LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
"THIS IS HAPPENING"
EARLY REVIEW - OUT 5/17
By Hunter Christian
Hype hype hype. It's surrounding the music industry right now, with long awaited new albums coming out within the next few months from bands such as Kate Nash, Broken Social Scene, The National, Jack Johnson, Kanye West, and many more. Now that MGMT's good-but-didn't-live-up-to-the-hype sophomore slump is out of the way, arguably the most anticipated album of the summer will be here in just under 5 weeks: LCD Soundsystem's long awaited 3rd studio effort, "This Is Happening." The band's elaborate music has many players on stage, but the credit can really be attributed to James Murphy, the creator of the tunes themselves. After two hit albums, the self-titled debut and successful follow up "Sound of Silver", the band continues its classic techno dance punk feel. Does it do it well? There's been a lot of hype. And I may be making a mistake, but...I'm just gonna continue that hype. Because LCD Soundsystem has not just created a great third album. They've created their best yet.
The Breakdown:
The album begins with "Dance Yrself Clean", a soft techno jam that begins slow, as with Sound of Silver's intro "Get Innocuous!". The band continues their witty talk over irresistible beats (Talking like a jerk / Except you are an actual jerk / And living proof / Sometimes friends are mean). It then ventures into the funky dance rock jam "Drunk Girls", the first single released for the album. It's just as funny, obnoxious, energetic, and rockin' as it was the first time you heard it. Then we venture into "One Touch", an edgy, 8-minute techno beat with hormonal angst (One touch / Is never enough) - just the kind you'd feel on the dance floor LCDS is so good at putting you in. "All I Want" is led by a scratchy electric riff with a melancholy tone but just enough pep to fit yet another great beat. Track 5, "I Can Change", is a love song disguised as a dance floor funk jam, with heartbreaking lyrics (I can change / If it helps you fall in love). It's a tough call, but it may be the best song on the record. The next two tracks, "You Wanted A Hit" and "Pow Pow" express exotic-sounding twangs with energy and hip-hop personalities. Track 8, "Somebody's Calling Me", is a Spoon-esque groove with a quiet drowsiness drowning the edgy slam of electronics. The 9-track record closes with "Home", which begins with a funky display of percussion followed by a noodling synth riff that leads us into a groovy closing filled with guitar flings and techno wonder.
Talking it up a bit, am I? Good. Because this album needs to be heard, although if you're already a fan, there's no doubt that's needless to say. If the rest of this summer's anticipated records can live up to their hype the way this one does, it's going to be one hell of a summer for music. And even if they don't, at least we were started off right with "This Is Happening". This shit IS happening. It really, really is.
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