ALBUM REVIEW: “This is Happening” by LCD Soundsystem

Artist: LCD Soundsystem
Album: This Is Happening
Label: DFA
Rating: 8.4/10

Nearly a month since streaming the entire album on their website, LCD Soundsystem’s long-awaited follow-up to the brilliant “Sound of Silver”, “This is Happening” is finally available for purchase online and beyond.

It seems this year, in the indie world, the LOOONNNG song is in.  Even more surprising is kicking off the album with one (as evidenced by recent releases by bands like Broken Social Scene and MGMT). LCD Soundsystem continues the trend with the drawn out “Dance Yrself Clean”… a tune that gurgles in a groove for a huge stretch then breaks out in sawtooth Casio tone be-b-beats for another long spell before fading.  This opening pattern effectively sets the tone and pattern for the rest of the selections on the album.

With the exception of the tight, late 70s Bowie pastiche, “Drunk Girls”, “This is Happening” is a sprawling, challenging album chock full of lengthy (some might even go as far as saying endless) numbers that really push the boundaries of how far one can stretch out an idea, that seem to flout the idea of the commercial pop tune, a perfect example is the NINE minute and appropriately entitled “You Wanted a Hit”.  

The thing of it is, I totally get where (LCD creator) James Murphy is coming from.  This is his full ON Brian Eno record. 

All throughout the record there are instances of the master producer’s influence.  I hear “Remain in Light” era Talking Heads (greatly apparent on the talky/bouncy “Pow Pow”).  I also hear a lot of the aforementioned Bowie/Eno collaboration of “Low”….and I LOVE both those albums… so I should really love this album, right?

But I don’t…. well, not yet anyway. 

I can see how I could after 20 more listens, though.  It’s the definition of a grower, the kind of music you got to give yourself over to.  At this point, my appreciation of it falls more on the intellectual side of things.

This might be due to the fact that, although you can tell that Murphy’s completely absorbed the Eno vibe and knows exactly how to regurgitate it perfectly in the studio, there is little left of MURPHY’S sound mixed in…

I’m not saying it’s not buried in there somewhere, only that it might take a little more seeking to find it.

It’s got my attention though… I will say that.