LCD Soundsystem: This Is Happening
Our thanks to SimpleNate for sending us this review. You can find more musings by the great and mighty SimpleNate over at his website: Who Is SimpleNate.
LCD Soundsystem’s newest (and supposedly last) album hit today. This is Happening is the fourth full-length from the NYC-based brainchild of DFA Records co-founder James Murphy and re-establishes the label’s dance/punk supremacy.
Taking hints from the recently popularized chillwave indie movement, This is Happening mixes old-school synth sounds and layered drum beats with Murphy’s alternating laid-back then over-the-top vocals. The major thing that has always set LCD apart from others in the genre is still at the center of the new release. I’m talking, of course, about the inherent danceability and catchy loops that will stay in your head for days after just one listen.
The album kicks off with the building-block track “Dance Yrself Clean” and its hard to ignore Murphy’s request. As dreamy synth explodes into a high energy party with Murphy flexing his high notes, you’d have to be dead to not at least tap your foot. The single, and clearly the black sheep of the album, “Drunk Girls” follows with its more-punk-than-not attitude and turns out to be a bouncy romp filled with guitar and background call-back vocals.
As the album spreads it’s wings with tracks “One Touch” and “I Can Change” it sets you up for the wonderfully energetic and apathetic “Pow Pow Pow”, truly a classic LCD Soundstem track.
Some people have said This is Happening has strayed too far from The Sound of Silver and it’s more listener friendly attitude. I disagree. This is Happening stays true to the LCD Soundsystem roots of their self-titled debut and pushes the boundaries of the genre. With new bands like Chromeo and Avi Buffalo becoming more and more popular, and older bands like Hot Chip (also on the DFA label) seeing themselves rise to fame, its only natural to have this new LCD release bridge the gap. That said, if you’re unfamiliar with the band, This is Happening is a great place to start. And really, if you aren’t familiar with LCD Soundsystem, you really should be.
