LCD Soundsystem
This Is Happening
DFA/ Virgin
May 18

By Jason Cunningham

Smoothness is a blessing that must be attained. Not everyone can grab onto it, but if you catch it, one becomes indestructibly cool.

James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem seemed to have bagged the whole coolness thing back when his brand of dance-punk unleashed itself with the single “Loosing My Edge” back in 2002. Murphy’s ironic humor, catchy beats and soulfully suave voice have only improved since.

On his third release under the LCD banner, fittingly titled This is Happening, those talents are put into full force. Something definitely is happening on this album, the follow-up to 2007’s critically acclaimed Sound Of Silver. The verdict? This is happening.

This may be the best collection of songs to be released by LCD, but therein lies a serious problem. The album opens great, easing into itself in a minimalistic fashion by offering the thoughtful and fun “Dance Yourself Clean.”

This brilliant first track is followed by a dud, and it’s a huge one. The song “Drunk Girls” comes in like a bird through an open window- you really don’t want it in your car, home or anywhere near you. Regardless, it bursts in anyway, flapping in a panic for direction. Unless you belong to a fraternity there is no reason to listen to this disappointment.

The rest of the album balances in at near perfect, allowing the listener to ignore what is probably the worst single effort of LCD’s catalog. The songs “I Can Change” and “Home” act as two of the major highlights and the song “You Wanted A Hit” screams truth to Murphy’s untraditional methods of achieving commercial success.

The biggest problem one might have while trying to enjoy Happening is Murphy’s blatant rip-off of his biggest influences. While it may frustrate those who don’t find paying homage to musical giants like David Bowie and Iggy Pop artistically credible, it’d be shocking if it’d prevent them from tapping their feet and bobbing their heads anyway.