[5songpjct note: The photos may not seem to make sense at first, but stick with us.]
“A Little Respect” – Erasure
5songpjct: I have to say that this is one of the most creative ways I have seen someone think about this project. It is interesting to think who should cover songs that we love. Who do you think should cover “A Little Respect?”
Mickey: This song, with its synth-heavy structure and melodic lead would be a fun little way for LCD Soundsystem to condense where they usually expand their song length and structure.
5songpjct: Was there a particular song of LCD Soundsystem’s that made you have this a-ha moment that they should cover “A Little Respect?”
Mickey: I think “Dance Yourself Clean”, which is the first song on their third album. That song, like most of LCD Soundsystem’s songs is very synth heavy, but it is so fun and kind of comical. I have listened to that song with such joy in my life at parties with friends and that sort of thing. I think that the one thing that is a drawback is that I like songs that are three, for minutes or so, but most of LCD’s best songs are seven, eight minutes, and can go ten or fifteen minutes.
The thing about “A Little Respect” is that it is a nice little condensed pop nugget and I would love to hear a band that is as comfortable with fun synthesizers as LCD Soundsystem crack that nut. Whether they make the song ten minutes long, that is fine with me just because it is so upbeat and they do such a great job with those upbeat songs. Like their new album is much darker, but I don’t know, I think we need sunny music these days as much as we need dour music.
5songpjct: I think that is an interesting theme coming from this project, there is a lot of 80s music. I feel like a lot of people are in need of the joy and silliness that isn’t really out in the world now.
Mickey: Yes! I absolutely agree.
5songpjct: The 80s were definitely that way. Songs were overly dramatic. I feel like “A Little Respect” and “Don’t You Want Me Baby” are very dramatic. “Last Christmas” is another, it is dramatic, but also an I can laugh at myself type of dramaticness. We need that levity now.
Mickey: You can get the artifice, the cheese of it, but also embrace the silliness and the fun of it, to really get some levity and catharsis out of the listening experience.
5songpjct: I for one am happy that LCD Soundsystem decided to get back together. What do you think of the new album?
Mickey: I thought it was good, it a little darker than I am used to. I am pleased they came back as soon as they did. I know much was made about their retirement and that they were going to leave the performing world on top. I listened to an interview with James Murphy and he reassured that it wasn’t a cash grab and that it was more of that they had more the wanted to say. I am always in favor of artists going back to the well, if they still feel like they have something to say artistically. They don’t need to be put up to this ridiculous standard of perfection, no don’t put out anymore music under that banner because you promised us you would go away. I think that is a little ridiculous.
5songpjct: I feel like a lot of the bands that have announced their retirement have come back. Jay-Z, Eminem, and now LCD Soundsystem
Mickey: Yeah Jay-Z was kind of the first one to do that. Guns N’ Roses are back on tour, which seems like a cash grab, but it is a fun way for people to see bands on tour and that they never thought that they would be able to see again live. I think everyone everyone agrees with the economics of being able to see a band like Guns N’ Roses in concert again, but I see that it has nostalgia and transports you from the tensity of the days that we are in now.
TOMORROW our next song and who should cover it