandβs first album to chart in the top ten, it actually debuted at number one and won a Grammy for Best Dance Record. This is no small feat for a band who, until that point, was part of the alternative music scene. Electric Lady Sessions came into being when, during the American Dream tour, the band booked studio time at the famous Electric Lady Studios in New York City, where much of rockβs royalty, including Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Lou Reed, and U2 have recorded iconic albums.
The band decided to record a couple of covers and redo some older songs. βCall the Policeβ and βEmotional Haircutβ, both originally from American Dream, are reworked brilliantly. Though βCall the Policeβ borrows heavily from New Orderβs βProcessionβ, the new version is a bit harder and has more bite.
LCD Soundsystem also covers two related Sheffield bands, opening with The Human Leagueβs βSecondsβ and closing with Heaven 17βs β(We Donβt Need This) Fascist Groove Thangβ. Two of the three members of Heaven 17 were in The Human Leagueβs original lineup. Staying close to the original version of βSecondsβ, James Murphy almost perfectly impersonates Phil Oakey. For β(We Donβt Need This) Fascist Groove Thangβ, a song more relevant today than it was thirty-plus years ago, Nancy Whang takes lead vocals and she sounds perfect. Musically, they nail the famous bass solo and maintain the originalβs sense of urgency. The cover of Chicβs βI Want Your Loveβ is very cool as well.
According to the band, this is not the official follow-up to American Dream, but it is an excellent album nonetheless. Perhaps because of the spirit of the studio, or because the band was on tour during the recording, Electric Lady Sessions feels like a live album. The covers are brilliant, and though the reinterpretations of older songs do not replace the originals, they add some new meaning. This is an excellent stopgap measure until LCD Soundsystemβs next album.
Electric Lady Sessions revisits some of the bandβs rich history, along with its influences and aspirations. Though this band has nothing to prove, it proves a great deal throughout the album, and seems to be having fun in the process. Electric Lady Sessions is an honest, straightforward album, and the world could use a few more of those.
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SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LCD SOUNDSYSTEM – ELECTRIC LADY SESSIONS
Aaron Badgley