LCD Soundsystem appears to be having somewhat of a renaissance in 2026. With the return of 2016’s trends in popular culture — the year marking their reunion — their nostalgic sound is reappearing everywhere; but it never truly disappeared. LCD Soundsystem defined cool in the 2000s; James Murphy’s iconic electronic sound persisted the test of time, leaving a significant mark on much of the new music we hear today.
The sound began with just James Murphy, who quickly recruited a band to not only support but create his vision; in 2005, LCD Soundsystem was born. Taking influence from both the unique sound and mathematical beats of Talking Heads and the electronic style of David Bowie, the band crafted a discography that was sure to be iconic for years to come. Starting out their self-titled album introduced with the track Daft Punk is Playing at My House launched them into the mainstream, defining the ‘punk rock’ of the era according to GQ magazine. The track starts with a kick, immediately launching into a quick, layered rhythm of dance music complemented by Murphy’s vocals — this sets the tone for the rest of the album.
Their influence on modern music is unquestionable. Murphy’s rejection of a snobby, elitist music industry created an enjoyable sound for all to enjoy and all to dance to. The self-aware lyrics of ‘Losing my Edge’ signalled the bands rejection of the industry, being kept on the outskirts; they were doing something new. They notoriously looked down on fans of popular bands like The Strokes, bringing their own edge to the music industry through their rejection of the mainstream. Setting themselves apart from the crowd in this way gave them somewhat of a cult following.
With club culture in rapid decline, the importance of this kind of music cannot be overemphasised; it is inherently social. No one wants to go to the club and dance to Katy Perry (or at least not many of us) — we crave music that won’t let you stand still.
However, it’s true — everyone wants to be James Murphy, but nobody really can be. Take The Dare (also known as Harrison Patrick Smith), for example, recently popularised by his single ‘Girls’; he takes clear influence from Murphy. Smith’s rhythmic beats and flashy vocals — singing about sex, drugs and suicide — come across as an unoriginal, diluted version of his influences. Today it feels like artists in the industry lack any authenticity. Everyone’s a nepo baby (although not Smith) and their versions of sex, drugs and suicide are so far removed from ours. LCD Soundsystem was for everyone whereas The Dare manages to feel pretentious.
Even ultra-famous artists such as Harry Styles claim to take inspiration from Murphy’s sound (unsurprisingly), but there is just a lack of genuine identity. Styles described going to see LCD Soundsystem live as “so joyous” and aimed to encapsulate this in his new album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. Whilst there are tracks on this album which clearly reflect the dance beats of Murphy — for example, the track ‘Are You Listening Yet’ — they also have the ability to fade into background music. Styles lacks the unique flare in his music; there is something unfortunately generic about music produced today despite the influence of such irreplaceable artists.
LCD Soundsystem was built by Murphy’s experimental beats, genuinely curated by his love for vinyl; he built an identity for the group that felt so genuine. He is a pioneer of dance music whose impact cannot be recreated.
“James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem” by Matt Biddulph is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
