LCD Soundsystem played their final show to a sold-out audience at Madison Square Garden on April 2nd, 2011. The decision to end the band was made by LCD frontman James Murphy. He explained that he wanted time to live his life rather than spend his days touring on the road. LCD Soundsystem were always an interesting “band” because they began as a solo project for Murphy (who was best known as a DJ in New York who had a very eclectic record collection). Their first big “hit” was “Losing My Edge” which was basically an airing of grievances for an aging hipster upset that the younger kids claimed they knew more obscure bands than Murphy did. Next came the brilliant “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House” about a house party in which those lovable Gallic robots show up to jam. It’s wasn’t until later that Murphy was forced to hire musicians to learn and play his album live. So basically, everyone knew LCD Soundsystem had a short lifespan. After the release of This Is Happening (their third and final album) the band decided to call it quits and stop before they became enemies or burnt out, as most bands end up becoming. The document of their final show is the brilliant documentary, Shut Up and Play the Hits.
The documentary is receiving many comparisons to The Band’s Last Waltz and for very good reason. LCD’s final show is littered with DFA Records regulars (the New York label Murphy started with Tim Goldsworthy), Arcade Fire singing back-up and a who’s-who of Brooklynites jamming onstage with the band. The entire show feels more like a giant party rather than a concert.
While I will admit that I’m a bit biased when it comes to reviewing this doc since LCD Soundsystem are one of my favorite bands, I found it very bittersweet and exciting. The concert footage is interspersed with the morning after the final gig and the week prior. Scenes of Murphy taking his dog for a walk around Williamsburg (aka The Hipster Capital of the World) juxtapose the excitement and anticipation of the band’s final show. Chuck Klosterman (the brilliant essayist and music critic) interviewed Murphy about his final performance and the conversation between the two provides a welcome break from concert footage.
A few days after their final show, the crew packed up all the equipment and left it in a large warehouse before it’s auctioned off. When Murphy visits the equipment, he breaks down and sobs. I couldn’t help but be bummed too since I will never be able to see LCD Soundsystem play live. But watching this documentary is the next best thing. I rate it a 15/17.
Just for fun, here is my Top 5 LCD Soundsystem Songs:
1. Someone Great
2. Daft Punk Is Playing At My House
3. Tribulations
4. Dance Yrself Clean
5. Never As Tired As When I’m Waking Up
Thanks for including your fav LCD songs. They’ve always been hit or miss for me, so I’d like to check out those songs to help me like them better. How does the song at the beginning of Step Brothers rank? I like that one.
“North American Scum” ranks maybe in the Top 20. It’s really good, but I enjoy most of there other stuff more. I nought it worked beautifully in Step Brothers, as did the Vampire Weekend song. I can Dropbox my Top 5 if you’re interested.
Nice review! I’m not a bit LCD fan but I agree with Deuce that it’s cool to have a list of your faves.
I think this sounds like a good “concert film,” since it’s got other material like the interviews. Some concert movies tend to be a bit boring for me (or at least I can’t focus directly on them… I don’t mind having them on for the music while I do something else), but I like it when there’s other stuff to pay attention to than just hearing some band play music. Same goes with comedy films (although some comedians are indeed better when you see them, eg Louis C.K.).
I think my favorite “concert films” that are mostly music are “Eels With Strings” and “Stop Making Sense” (Talking Heads). The former because I went to one of their strings concerts, the latter because of the big suit.
Oh yeah and the Freddie Mercury tribute concert is pretty cool, too.
Axl+Elton=Magic.
I, too, get bored easily with concert films. I thought Shut Up was interesting because it was both a cool documentary AND a concert film ( a “concentary”). I like Stop Making Sense too. That suit is BIG and I like it!
By the way, I love Louis C.K. Have you watched Louie? I think it’s a brilliant TV show, very surreal, goofy and serious at the same time.
I’ve seen his comedy specials, but only one episode of Louie (and on a plane, unfortunately…). I liked it a lot, though, and I’d like to check it out more. Unfortunately it’s not on Costa Rican Netflix yet, but I’ll see if I can figure out a way around that.
Hey Djake!
This review is great and really makes me want to watch the doc. To the LCD haters above, I suggest listening to “Dance Yrself Clean” and just TRY not to tap your toes. It’s basically impossible! I can’t do anything less than gyrate and bounce around when it comes on, which can be a bit dangerous whilst driving.
Here, I’ll make it easy for ya:
Whoops, I meant to say I wasn’t a “big” fan, not a “bit” fan. But I definitely wouldn’t say I’m a hater; I just haven’t heard much of their music. I do know I heard “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House,” though, and I thought it was OK, but not great. I’m listening to “Dance Yrself Clean” now…
OK, yeah, that one’s good. See, not a hater, haha…
Haha that makes more sense. I was getting all riled up!
I was confused too. I kept thinking “why does Sitzman hate LCD Soundsystem so much?”
To be fair, though, that particular thought passes through your mind hundreds of times a day, Djake.
They say that guys think of sex three times a minute, but what they DON’T tell us is that guys AND girls wonder “Why does Sitzman hate LCD Soundsystem so much?” at least FOUR times a minute.
It’s surely a misconception that I’ll be working to correct until my dying day.
I have been wondering it about 6.5 times a minute.
Yeah, I’m a big fan of LCD Soundsystem, as well. If I hadn’t been working in Nebraska at the time, I would have gone to their last show in Denver. “Shut Up” sounds like a good consolation. Good list of top 5 songs. I can’t remember song titles, or lyrics, or much of anything, but I have been digging on the Tiga remix of “I Can Change,” as of late.
That’s just another reason why the motto on Nebraska’s state seal says “UBI SOMNIA IRE MORITURO” (“Where Dreams Go To Die”).
Love it. Hilarious. And so true.
Missed a bunch of great concerts that year.