“It’s means a bunch of things, that’s one of ‘em…you know, other worldliness. The other thing was that I very much like the concept of silver. My dad used to say, ‘having a child is a permanent silver medal’, meaning that the best you can ever do for the rest of your life is second place. Because you just made something that for your lifetime has to be first place. I’m aware that this is our second record, and I think it’s better than the first. In 20 years time, if anyone cares about records then, I think it will be looked at as better. But have myself to compete with. I have the first time anyone ever heard LCD Soundsystem – which to a lot of people was a big moment. With that kind of expectation, this record is bound to be second best. It’s like when we did the ‘Yeah’ twelve-inch, we etched ‘Not as good as Losing My Edge’ into the out-groove, just because I knew that’s what people were gonna say anyway. I wasn’t trying to be ironic. It can’t be as good as the first 12”, because now you have an idea of what’s coming you can’t just take it and rub it on yourself and think you’re cool.
“The other meaning of Sound Of Silver, the big one, is that I felt the first record was a little beige, was a little ‘safe’. I had taken big chances on the twelve-inch, but then the record came along and I didn’t put as much detail and risk humiliation quite as much. This time around, we made the studio silver as a constant reminder to remember the glam rock, Chrome and DAF, the things that I think of as shiny music – T Rex, Heaven 17 and Human League, but more Hawkwind, with ‘Silver Machine’. But Chrome are the ultimate silver band to me.”
On "Sound of Silver," James Murphy says:
“It’s means a bunch of things, that’s one of ‘em…you know, other worldliness. The other thing was that I very much like the concept of silver. My dad used to say, ‘having a child is a permanent silver medal’, meaning that the best you can ever do for the rest of your life is second place. Because you just made something that for your lifetime has to be first place. I’m aware that this is our second record, and I think it’s better than the first. In 20 years time, if anyone cares about records then, I think it will be looked at as better. But have myself to compete with. I have the first time anyone ever heard LCD Soundsystem – which to a lot of people was a big moment. With that kind of expectation, this record is bound to be second best. It’s like when we did the ‘Yeah’ twelve-inch, we etched ‘Not as good as Losing My Edge’ into the out-groove, just because I knew that’s what people were gonna say anyway. I wasn’t trying to be ironic. It can’t be as good as the first 12”, because now you have an idea of what’s coming you can’t just take it and rub it on yourself and think you’re cool.
“The other meaning of Sound Of Silver, the big one, is that I felt the first record was a little beige, was a little ‘safe’. I had taken big chances on the twelve-inch, but then the record came along and I didn’t put as much detail and risk humiliation quite as much. This time around, we made the studio silver as a constant reminder to remember the glam rock, Chrome and DAF, the things that I think of as shiny music – T Rex, Heaven 17 and Human League, but more Hawkwind, with ‘Silver Machine’. But Chrome are the ultimate silver band to me.”
Source: INTERVIEW: LCD SOUNDSYSTEM (01.01.09) http://www.factmag.com/2009/01/01/interview-lcd-soundsystem/