#21 on the 2010 Musical Bacon Calendar

James Murphy, the mastermind behind LCD Soundsystem, is a phenomenon. Creating infinitely catchy dance music with fantastic hooks; creating an independent record label with numerous popular acts signed to it (DFA Records); producing multiple hit records: Doing any one of these things is pretty damn amazing. Doing all three of them is downright genius.

With two previous LCD Soundsystem albums under his belt, This is Happening debuted at #10 on the Billboard 200 chart, none too small a feat for an indie act. And with mounds of high praise dumped on the album universally, the popular sales were backed up by critical acclaim. The album is truly great, and it’s also the best LCD Soundsystem album yet (although Murphy has claimed that this will be the last LCD Soundsystem album).

The song above isn’t necessarily indicative of what’s on the album, but it’s close. “Home” isn’t the best on the album, but it’s not the worst, and this video is more interesting than the Spike Jonze-directed “Drunk Girls.”

There’s not much I can say about LCD Soundsystem that hasn’t already been said elsewhere. I did write a brief paragraph about them in my coverage of day 2 at this year’s Sasquatch! Festival, where I said: “James Murphy has charisma you wouldn’t believe.” And that’s about all you need to know.

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22. The Mistress by Yellow Ostrich
23. Halcyon Digest by Deerhunter
24. Been Listening by Johnny Flynn
25. The Wild Hunt by The Tallest Man on Earth
26. Lisbon by The Walkmen
27. Scratch My Back by Peter Gabriel
28. All Day by Girl Talk
29. A Storm – A Tree – My Mother’s Head by Bobby Bare Jr.
30. 03 to TEN by Knathan Ryan
31. In This Light On This Evening by Editors