LCD Soundsystem This is Happening Album Review

by Soren McCarty on October 12, 2010 in Album Reviews

LCD Soundsystem This Is Happening Album

LCD Soundsystem has released their fourth album titled This is Happening. LCD is the brainchild of James Murphy a one-man band recording and playing all the instruments. Nancy Whang helps out on background vocals but this is really James record. A full band combines for an electronic yet organic feel to the music.

Track Listing:

Track 1. Dance Yrself Clean
The cowbell is heard at the beginning of the first track and it mixes well with the electronic beat of the song. It reminds me of urban street performers playing their 5 gallon buckets to a crowd of onlookers that are singing along, it then goes for a ride down the electronic subway to the heart of the synthetic world. I miss the way the night goes, with friends that always make it feel good This song starts organic and ends electronic its a great blending of styles and it sums up LCDs sound. They are caught in the middle are bi-lingual in both forms of music.

Track 2. Drunk Girls
This anthem is a great song its very catchy and the lyrics and great, funny, true and bizarre. Drunk girls know that love is an astronaut comes back but its never the same This has a great beat with a pulsating beat and guitar full of reverb. I would love to pull up to a stop sign and see the couple in the car next to me signing this as a catch pop tune.

Track 3. One Touch
This track starts with an electronic pulse then adding a steady beat, they start to build texture on top of that, then the vocals come in which have a sound reminiscent of 80s David Bowie. One Touch is never enough, people who need people are just people who need people The only way to describe the sound of this song would be a German disco in the gay part of town. I mean this in the best possible way.

Track 4. All I Want
The opening drumbeat and feedback reminds me of Sonic Youth running through a field of daisies. The vocals are melodic and meaningful and you have to hear the words to understand the vocals are sweet, but the words are somewhat contrary to the sweetness. All I want is your is you pity, and I want is are your bitter tears
Beauty is the true sense of the word, stunning yet confusing.

Track 5. I Can Change

This song has a great intro its clear and concise. I enjoy the complexity between the sounds of his voice, juxtaposed against the full sound of the electronic background. The Lyrics are great and are worth listening until you hear past the sinth pop sound and hear the creative of the lyrics. The electronic beat makes you want to sway and dance. And Love is a Murderer, Oh Love is a Murderer, but if she calls you tonight everything is alright Once I hear that lyric I become a fan for life, plain and simple.

Track 6. You Wanted A Hit
The intro is subtle, when it gets to the driving beat you know they are serious and going to take you for a ride, a great crunchy guitar solo in the middle. The song has a great rhythmic beat; its all over the map but right on track.
You wanted a hit, but maybe we dont do hits, I try and try, it ends up feeling kind of wrong

Track 7. Pow Pow
Great drum track in the background, this song reminds me of Im losing my Edge and Your Citys a Sucker from their earlier albums.
The Congo drums mix well with the standard drumbeat and gives the song a groove, he talks over the beats. The song has wisdom and knowledge and he tells of the advantages to various different sides of the same story. With you on the inside and me on the outside, there is advantages to both, me being wired and you being tired there is advantages to each

Track 8. Somebodys Calling Me
The Piano track resonates as the techno pulse comes it; this song has great texture and rhythm. The vocals are slower paced that the other tracks, but the driving beat behind the track is superb and creates the heartbeat for the song. Someones texting me to be my girl

Track 9. Home
The cowbell returns on top of a bass beat, which is then swallowed by a looping electronic rhythm, very complex intro full of sound, It sounds like horses galloping down a street made of coconuts as the percussion takes over, the vocals are very crisp and upbeat. So grab your things and stumble into the night, so we can shut the door and shut the door on terrible times.