Sound of Silver was without question my album of the year in 2007, but I missed out on 45:33 for some reason until recently. While that album is also fantastic ("Shame on You" gets stuck in my head for hours), the most convincing entry in the "James Murphy is a badass motherfucker" book comes in the form of one of its bonus tracks, "Freak Out/Starry Eyes", a former B-side of "All My Friends". What starts as a seemingly typical extended hipster jam session launches into a downright spookily funky breakdown about halfway through before a conga solo leads into the blistering electronica pulsating badassness of "Starry Eyes". I swear I almost hear "Charlie Cat" by Annie Lennox and Robert Gorl in there somewhere! James Murphy is a genius!

Check it out if you dare.

I do actually think that "All My Friends" is up there with "Heroes", "Heart Of Glass", "Sometimes It Snows In April" and "How Soon Is Now" as one of my favourite tracks ever...
It's feel, build up, lyrics, sentiment, video- it's perfect and brings a tear to my eye everytime I hear it (I lost a friend to suicide on it's release, so it has a greater impact for me).
And the "Starry Eyes" section of the B-side is so dirty and funky- I get all unnecessary and hot under the collar...yes, James Murphy IS a genius!

I just got this "ep" recently and I'm loving it...I think it's a shame that it's as under the radar as it is.

stevenpottle said:

Yeah, it's one of the few songs in the past few years that really grabbed me by the balls on first listen. My jaw was literally agape when I heard "All My Friends" for the first time. Definitely song of the year.

Anxiety said:

Is it the Confuse the Marketplace EP? I think it has the same 3 tracks on the CD version of 45:33: "Freak Out/Starry Eyes", a dub of "North American Scum" and "Hippie Priest Bum-Out". Right?

stevenpottle said:

I like that.

Moonbeam said:

i have the cd version of 45:33, yup.

This is the very first song I have ever heard by them

Loved it!

Actually, I have had them on my to buy list just because I saw you touting them Haven't bought anything of theirs yet though

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Sound of Silver is essential!

GangstaFam said:

'Dja listen?

Moonbeam said:

i think both of their albums are essential.

Anxiety said:

That first one is pretty fantastic, too.

Moonbeam said:

i never really got into the "proper" disc of their first album until after seeing them at lollapalooza last year, because i liked the bonus disc so much that i just never got around to listening to the actual record. but i love both now!

Anxiety said:

Both discs are awesome. "Never As Tired As When I'm Waking Up" blows me away.

Moonbeam said:

both versions of "yeah" kick my ass. for the longest time, these two tracks were my obligatory cardio soundtrack for the gym.

Anxiety said:

Yeah, the "Crass Version" is my favorite song from their first album, either disc. Truly warped synths.