Festive origins and digital displays: What does the name LCD Soundsystem mean?
When LCD Soundsystem emerged in 2002, nothing seemed cooler. Blending punk, dance, and electronic music, the project, born from musical masterminds James Murphy and Pat Mahoney, captured the dance-infused indie atmosphere of the time while delivering high-energy and electrifying live performances. Introducing the act with ‘Losing My Edge’ may have emerged amid a struggle to maintain relevance, but what followed after was anything but.
Although many praise their ability to craft timeless rhythms and melodies, LCD’s lyricism provided a fresh take on the indie genre, proving that dancefloor indie hits could also adopt deep and meaningful messages. In fact, this is precisely what drew Lucy Dacus to LCD, unlike many others, who mostly only enjoy the effervescence of their performances. As she put it, “I think James Murphy is such an incredible songwriter, and his music literally moves me.”
Simultaneously, the project is surrounded by mystery, mostly due to Murphy’s lyrics and themes, which can often be introspective, existential, or even enigmatic at times. Although Murphy often appears witty in his presentation of self-awareness, his dignified approach to fame often leaves many wondering what drives him, who his main influences are, and why LCD became his ultimate fixation.
The name, in particular, has been subjected to debate since its inception. The use of the acronym ‘LCD’ leads many to understandably believe that the name refers to the computer monitor display that uses liquid crystals to produce images in colour. However, considering Murphy’s appreciation for double meanings and tongue-in-cheek honour, could there be another meaning?
What does LCD Soundsystem mean?
For a long while, the ‘Liquid-Crystal Display’ denotation was the most commonly accepted answer to the question, especially given the fact that LCD monitors were at the peak of digital advancements at the time of the band’s genesis. Murphy is also a known harbinger of technological information and gear, so it’s likely that the term ‘LCD Soundsystem’ reflected his interest in excellent sound quality among other things.
The ‘LCD’ acronym has also been said to represent ‘Lowest Common Denominator’, which could also tap into the long-debated topic about whether electronic music and musicians are ‘real’ artists. The name meaning ‘Lowest Common Denominator’ also wouldn’t be too much of a stretch considering the ways Murphy has used his perceived shortcomings as a source of poking fun in the past.
However, despite Murphy likely enjoying the various takes on the band’s name, the real answer was confirmed a number of years back when it was revealed they thought up the name at a Christmas party that he and Mahoney once played at. At the time, they were covering a handful of songs by Liquid Liquid and decided to name their project ‘Liquid Christmas Display’, a play-on ‘Liquid Crystal Display’.
Although the ‘Soundsystem’ part of the name probably better reflects the evolution of the music itself, the origins of ‘LCD’ provide a lighthearted and sentimental nod to their beginnings, alongside the reason why they ever decided to have a go of it in the first place—for fun.
