"North American Scum" is a song by American rock band LCD Soundsystem. It was released as the lead single from their second studio album, Sound of Silver, on February 26, 2007 as a digital download and on other formats on March 5, 2007. It peaked at number 24 on the Belgian Flanders Tip chart and number 40 on the UK Singles Chart. The song is also frequently used to open up The Ron and Fez Show on XM Satellite Radio and was also featured in the 2008 film Step Brothers as well as the video games Saints Row 2 and Top Spin 4.

"North American Scum"
Single by LCD Soundsystem
from the album Sound of Silver
B-side
  • "Hippie Priest Bum-Out"
  • Remixes
ReleasedFebruary 26, 2007
Recorded2006
GenreSynth-rock[1]
Length
  • 5:26 (album version)
  • 3:46 (radio edit)
LabelDFA
Songwriter(s)James Murphy
Producer(s)The DFA
LCD Soundsystem singles chronology
"45:33"
(2006)
"North American Scum"
(2007)
"All My Friends"
(2007)

Music video edit

The music video for "North American Scum" was directed by Benjamin Dickinson. It features James Murphy initially in a photo shoot, then entering space via a door, planting a DFA Records flag on the moon and engaging Pat Mahoney in a fight on the moon being cheered on by Tyler Pope and Nancy Whang, and finally leaving space through another door where he meets himself, Mahoney and Whang in a room filled with leaves.[2]

Madison Square Garden performance edit

During the band's farewell performance on April 2, 2011 at Madison Square Garden, the band was joined onstage for "North American Scum" by several members of Arcade Fire, who sang backing vocals.[3]

Track listing edit

7" edit

A. "North American Scum"
B. "Hippie Priest Bum-Out"

12" edit

A1. "North American Scum"
A2. "North American Scum" (Kris Menace Remix)
B. "North American Scum" (Onastic Dub Mix by James Murphy and Eric Broucek)

CDs edit

  1. "North American Scum"
  2. "North American Scum" (Kris Menace Remix)
  3. "North American Scum" (Onastic Dub Mix by James Murphy and Eric Broucek)
  4. "Hippie Priest Bum-Out"
  5. "North American Scum" (Video)

Charts edit

Chart (2007) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[4] 24
UK Singles (OCC)[5] 40

References edit

  1. ^ DeVille, Chris (March 10, 2017). "LCD Soundsystem 'Sound Of Silver' Turns 10". Stereogum. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  2. ^ "LCD Soundsystem - North American Scum". YouTube. February 27, 2009. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  3. ^ "LCD Soundsystem with Arcade Fire - "North American Scum" live at Madison Square Garden (4/2/11)". YouTube. April 4, 2011. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  4. ^ "LCD Soundsystem – North American Scum" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  5. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 29, 2015.

External links edit