This Is Happening is a good album - by anyone’s standards a 7 or even an 8/10 - and one that on repeated listens is proving to be a grower. However, after a tidal wave of hype and two scene-defining records, it can’t help but be bit of a disappointment.
There are moments of genius here though. Dance Yrself Clean and Pow Pow stand out as crackling with the same energy as the very best LCD Soundsystem tracks. Sadly, this can't help but highlight that much of the album does not.
This Is Happening features an eclectic - if overly-reverential - range of reference points. As you would expect, all are skillfully rendered but the album just doesn’t fit together like it should.
Thankfully, the standout tracks on the album pull in the slack and will serve not only as highpoints of April's forthcoming LCD Soundsystem shows but preserve the quality of the band’s legacy in the wake of their last hurrah. Something great? Just.
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Buy LCD Soundsystem's This Is Happening here: HMV | Amazon | iTunes
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