LCD Soundsystem - North American Scum
LCD Soundsystem's 'North American Scum' is the first great pop hit of the year. Actually this or any other year I'd say. From its tricky momentary humble eurotrash beatbox beginnings and fattened up Wasp synth to... Oh, everything else and on forever. The refrain, I can never get enough of, "We are North American Scum..." not to be confused with British, Spanish or German scum, and all the fun they have, apparently.
But it's not solely for the winning catchy lyrics did I instantly fall for North American Scum. In the first instance there's the Jonathan Richman Nasal Spray vocal stylings; The Cindy Wilson/Kate Pierson-esque backing vocals and the essential "uuhhh, uhhhh, uuuhhhhhs," near the start. Whistling and gurgling always elevate pop and this infective reflective gurgling is good. Anyway, 'North American Scum' quickly becomes an insistent travelogue that almost anyone can dance to it. That's another virtue, as I am sure you can't imagine.
New York's the greatest if you can get someone to pay the rent
It's the furthest you can live from the government, uh-huh
You see I love this place that I've grown to know
But I know you wouldn't touch us with a ten foot pole.
Don't blame the Canadians...
North American Scum is a love song. I
want to hear it on the radio all day long. I mean alongside
Cassie,
Missy Elliot and the Black Keys. All on one station.
I'm an implant here. I know it helps me. It seemingly makes it easier to understand, the questions about questioning the homeland. Now we're all finally lining up behind the prescient John Kerry. I voted for it before I voted against it.
North American Scum is unapologetic in any way and probably will be misappropriated by Rudi Guiliani or someone as a campaign fight song. I hopes. The best singalong party song since 'You've Gotta Fight For Your Right To Party.' And a perfect pop song for our times. Seek it out and hear it.
