Honolulu Weekly

James Murphy / Long before he became a Very Important Artist (Brit rag NME once listed him as officially the 26th-coolest person in all of music, a spot ahead of Dr. Dre), James Murphy was a “fucking lifetime failure.” At least that’s how he put it to one newspaper. His evidence: turning down an offer to be the first staff writer at a sitcom project called Seinfeld and, somewhat more forgivably, sucking at composing with Britney Spears.

That’s done with now, as the sweet visage to the right attests. These days, the DFA Records founder and producer fronts LCD Soundsystem, a dance-punk extravanganza featuring a rotating lineup and Murphy’s signature sound.

That indie-lectro funk vibe will no doubt be in effect as Murphy spins solo this weekend at thirtyninehotel.