From humble beginnings as James Murphy's outlet for wry lyrics and skeletal drum programming, LCD Soundsystem grew into a dance-punk standard-bearer that defined the sound of New York indie in the '00s, translating disco, electro, and No Wave into a funk-fueled throb. Albums like Sound of Silver and This Is Happening pressed the band's considerable chops into the service of deeply felt anthems that grapple with the big ideas—aging, loneliness, and urban ennui. You may come for the cowbell (and Murphy's endless charisma), but it's the exquisite melancholy that keeps you sticking around.