James Murphey, who just recently told Sasha Frere-Jones of the New Yorker it all came about as a joke, has laughed his way to his third LCD Soundsystem album. LCD Soundsystem is known as a "hipster-indie" band that creates intelligent dance music and amazing rock music. Nothing has changed on their third full length.
This Is Happening, is a follow up to their highly acclaimed album Sound of Silver that featured one of the greatest songs of the last decade, All My Friends (number 2 on Pitchforks list). Their latest work doesn't fall short of the expectations that have been set on themselves as a band. The album starts out with a great song, Dance Yrself Clean, which builds to a point that you can't help but start dancing. Be warned that if you turn this song up before the break it may hurt your ear drums. It is a great way to get the dancing out of the way because the album takes you on a musical journey that most artists I don't think are capable of these days.
This Is Happening was recorded in one of Rick Rubin's house studios in LA far away from James' DFA studio in the West Village. This doesn't seem to take away from their typical themes of coming to age and grips with becoming an aging musician in a field that is dominated by kids just finishing High School and not ready for what it actually takes to be a working musician. Some tracks take an awesome turn then normal. All I Want and Somebody's Calling Me is more of a late 70s, early 80s vibe, reminiscent of a Bowie sound.
James' singing technique luckily hasn't changed either. He continues to speak over their amazingly produced tracks. I love how he speaks almost off rhythm, like a drunken sailor. It speaks to me as a New Orleanean. If you are a fan of any of his previous work or a fan of modern music in general, you need to get on this. This is a solid album from top to bottom.
The two tracks I have bellow are great representations of the album. The first single off the album, Drunk Girls, is a rowdy song that fits the lyrics and is probably more rock then people expect from them (if you haven't seen Spike Jonez's video for it yet you need to). The second track is my favorite song off the album. You Wanted a Hit has a wonderful build and speaks from what appears to be James' heart; talking on the frustrations of trying to make a song for his fans.
And that is the beauty of LCD Soundsystem in general. They make music for themselves and say, "if you like it, buy it; if not, fuck off." And I mean, that is about as American Rock and Roll as it comes.
MP3: LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls
MP3: LCD Soundsystem - You Wanted A Hit
This Is Happening, is a follow up to their highly acclaimed album Sound of Silver that featured one of the greatest songs of the last decade, All My Friends (number 2 on Pitchforks list). Their latest work doesn't fall short of the expectations that have been set on themselves as a band. The album starts out with a great song, Dance Yrself Clean, which builds to a point that you can't help but start dancing. Be warned that if you turn this song up before the break it may hurt your ear drums. It is a great way to get the dancing out of the way because the album takes you on a musical journey that most artists I don't think are capable of these days.
This Is Happening was recorded in one of Rick Rubin's house studios in LA far away from James' DFA studio in the West Village. This doesn't seem to take away from their typical themes of coming to age and grips with becoming an aging musician in a field that is dominated by kids just finishing High School and not ready for what it actually takes to be a working musician. Some tracks take an awesome turn then normal. All I Want and Somebody's Calling Me is more of a late 70s, early 80s vibe, reminiscent of a Bowie sound.
James' singing technique luckily hasn't changed either. He continues to speak over their amazingly produced tracks. I love how he speaks almost off rhythm, like a drunken sailor. It speaks to me as a New Orleanean. If you are a fan of any of his previous work or a fan of modern music in general, you need to get on this. This is a solid album from top to bottom.
The two tracks I have bellow are great representations of the album. The first single off the album, Drunk Girls, is a rowdy song that fits the lyrics and is probably more rock then people expect from them (if you haven't seen Spike Jonez's video for it yet you need to). The second track is my favorite song off the album. You Wanted a Hit has a wonderful build and speaks from what appears to be James' heart; talking on the frustrations of trying to make a song for his fans.
And that is the beauty of LCD Soundsystem in general. They make music for themselves and say, "if you like it, buy it; if not, fuck off." And I mean, that is about as American Rock and Roll as it comes.
MP3: LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls
MP3: LCD Soundsystem - You Wanted A Hit
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