MY LCD SOUNDSYSTEM INTERVIEW WHERE I SAY ROFFLES ON THE PHONE

DK: What up g-thang?
LCDS: krrshhhrshhkkhrshh – Sorry man, I think you just called me when I was in the 7-11. How’s it going?

Awesome. What are you listening to today?
Today? I was listening to the BLACK DEVIL DISCO COMP on my headphones in the store.

I don’t know that, but it sounds hot. Now be honest, do you like the new Daft Punk?
Daft Punk? I actually haven’t listened to the album.

[Lil’ Jon voice] WHAAAT!? But you wrote a goddam song abou--
Well, NOT until last night. Robot Rock is alright – I have a feeling it all might grow on me – I didn’t like Discovery when it came out, but I do now.

Would you agree that LCD and DFA have reached that rare zone of critical near-unassailability, kind of like Daft Punk for awhile? Was there ever any calculation, or did things just end up so good by being at the right place, right time, with the right sound?

I dunno, I don’t think we’re unassailable. I think we’re WALKING TARGETS essentially – it’s just a matter of time before the press comes out with a well-thought out backlash. As for calculation … it’s in my nature, and it’s in Tim [Goldsworthy]’s nature to constantly be checking ourselves, and you know, be attacking each other mercilessly to make this record. Tim and I have both been in situations where we’re surrounded by a lot of hype – like with Unkle and Mo’Wax. You start to realize that it’s a pretty empty, silly endeavor, and that it’s more important that we’re making music we like. It allows us to minimize all the stupid, predictable shit one would do to try and ‘manage’ the hype machine.

Have you ever knocked someone out because they shouted “MORE COWBELL” at you?
[laughs] Uhh, not to this day.

Okay, let’s talk album. How come you didn’t put WHERE IS LOVE on the album? That was hot!
[laughs] Oh man, I HATE that song?

What? It’s hot!
Aw, well it can exist as an internet thing or whatever – I don’t like it, it has no relevance to my life! It’s old, and it sounds too much like Peaches….

ROFFLES! Hey, just to clear something up, is there an Eno influence on “Great Release?”
YES. Eno’s an influence on everything we do.

Speaking of influence: how much do you guys, or the planet while we’re at it, owe to ESG?
I loved ESG because they sounded – and still sound – so incredibly fresh to me. I just like how simple and completely free of macho bullshit they were. I think a lot of people try to take from them, but they fail so miserably – so I don’t know how much the world owes them. [laughs]

In my best songs of 2004 list, there was Usher’s YEAH, and your YEAH. Who do YOU think won?
I think we won – on UNDERDOG POWER.

Speaking of YEAH, I notice that all the indie clubs that play it never play the awesome acid freakout coda! That’s some sorry shit. Do you think that indie kids still have a ways to go before fully embracing pure dance sounds?
Well I think that if you go to a place where people AREN’T DANCING, it won’t make much sense. That’s funny, because when I DJ, I ONLY play the end. I START with the SYNTHS.

That’s RUGGED. So when do you think one of your tracks is going to end up on the O.C.? Haha.
I think…..May?

For real? Do you like the O.C.?
Oh, I wouldn’t know, I don’t watch much T.V.

Well I don’t watch O.C. either. Those FUCKING haircuts!