If the election has done anything to this country, it has taken us out of the age of innocence. Gone are the earnest days, back dropped by a Fleet Foxes album, speaking of "hope" and, eventually, "forward." Now, we are in tougher times culturally, if not, intellectually. Terrorist attacks have become more and more common, so much so that a Columbine today would be a thing of the past in just a news cycle (which, itself, is getting shorter and shorter.) A hurricane has ravaged southeast Texas, even worse than Katrina did to New Orleans. And in the middle of it is the individual, confused, wondering where his or her place is in the grand scheme.
With this in mind, the album "american dream" is the only sensible kind of LCD Soundsystem that can come out in 2017. It's really tough to "Dance Yrself Clean", and something like "North American Scum" is just too two-dimensional for our complicated modern problems. The day-to-day is more trying, more contemplative, and, while we do like to escape via music, we are always subconsciously shopping for new ideas for when we take the headphones off. What we get here is an 80-minute opus, with James Murphy still staying true to his influences in Eno and Bowie but doing so from a tasteful, reserved, and, ultimately, altruistic light.
And it starts right off the bat with the opener "oh baby" in which Murphy sings what appears to be a sort of techno lullaby to the listener ("Oh baby/Oh baby/You're having a bad dream/Here, in my arms.") Despite the song consisting almost entirely of synths, there's an infectious warmth (or, as Bjork would call it, "warmthness") to the sound that makes it cut and dried for dozens of acoustic covers on YouTube. The following track, the Talking Heads-esque "other voices" is a calling card to Millennials, telling them to look out for those trying to corrupt them ("You're still a baby for better or worse/Or for an hour or so/Until it's other voices.")
But the album really ascends to its peak starting at the fifth track, "how do you sleep?" This is the most talked about track on the album, whether it be for the scandalous lyrics "You left me with the vape clowns" or its ambitious, out-of-character sound. "Standing on the shore/facing east" Murphy yells, and that's how it really sounds like. Murphy is calling out from across the ocean. Then, a storm brews, incited by frantic violins that sound right out of the "Dunkirk" soundtrack. The storm explodes with a powerful synth drop, although I do wish that it started with something more complex than a simple, albeit floor-shaking, chord progression. This track is followed by "tonite" a modernized, improved, spiritual sequel to the LCD breakout hit "Losing My Edge." "call the police" is a grandiose, yet gilded, standout. "American dream" is eponymous and best track off the album; its magnetic synths draw the listener in, and it takes the listener up and up to a cathartic climax.
And with such highs, there are bound to be some lows, though they aren't too problematic. Nevertheless, "i used to" and "change yr mind" leave much to be desired, especially in the pregnant three and four spots of the track list. "emotional haircut" is placed very well in the context of the album, but it never amounts to anything more than a fun, five and a half minute interlude. Also, while "black screen" is a touching eulogy to David Bowie, its twelve minute run time does get a bit daunting. While the lyrics are poignant and introspective, the static instrumentals leave the listener a bit empty (and not in a good way.)
With everything in mind, was James Murphy's comeback album a bit disappointing? Technically, yes. Then again, after a once-in-a-lifetime final concert at Madison Square Garden, it's almost inhuman to live up to expectations for this comeback. Although there are some rough spots on "american dream," it's fun to take a step back and acknowledge that, along with the eponymous Dirty Projectors album, this is the album of 2017 with the most backstory. With repeated listens down the line, it will be novel to enjoy the concepts and ideas drawn by this album, while the classic influences will simultaneously make it timeless for generations to come. By the way, things are going now, we'll certainly need it. Rating:
