More about: LCD Soundsystem

Straight from the soundtrack of any decent '00s party scene we can find the unmistakable sound of LCD Soundsystem. The New York electro-punks broke our hearts back in 2011 when they announced a split, and after a brief reformation, the news that they are on "full hiatus" again comes as yet another blow.

From the heart wrenching ‘All My Friends’ and ‘New York I Love You’ to the dancefloor anthems ‘North American Scum’ and ‘Daft Punk Is Playing At My House’, LCD Soundsystem have released their fair share of cult anthems, but let’s not let these underrated tracks fall through the cracks.

'You Wanted a Hit'

As the song says - "maybe we don’t do hits" – but they absolutely do do bangers. I’ll admit that any song with a three-minute intro can be a hard sell – but 'You Wanted a Hit' builds and builds into nine minutes of euphoric perfection. From the original on 2010's This Is Happening to the arguably even better Electric Lady Session version, this song may not be a hit, but it is everything we need. High energy. Tongue in cheek. Just excellent. This may be a song poking fun at themselves, but this is LCD Soundsystem at their very best.

'Get Innocuous!'

From the opening bars of 'Get Innocuous!' you can already feel it’s gonna be a tune. The opening track of 2007’s Sound Of Silver, this is a track to draw you in and demand your attention. That exclamation mark isn’t messing about. A busy backing track with an almost dreary vocal almost shouldn’t work this well. But I dare you not to dance to this. After all -"Don’t it make you feel alive?".

'Watch The Tapes'

Another gem from Sound of Silver...listening back, it’s obvious to hear the influence tracks like this have had on the up-and-coming New York scene, with bands like Bodega emerging with a similar drum chant and heavy rhythm style. As catchy and danceable as ever, 'Watch the Tapes' doesn’t receive anywhere near enough love. Any DJ's out there take note – I will wreck your dancefloor to this track.

'Never As Tired As When I’m Waking Up'

If I know anything in life, it’s that LCD Soundsystem know how to create a brilliant, hazy end-of-the-night tune. Should it be as the afters are drawing to a close, or maybe on the bus as the rain pours down, this is the perfect track to capture that longing, main character energy. This is the melancholic, contemplative track you’ve been searching for, and it’s fucking great.

'All I Want'

With possibly more oohs and ahhs than any other LCD track, the dreamy 'All I Want' blends together the worlds of David Bowie and Brian Eno to create something truly special. Remaining true to their own sound, 'All I Want' is a nod to the band’s inspirations with an unmistakable LCD Soundsystem touch, creating a track that no doubt stands the test of time.

'Yr City’s a Sucker'

'Yr City’s a Sucker' may lack the explosive energy of other tracks, but it’s as cool and commanding as ever. Jam-packed with angst and cowbells, what’s not to love? LCD Soundsystem are where the genres of rock and dance come to meet, and this track is a great example of this.

'Give It Up'

High energy, a funk-esque bassline, and an infectious beat: 'Give It Up' is just a good time. As a track from the early days of LCD Soundsystem, it’s often forgotten amongst the well-known bangers like 'Losing My Edge' or 'Daft Punk Is Playing At My House', but is every bit as brilliant. So let go of your inhibitions and let this track take you away to the dancefloor.

'Movement'

'Movement' brings crashing drums and gut-punching guitars alongside politicall-charged lyrics delivered with a too-cool-to-care mindset -  no doubt, the elements of a great punk song. Rapid angst to a catchy beat, 'Movement' couples the high energy punk attitude with an electronic edge, creating a timelessly cool track we sadly seem to have forgotten all about.

'Pow Pow'

From 2010’s This Is Happening, 'Pow Pow' is a bit of fun. A masterclass in percussion production, this track has a lot going on, but it all works. A perfect example of LCD’s chaotic breakdowns and joyful cynicism. A spoken word dance-rock track for the ages.

'Disco Infiltrator'

Infectious from the start, 'Disco Infiltrator' is as exhilarating as the name suggests. The track has a retro feel, but the beat will have you up and dancing in no time. Rising electronic notes over a powerful drum beat and Murphy’s ever-recognisable falsetto are an absolute winner.

'emotional haircut'

From 2017’s american dream, emotional haircut is a sentimental nod to the past. After the band's resurgence, tracks like 'oh baby' and 'tonite' took centre stage, but emotional haircut is where the depth lies. Lines like "You've got numbers on your phone of the dead that you can't delete, And you got life-affirming moments in your past that you can't repeat" are a hard blow for an aging band and fanbase alike. This track is smart and stylish with a sombre edge that only LCD Soundsystem could pull off.

More about: LCD Soundsystem