Album of the Week

LCD Soundsystem

This Is Happening (Virgin; 2010)

***

RATED 8 of 10 — LCD Soundsystem’s last album is a great collection of long, radio-unfriendly songs.  All but one song clock in at over five minutes. Ironically, the longest track “You Wanted a Hit” is over nine minutes long. The introductory part of the opening number, “Dance Yrself Clean,” is so long that many a quick single would be over and done before the song finally blasting off into a funky, synth-laden dance track (it’s worth the wait). The length of these songs allows the band to unfold each song deliberately. Their repetitive tracks with plenty of percussion from beat machines, handclaps, cowbells also makes the album fresh harvesting grounds for creative DJs looking for a good re-mix. Lead singer, James Murphy, has a high screeching voice and many of his songs are a stream of consciousness making little sense.  “Pow Pow” is exemplary. The near-spoken word has been mastered by the Talking Heads, and that makes this song sound dated. In addition to the big percussion and heavy synth, the band will occasionally rock. “All I Want” is a respite from the funky, artsy, dance parade.  LCD Soundsystem serves up a fine rock n’ roll song with soaring guitars and soft backup singers. “Home” rounds out the album nicely. It’s nuanced, long, and has layer upon layer of sythns. At the same time, Murphy is not a screeching poet in this one and sings a decent tune. Murphy said that This is Happening is the band’s final album, which is too bad. – by Ben Lowenthal

All albums reviewed in this space are available at Maui’s only record store, Requests (10 N. Market St., Wailuku, 808-244-9315)