Is This Is Happening a good place to start with LCD Soundsystem?

Yes, This Is Happening is recommended as a starting point for new LCD Soundsystem listeners. A pulsating blend of dance-punk rhythms and introspective lyrics that captures the essence of urban nightlife. This Is Happening, released in 2010, marked LCD Soundsystem's third studio album and came after their critically acclaimed album Sound of Silver. At this point, James Murphy was solidifying his reputation as a pioneer of dance-punk while navigating the band's impending breakup announcement later that year.

Who is This Is Happening for?

This Is Happening works well if you're into wave-like pacing with energy shifts, introspective moments for reflection and danceable anthems for gatherings.

How many songs are on This Is Happening?

This Is Happening has 9 tracks, running approximately 65 minutes.

This Is Happening

LCD Soundsystem · 2010

65 min · 9 tracks · punk rock

A pulsating blend of dance-punk rhythms and introspective lyrics that captures the essence of urban nightlife.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Dance Yrself Clean Start here — This track features a gradual buildup that contrasts soft vocals with an explosive instrumental climax, encapsulating the tension between introspection and celebration present throughout the album.
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Drunk Girls — With its catchy hooks and playful lyrics, this song becomes an anthem for carefree nights out, representing the band's ability to merge humor with danceable beats.
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I Can Change — This track showcases a more vulnerable side of Murphy’s songwriting, where the exploration of personal transformation is underscored by an infectious groove that invites reflection.
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Somebody’s Calling Me — The melding of reflective lyrics with a driving beat highlights the struggle between desire for connection and isolation, making it a poignant moment on the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

66 /100

Alpine

Higher than 89% of albums we've rated

The album blends dance-punk rhythms with introspective lyrics, showcasing strong craft and distinctiveness.

What we noticed

Tracks like 'Drunk Girls' and 'I Can Change' employ repetitive hooks and layered instrumentation, emphasizing rhythm over melody.
The album closes with 'Home', which shifts to a more reflective tone, contrasting with the high-energy tracks that precede it.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

wave-like pacing with energy shifts
introspective moments for reflection
danceable anthems for gatherings
cathartic build-ups and releases

Maybe skip if you

prefer instant gratification tracks
seek straightforward song structures

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Critical Peak — This album is seen as a high point in artistic ambition and critical acclaim.
Themes: nightlife satire· post-hipster disillusionment· dance floor transience
Career context: This Is Happening, released in 2010, marked LCD Soundsystem's third studio album and came after their critically acclaimed album Sound of Silver. At this point, James Murphy was solidifying his reputation as a pioneer of dance-punk while navigating the band's impending breakup announcement later that year.
Stylistic neighbors: Hot Chip· The Rapture· Soulwax