LCD Soundsystem - american dream
Critic Score
Based on 47 reviews
2017 Ratings: #19 / 940
Year End Rank: #5
User Score
2017 Rank: #202
Liked by 132 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
The Guardian
Packed with aural allusions to Bowie and Eno, LCD Soundsystem’s comeback is a virtuosic tribute to their heroes – and themselves
100
Northern Transmissions

Who would’ve thought that a once impossible record would be one of the best of the year? After a breakup, reunion, and a few delays, LCD Soundsystem’s fourth record is a triumphant return for James Murphy and company. With more live instrumentation, attitude and sonic diversity than any of their previous releases, this is one that won’t disappoint fans or even new listeners.

100
The Telegraph
The lyrics are fantastic, the grooves irresistible, the ideas constantly entertaining. His sense of fun is infectious. It’s good to have James Murphy back doing what he does best.
100
Dork
In returning from their early demise, LCD Soundsystem haven’t feathered their own nest so much as embellished their already lustred legend. The fact they went away wasn’t a failure; it was another step in the story of a group that sit a level above their peers.
100
NME

‘American Dream’ delivers, point by point, on everything you could want from an LCD Soundsystem album.

100
The Skinny

American Dream feels like Murphy's darkest record to date, and like previous LCD records, only gets better with repeat listens. In short, it's fucking glorious.

100
Record Collector
Old sweetens the deal, with tracks as good as anything from previous releases. However it’s New that intrigues, confuses, saddens and ultimately tempts you back with its sheer vulnerability--this is far deeper than the cash grab landfill this reunion could’ve spawned.
100
Pretty Much Amazing

American Dream represents a high point for Murphy, not only as a songwriter, but also as a meticulous sonic architect and an exuberant performer.

91
Paste
It’s a beautiful work of art about aging, regret and an arduous search for meaning. It’s an expansive record that explores a variety of sounds and themes, but it never feels confused or lost.
91
Entertainment Weekly

As gratifyingly familiar as much of American Dream will be to longtime fans, it also feels like exactly the album 2017 needs — urgent, angry, achingly self-aware.

91
A.V. Club

As far as American Dream being better than that estimable trilogy that preceded it, well, it depends mightily on how you define “better.” It’s a beautifully produced, masterfully realized album, but it’s also a bit of a downer and an unusually slow burn.

90
The 405
From head to toe, front to back, it bangs; but more importantly, it actually has something new to say.
90
The Sydney Morning Herald

American Dream looks both back and forward. These are the songs we dance ourselves clean to while we watch the world burn – then rise from the ashes.

90
Uncut

American Dream is a triumph, then, and possibly LCD Soundsystem's finest album so far.

90
Drowned in Sound

Throughout American Dream Murphy is looking inward more than ever, it’s just that age allows him to apply hard won wisdom to his fears.

88
Resident Advisor
LCD Soundsystem have made a better album than they've ever done.
85
Under the Radar

American Dream is the upshot of a darker, older, wiser LCD Soundsystem.

85
Pitchfork
The rebirth of LCD Soundsystem is marked by an extraordinary album obsessed with endings: of friendships, of love, of heroes, of a certain type of geeky fandom, and of the American dream itself.
83
Consequence of Sound

James Murphy and his band of collaborating friends have yet to make a wrong turn over the course of three previous records and American Dream doesn’t blow the perfect game, taking a low-key approach to underscore why people love LCD Soundsystem in the first place.

80
Evening Standard
Call the Police is the real standout — beautiful, powerful and sincere. It’s good to have him back, whether or not he went away.
80
Crack Magazine
Murphy had to earn our trust back with something meaningful; something worth the upset. With this poignant portrait of ageing and ennui in post-satire America, he has.
80
The Irish Times
It's too long, but more importantly, it's emotionally hollow – even as pop music goes.
80
The Observer

Pop stares down the abyss, Murphy seems to be saying, so carpe diem – except, this being LCD Soundsystem, it’s more about seizing the night, where three minutes can unfurl into for ever.

80
Q Magazine
An album that advances the sound of LCD Soundsystem and more than justifies their return, while retaining all that was brilliant about them in the first place.
80
FLOOD Magazine
Seven years after “This is Happening,” James Murphy remains unparalleled at building slow-burn epics from all the fun bits of his record collection.
80
Mixmag

‘American Dream’ rocks, rolls, pops, fizzes and snaps. The energy is still there, no two songs sound the same and the ambition is somehow even more future-retro than before.

80
Clash
It’s still imperfect, but even its flaws are worthy of note. The long goodbye is now followed by quite a lengthy return. Long may it last.
80
musicOMH
Like any other LCD Soundsystem album it will doubtless encourage folk onto their feet, and whilst Murphy may rue a perceived failure to connect, this is where he will unite others.
80
AllMusic

No matter the style or mood of the songs, Murphy's vocals are the main attraction, delivering snaky asides, heartfelt emotion, and insistent chatter in his trademark fashion. The years off haven't quite mellowed him or made him a crooner; he still mixes the tart with the bittersweet like a master chef. The years haven't made LCD Soundsystem any less relevant or important, either.

80
DIY
The band may be best known for its dance-punk insta-classics, but ‘American Dream’ is, for the most part, dark as fuck.
80
The Line of Best Fit

It’s not that American Dream is subdued, but it certainly lacks straightforward party rippers like “Drunk Girls” and “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House”. That’s not an accident, either; this is, by a long distance, the most introspective work that Murphy has yet turned out.

80
Exclaim!

For now, American Dream does exactly what a new LCD Soundsystem album should do: it brings back the rush that listening to the band always has, and adds a compelling new dimension to the band's sound — a mature, realist darkness that they'd only hinted at previously — that suggests Murphy might have been temporarily out of motivation, but he was never out of ideas.

80
Time Out London

Making synths and guitars, songwriting and motorik rhythms all work together so well has always been at the heart of LCD Soundsystem. And thankfully, they still do their thing magnificently well. Age be damned.

80
Rolling Stone

James Murphy and his wrecking crew of New York punk-disco marauders don't waste a moment on the superb American Dream – it's a relentless, expansive, maddeningly funny set of songs asking how a lifetime of good intentions and hard work can blow up into such a mess.

80
Slant Magazine

While its 1970s and ‘80s influences, whizz-bang synths, and froggy vocals are entirely recognizable, American Dream finds Murphy pushing his compatriots and his own psyche into new, unfamiliar, and often uncomfortable territory. Which is exactly why, as far as reunion albums by aging bands go, this one is about as gratifyingly unpredictable as anyone could have hoped for.

80
Mojo

American Dream feels like a strong re-statement of what they do, and what they can mean, a record that, despite its fear of death, feels very much alive.

70
Spectrum Culture

Capped off by a great ballad in “Black Screen,” American Dream ends on far surer footing than it begins, and if at first blush this is clearly the least impressive and urgent LCD album, its second half suggests depths that demand repeated listening and point the way at new avenues the band can explore.

70
Loud and Quiet
The not-so-good news is that it’s LCD’s weakest album. That, however, is like saying ‘Abbey Road’ is The Beatles’ fourth best album. It’s obviously still great, and not just because it’s just there.
70
The Young Folks

To be honest, American Dream is probably the only way LCD Soundsystem could’ve come back. The youthful energy is gone and air of experimentation is a bit stale, but the band is still connected and full of grooves.

70
Sputnikmusic

American Dream ... undoes what would’ve been an incredibly mediocre way to go out with something that is still flawed, but avoids the pitfalls of its predecessor with material that shows a band revitalized and coming ever closer to returning to their Sound of Silver-era prime. May it last long.

70
No Ripcord

American Dream does offer a lot from a songwriting standpoint, and why wouldn’t it? Murphy is a skilled producer with a deft ear for melody. But he’s somehow disrupted that valuable balance of humor and thoughtfulness found in LCD Soundsystem’s past with a more sedate offering that is riddled with mixed messages.

70
God Is in the TV
It has to be said that this album may not quite reach the heights of the first two LCD Soundsystems – though those are pretty big landmarks in any music fan’s book. Yet in a year that has also seen a number of other acts producing comeback albums (Ride and Slowdive spring to mind), this stands comfortably alongside them.
70
Tiny Mix Tapes

american dream is a great reconciliation of the two sides of LCD Soundsystem: the post-punk side that wants to rock us to hell and the post-disco/new wave side that wants to get fucked up and dance. american dream draws out good reflections on the monotony of daily life and the sadness it often brings.

60
The Needle Drop

New York indietronic legends LCD Soundsystem return with a tepid set of songs with washed out mixes and lackluster lyrics.

60
Gigwise

Murphy’s too good a producer for American Dream to lack punch and momentum, but the most affecting thing about it is this spectacle of James Murphy - or someone who closely resembles him – crooning and spinning favourite records at the wake of his own youth.

60
The Independent

American Dream ... is effectively a straight continuation of its predecessor’s amalgam of electropop, new wave and krautrock, in varying proportions, with varying success.

55

I designed this cover, please be nice

KIDWITHGUNs
92

I let my 5 year old son listen to this album because he sad he liked music and want very much so I buy album for him but little later he come to me and say "daddy. this album scary!!!@" I listen to album and he say; "PANIC AT THE DISCO!!!!" and me was shock. how can this album be allowed for childs? This album has blood and violins. lcd Soundsystem eat your vegetables!! lcd Soundsystem may no eat vegetable, my son eat vegetable!!
He is now life shock and he have to take ... read more

LonelyHipHopFan
50

OUTDATED

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM DISCOGRAPHY DEEP DIVE #4

I assumed this album would be the worst one, seeing that it's the consensus weakest project as far as the ratings go, but this is honestly much better than it's given credit for. It's their most personal project with surprisingly dark production and lyrics. It's also a unique entry into their discography, because while it still has the elements of an LCD Soundsystem LP, it doesn't feel like anything they have ever done before. Is it as good as ... read more

viable
87

Fuck it, yeah this thing has moments where you can tell this isn't LCD's best work, but I still found myself enjoying pretty much every song on here. The lows might be the lowest, although still not bad by any means, but the highs are still there for anyone to enjoy. I guess I stan these guys too much lol, I should eventually do actual reviews for their other albums and get my thoughts out there. Until then, "american dream" concludes the notorious Soundsystem's spectacular run in a ... read more

sebsmusicsucks
74

not gonna lie after blown away by the opening track I was along 4 this ride, it dwindles at the mid point but I think the last 5 tracks not including haircut r fuckin rad. a lot of the lyrics cook too. I think darker, slower style can resonate with me listening in me room instead of more all out albums that I feel I need 2 pretend im at some sort of 2007 rave.

I couldn't b happier I dived into this discography I found some songs that r gonna stay w me literally forever. next stop is donating a ... read more

Nukeproofbear
84

OVERHATED. Fantano stans need to get off his dick and really listen to this album.

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Track List

1oh baby
5:49
92
2other voices
6:43
81
3i used to
5:32
88
4change yr mind
4:57
80
5how do you sleep?
9:12
85
6tonite
5:47
87
7call the police
6:58
90
8american dream
6:06
90
9emotional haircut
5:29
81
10black screen
12:05
83
Total Length: 1 hour, 8 minutes
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Added on: June 19, 2017