MUSIC
LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

Over the course of three proper full-length albums and a smattering of singles, LCD Soundsystem—the oft-one-man-show of New York DJ, producer and DFA  Records co-honcho James Murphy—has become an increasingly sure bet.  But it wasn’t always so. His first single was 2002’s “Losing My Edge,” an eight-minute takedown of rock ‘n’ roll posturing (“I used to work in the record store / I had everything before anyone”) that was almost more notable in scope and subject matter than for its musicality. When LCD’s self-titled debut came out three years later, lead single “Daft Punk is Playing at My House” toyed with hipster braggadocio in much the same way and became the album’s—and the band’s—big hook. Murphy seemed like some kind of schlubby Nerd King, weirdly cool despite himself, lording over his turntables in a hoodie and button-down.

But LCD Soundsystem avoided novelty-act territory with a helping of self-skewering; Murphy dressed himself down almost more than anyone else, stripping away all traces of preening entitlement and pretense, readying himself for a three-album run that would build on—not trade on—his cutting wit. The records have a wry take on certain social graces, toying with the kids packing underground bars and the same kind of house parties that probably wound up blasting the songs. “It’s like a discipline / Without the discipline of all of the discipline / It’s like a fat guy in a T-shirt / Doing all the saying,” he sang on “Movement,” from LCD Soundsystem, which sounded just like the throwdowns it mocked, all loose, slappy beats and whomping synths. Two years later, Sound of Silver tightened, brightened and focused those same elements; Murphy sounded more sure of himself, too, but wearier.