LCD Soundsystem- This Is Happening

LCD Soundsystem- This Is Happening
Rating: 9.1/10

No more James Murphy albums? Though it appears LCD Soundsystem might not see a fourth release, thankfully this doesn't mean Murphy will be leaving the industry completely. After all, how could he? The man's obviously very talented and at the apex of his career. At 40 years old, he may not be the youngest indie-rock star, but his ability to write, perform, and produce unique electronic dance-pop has only ripened with age. He produced this-year's Stuck on Nothing by fellow DFA power-pop band Free Energy, creating a engrossingly removed atmosphere. It established a strange dichotomy between the album's inviting sound and its demand to keep the listener at a safe distance. This being his only output in years, one couldn't help but wonder if this unusual production value was any indication of what was to come with his own musical aspirations. I'll spare you the suspense-- it's not.

On the 2005 self-titled debut, Murphy confessed to improvising all the album's lyrics live in the vocal booth, frequently resulting in spontaneous rambling. This is the impulsive technique of someone who evidently doesn't put much emphasis on lyrical eloquence or brevity. Sound of Silver revealed a man showing much more seriousness about what he had to say, resulting in lyrics that were often reflective and poignant. It shouldn't come as too much of a shock that on This Is Happening, Murphy's lyrics truly shine.

Opening track "Dance Yrself Clean" is a brilliant exercise in patience. With its oscillating electro-percussion and understated instrumentation, we hear Murphy's muffled voice struggling:

"Present company/excluded every time/present company-- the best that you can find".

The song's thin, arpeggiated synth-line enters, teasing us with its gentle, melodic resonance. At this point, we all remain seated, waiting for it to explode into a blaring dance number-- and Murphy knows it. The man's got the entire world's attention-- he'd have to be crazy to give it up right away. After all, what's another few minutes to tack onto what seems like decades since we first made our way through Sound of Silver back in early '07, only to fall for "New York, I Love You" and its sly false-ending? It takes "Dance Yrself Clean" three whole minutes for it to erupt into its infectious electronic groove. The noisy distorted synth-bass hits and piercing snare fills give Murphy justification to shout at the top of his lungs:

"Don't you want me to wake up?/Then give me just a bit of your time".

We're all ears, Jimmy. Now, show us what gold sounds like...

"Drunk Girls" is Murphy's most obvious attempt at a radio-friendly single yet, which makes it all the more surprising that it's one of the album's weakest cuts. It's a fast-paced guitar track along the same lines as Silver's "Watch the Tapes", only with a backing chorus cheering "drunk girls!" and "drunk boys!" while the lead vocal juxtaposes each group's character at their intoxicated utmost. "All I Want" brings to mind Silver's epic "All My Friends", with its steady, looping drum and piano rhythm leading the way for a variety of guitar riffs and synth lines that gradually build into an overpowering wall of sound. With his guard fully down for the first time on the album, Murphy's vocals come in sounding as sweet and sincere as they ever have:

"From now on, I'm someone different/cause it's no fun being predictably lame/from now on, there's true indifference/cause I just want what I want".

The song swells up, then gradually dies in a culmination of its foundation slowly buckling under the weight of it own earnestness. It's the perfect moment to put the album on pause and sit back in awe. After all, Murphy has truly outdone himself here. The Bowie comparisons are valid, sure. But, I'll go on record saying I much prefer this recording to "Heroes"-- its arrangement is more explosive and its driving beat serves as a constant reminder of Murphy's perseverance. When he belts "take me home", you're tempted to find some way to make that happen.

So, now that you've fully collected your thoughts, you're more than ready to press that play button for the second time. Only, when you reach for it, you're puzzled to feel your heart sink inside of your chest. I mean, why even continue listening when you know you've just heard the album's highlight? Then that electro-swagger of "I Can Change" permeates throughout your mind and, once again, you're all ears. Murphy's soft voice enters so reassuringly, practically whispering: "tell me a line, make it easy for me". And as soon as he begins pleading "never change", there's really nothing left to do but melt at the beauty of it all.

"Love is a curse/shoved in a hearse/love is an open book to a verse of your bad poetry".

By the song's end, we find Murphy at his most vulnerable-- he's on his knees promising he can change "if it helps you feel real love". Clearly he's not the self-involved hipster we once took him for. "You Wanted A Hit" is an obvious stab at the record industry and, though it takes a minute or so to really take-off, it's one of the album's most enjoyable listens. With its oriental-sounding synth hooks, catchy bassline and the singalong chorus "we won't be your babies anymore", it's exactly what you'd expect from the band that deemed themselves North American scum. In a way, it wouldn't be too surprising if Murphy actually released it as a single. Notwithstanding the irony, it's certainly catchy enough to be played on the radio, though its nine minute running-time would require heavy editing.

The jazzy "Somebody's Calling Me", with its slow tempo and initially-minimalist production, is the album's red herring and likely to be written off as a throwaway. In actuality, it's the most unique and inventive track This Is Happening has to offer. The steady piano bounce and snapping percussion heard throughout the recording gives the impression of a waltz beat while retaining its 4/4 time signature, and when the song builds, the synthesized organ in the chorus creates an almost hypnotizing effect. By the song's end, Murphy's affected voice sounds so distant, it feels as if he's shouting to us from a spaceship passing through time.

This Is Happening is the sound of a 40 year old man undergoing a late stage of maturity. It's only been five years since Murphy was concerned about "losing his edge" and now he's more worried about securing his love's bitter tears and pity. There's no doubt this album is one of the years best-- the real question is how it compares to its predecessor. At the risk of sounding trite, the truth is they're completely different albums and ultimately incomparable. While it's perfectly valid to state that the new album doesn't contain a track as electric or jarring as "Watch The Tapes" or eerily haunting as "Someone Great", it's equally fair to say that Silver possessed a mere fraction of the emotional depth found on This Is Happening. Tracks like "I Can Change" and "All I Want" break entirely new ground for Murphy, showcasing his songwriting maturity and understanding of how to connect with the listener on a less superficial level.

However, it's this very development that sustains the albums only real shortcoming: Murphy's so busy showing off his new-found wisdom that he occasionally forgets to relax and not take himself so seriously. Which is why if you're a fan of LCD Soundsystem for its dance-floor gratification or hilariously offbeat lyrics, you'll most likely be disappointed in this release. Previous tracks like "Get Innocuous", "Disco Infiltrator", and "Tribulations" sound like they were specifically designed for dance-club rendering. And though Happening's "One Touch" and "Pow Pow" are unabashedly fun throwbacks to his earlier work, most of the album's cuts lack the danceability we've come to expect. This, however, is a small price to pay, considering there is not a weak track on here. In a way, you can't help but feel a little resentment toward Murphy-- he's a middle-aged, able-bodied man destined to sit in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. In many respects, This is Happening is an important step forward-- I just pray that one day he decides to get up and walk again.

--Jon Manning

I Can Change

All I Want

You Wanted A Hit

Dance Yrself Clean

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