Shut Up and Play the Hits (2012)

In a poignant culmination of rhythm and emotion, LCD Soundsystem took the stage at Madison Square Garden on April 2nd, 2011, for a farewell performance that would etch itself into the annals of musical history. The band's charismatic frontman, James Murphy, had made a deliberate choice to dissolve one of the era's most celebrated and influential bands at the zenith of their popularity. This was a grand finale envisioned to outshine any ordinary concert, a symphony of sound and sentiment designed to leave an indelible impact. The concert, a sell-out, near four-hour spectacle, did just that, stirring a cauldron of joy and sorrow among the thousands present. It was a spectacle so masterfully crafted that it prompted New York Magazine to hail it as "a marvel of pure craft," while TIME lamented, "we may never dance again." 'Shut Up and Play the Hits' not only documents this monumental performance but also paints an intimate portrait of James Murphy as he steers through the tumultuous currents leading up to the concert and the aftermath. As the curtain falls and the spotlights dim, the film explores the personal and professional repercussions of Murphy's monumental decision. It's a visceral journey of music, emotion, and one man's audacious decision to bow out at the peak, creating a film as unforgettable as the concert it captures.

Shut Up and Play the Hits is a documentary movie featuring James Murphy and directed by Dylan Southern.

Shut Up and Play the Hits is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on realeyz.