LCD Soundsystem, Throw

[Planet E]


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I feel about LCD Soundsystem’s “Throw” the same way I feel about the Hollywood remake of superb Swedish creepfest Let The Right One In (retitled Let Me In for the Stateside version). Sure it’s perfectly adequate, but why bother? If you’re reading this site, you already know how amazing the Paperclip People original (included here) is, and I can’t objectively say that the LCD Soundsystem cover is bad. It’s easy to see why James Murphy and his merry men have used the Carl Craig classic as a live staple for the last few years. The punk-funk bass line, ten years after (or actually also before) the fact, the propulsive, motorik groove and the yowls of “I wanna feel” are all tropes present somewhere in the LCD DNA. But the cover is so perfunctory, so faithful, it almost has me thinking it’s some kind of concept a la Gus Van Sant’s frame-by-frame remake of Psycho.

Maybe the most disappointing aspect of this project is that it follows a recent fashion for Pitchfork faves tackling vintage dance, but without any of the bare modicum of reinvention that similar efforts display. The Whitest Boy Alive frequently cover pop-dance classics (“You Don’t Know Me”, “Show Me Love”, “Music Sounds Better With You”) as encores to their live show. Erlend Øye’s plaintive voice often adds a tenderness absent from the more bangin’ originals, but they (or their record company) have so far sensibly resisted the urge to release these. Similarly, Detroit’s the Dirtbombs are imminently releasing an album’s worth of techno classics reinterpreted in their inimitable garage-rocking style. If the video for lead single “Sharevari” is anything to go by, it should be good fun at the very least. I wish I could say the same about this. Damned by its own competency, and tellingly, originally released as an iTunes bonus track, Planet E really shouldn’t have bothered pressing this “Throw”-away to wax.

DiscoMikael  on January 12, 2011 at 11:46 AM

have to agree, don’t hate it by any means but there is a lack of pow to separate it from the original. it was at least good opportunity to pick up the original. maybe it will introduce it to some younger audiences?

Critical Bill  on January 12, 2011 at 1:35 PM

Spot on review.

Carl Craig  on January 12, 2011 at 1:58 PM

I don’t agree. This is a song that James has long been performing as part of his LCD live show and blows the roof off the house when he does. I have been asked too many times when It would be released by fans of mine and his alike. It’s an honor to work with James and his DFA posse and I look forward to covering one of his classics very soon!
With love from Detroit
c2

Anton  on January 12, 2011 at 2:01 PM

I have to agree with Carl. I’ve seen LCD perform this live and it was such a treat. The recorded version might not be as good (difficult to capture all of that energy) but I still think it was worth pressing up. Good on you, C2 for taking this step.

Kenny  on January 12, 2011 at 2:17 PM

It’s a fine cover, but would I ever bother playing it over the original? Never. Which kinda says it all. Also, I think that cover of Sharivari is pointless. for alternative version to it, I dig the Ectomorph remix

NIce idea to have Carl cover one of theirs back, be interesting, seeing as I’m generally not massively enthused by much of LCD’s songs.

plasticefx  on January 12, 2011 at 8:45 PM

lcd soundsystem jumped the shark after his first album. his hubris, and condescension bleed into his recent endeavors making them practically unlistenable. hard to separate the art from the (self-absorbed) artist. (see Greenberg soundtrack). be still thy ego.

clom  on January 13, 2011 at 5:13 AM

i kinda wish that LCD had kept this for their live shows, it’s a great cover and the live format showcases “Throw” as a fucking brilliant jam as well as LCD as a live outfit. don’t see how this can really translate onto vinyl. although i can see why C2 would want to respond to demands from fans.

for me the version they blew the roof off the venue in edinburgh with is the definitive one!

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