Third times the charm for James Murphy, as he blends everything dance/Post-Punk/Berlin era David Bowie/awesomeness. Not an unexpected surprise as we've all grown to love LCD on the dance floor and in the car. Its a shame to say that this is his last album...as LCD Soundsystem.
Knowing that this is his last, all my thoughts lied in the hope that this would also be his best. I was right. Most of the songs are well over 5 minutes, and while you can definitely tell that this is case, the songs are diverse enough within themselves that you don't mind the length and you let yourself go along for the 9 track ride.
'Dance Yrself Clean' is not a dance tune. Its more of a bob-your-head-while-you-occasionally-air-keyboard song...until a bad ass beat kick and Murphy's worked up voice stream their way into your ears. Now dance. After 6 minutes of this dancier concoction he tones it down for a couple of seconds but that's all the time you have until you want to start jumping and screaming 'Drunk Girls' like a frat boy. The album's first single blends intoxicated nonchalantness, a sweet jumpy chorus (reminiscent of The Dismemberment Plan), and the "Hey!" Murphy is so good at. Then suddenly you find yourself going from frat house to space odyssey in 'One Touch.' However the lyrics are not far off from what a frat boy would like as Murphy sing-states "One touch is never enough. People will be pushed to the back of the bus" in the chorus. Synth-beats, spinney-thingies, crisp cymbals, and quirky-button-pressing sounds of sorts. I love this song. As Happening goes along, you fall into a series of clever synths and softer sounds that are just as amusing to the ears, as the the prior beats are to the feet. 'You Wanted a Hit' encompasses both of these sensations as it starts of with a dreamy feel and then a sharp guitar and drum beat creep in. The bass line soon proves to be equally effective for a Jesus and Mary Chain song as it is for LCD. 2 more songs go by and then next thing you know Murphy's parting gift is done with.
While it is unfortunate that LCD will be no more, you can always go back to past and feel like his songs are so present-sounding. Whether it's dancefloor memory-filled 'Daft Punk is Playing at my House' to hopeful yet morose 'All My Friends', James Murphy has come full circle with This is Happening.
Click here to download This Is Happening
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