Out of all the bands that were part of the early 2000s New York scene Yeah Yeah Yeahs were the most consistent. Other bands, like Interpol, and The Strokes that recreated 80s new wave and 70s cool had fantastic debut albums that defined, and eventually overshadowed their careers. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs were different, yes they had a great debut in Fever to Tell, but as a band their sound was a lot less trapped by the sound of their early recordings. LCD Soundsystem was the same, as James Murphy became the King of New York dance music with three perfect albums.
So why does Murphy and Yeah Yeah Yeahs collaboration “Buried Alive” get so little attention. The song, which also features rapper Dr Octagon, is an atmospheric gem that dwells in the kind of darkness that no one involved had produced before. It's a complex song, thanks to Murphy's layered production, and Karen O's haunting delivery. In a way, it does sound like the sonic equivalent to being buried alive, with each beat, lyric, and melody causing you to sink deeper into the darkness. It's an underrated song, thanks in part to the fact that the album it appears on is easily the Yeah Yeah Yeahs weakest release. It deserves to be rediscovered, as it looks unlikely that the band will be releasing new music any time soon, and also as a reminder of Murphy's range as a producer before the full return of LCD Soundsystem.
