Back-to-School Songs & Opinions on LCD Soundystem and Van Hunt

Back-to-School Songs

The beginning of September means students return to the classroom. Whether you're excited to be back-to-school or the very thought inspires dread and anxiety, Jim and Greg have put together a playlist to ease back to the grind. Plus, they review albums by LCD Soundsystem and Van Hunt.

Download Subscribe via iTunes

American Dream LCD Soundsystem

american dream

LCD Soundsystem – one of Jim and Greg's favorite bands of the 2000s – broke up in 2011 after a huge farewell show at Madison Square Garden. But only six years later, leader James Murphy has brought the group back for a fourth album, American Dream. Greg was skeptical after hearing the initial singles. But upon hearing the whole record, he calls it their most emotional work yet, designed to work as an album from beginning to end. He cites the haunted quality in Murphy's voice as he confronts getting older and loves the record's polyrhythmic vibes. While Greg gives it a Buy It, it pains Jim to give American Dream a Trash It. He's annoyed at hearing a 47-year-old complain about being old. According to Jim, the new album has lost the sense of humor, groove, and songs of the previous records, and he will never listen to American Dream again for pleasure.

Back-to-School

September is a time of mixed emotions. For some, it's an exciting new beginning. For others, it's a time of doom and dread. Either way, here are some of Jim and Greg's favorite Back-To-School songs to kick off the new school year.

Jim

  • Screeching Weasel, "Cool Kids"
  • Frank Zappa, "Catholic Girls"
  • Buffalo Tom, "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here"
  • Mission of Burma, "Academy Fight Song"

Greg

  • Peter Tosh, "You Can’t Blame the Youth"
  • The Specials, "Rat Race"
  • Steely Dan, "My Old School"
  • The White Stripes, "We’re Going to Be Friends"

Dear Listeners,

For more than 15 years, Sound Opinions was a production of WBEZ, Chicago's public radio station. Now that the show is independent, we're inviting you to join the band and lend a hand! We need your support more than ever because now we have to do all the behind-the-scenes work that WBEZ handled before (like buying insurance and paying for podcast hosting, ugh). Plus, we have some exciting ideas we'd like to try now that there's no one to tell us no!