LCD Soundsystem

“This Is Happening”

10.0/10.0

Key Tracks: “Drunk Girls,” “Home”

A younger James Murphy feigned worry on the first track of the B-side to his band’s eponymous debut album, “LCD Soundsystem”. “I’m losing my edge to the Internet seekers who can tell me every member of every good group from 1962 to 1978,” he delivered in 2005, his deadpan sarcastic drone backed by electronic thudding and thumping, synths shimmying and splattering. Now 40, potbellied and more in love with music than even in his record-store-clerk days, Murphy’s recorded his allegedly final LCD album, “This Is Happening.”

After a handful of listens to the new record, it’s clear that Murphy doesn’t care anymore. He doesn’t care about recording hits or calling out scenesters or conjuring nostalgia for the simpler times before post-modernity infected dance music. He’s hit a rich, well-harnessed and devastatingly creative period of songwriting and he just wants everybody to hear about it. “You wanted a hit, but that’s not what we do” Murphy plainly says on the back end of the record.

A perfectly cyclical, complete recording, “This Is Happening” melds the debut’s irresistible dance grooves with the endearing sentiment of 2007’s “Sound of Silver.” There are moments when he succeeds at synthesizing “Someone Great” with “Yeah” in brilliant fashion. Unlike both previous records though, “Happening” avoids falling off any apexes because the whole thing is one long highlight. And if the last album rumors turn true, “Home,” with its whistling-synth rhythms and uptempo groove, is a graceful curtain-drawing on dance-punk’s most important act.

Pushing nine minutes, “Dance Yrself Clean” warbles and teeters along at the start, Murphy muttering about his terrible friends until one third of the way in when a massive blast of electro power let’s you know what you’re listening to. It segues into the raucous, and frankly hilarious “Drunk Girls”, one of the most polarizing songs in recent memory. It’s impossible not to giggle at lines like “drunk girls know that love is an astronaut/ it comes back but it’s never the same” or that they “wait an hour to pee.” Party anthems have a new gold standard.

The dank Euro-trash of “One Touch” (recall that Murphy co-founded DFA —Death From Abroad — Records) transitions into the soul of the record where Murphy explores his feelings. “All I Want,” “I Can Change” and “You Wanted a Hit” are lyrical bare-all, propelled by beautiful and omnivorous sounds.

Lyrically, funny-cause-it’s-true and you-know-what-it’s-like-when songs are Murphy’s greatest strength and much like the meaty existential centerpiece of “Sound of Silver” (“Someone Great” and “All My Friends”), the latter take center stage by the fourth track of “This Is Happening.” Much like losing somebody you admired and missing your friends, “I Can Change” deals in the universal experience of altering your life to suit that of a lover. “Never change, never change, never change, never change” he sings to her in one chorus, only to plead back later by echoing the song’s title.

It’s the universality of the songwriting that endears LCD Soundsystem to everybody from the New York-mediated dancing elite to Midwestern college students who don’t know The Rapture’s “House of Jealous Lovers” from Chromeo’s “Destination Overdrive.”

“This Is Happening” is dance-punk’s “London Calling,” an omnivorous, genre-bending record stuffed thick with observation and personal sentiment. Electronic interludes mix right in with a beautifully-toned guitar in “All I Want,” propelled along by snappy, clappy drum-kicks and rolls. It ends with Murphy digging into his core, “cause I just want what I want/ take me home” while background singers supply ooh-la-la-las amidst sonic madness.

After the ridiculous sonic virtuosity and funny disco-dance call and response on “Pow Pow,” “Somebody’s Calling Me” is the only meh-worthy song on the record (it’s literally about his girl texting him), but things wrap up beautifully with “Home.” “Grab your things and stumble into the night,” Murphy says, inviting us to join him to examine the necessity and beauty of a good night out. The high-hat snaps and synths whistle as he beckons to “break the rules like nothing will last.” It’s like somebody transported 1975 Bruce Springsteen to the future so he could record “Born to Run” with a bunch of computers.

Electronic music has never sounded as intimate as “This Is Happening.” Lyrical bare-all plus computer wizardry times the apex of self-awareness equals what’s likely Murphy’s final album under the LCD moniker, a brilliant send-off to fans of dance music and the culture surrounding it.

-Matt Carney/The Daily

B.o.B.

“B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray”

8.0/10

Key Tracks: “Past My Shades,” “Nothin’ on You”

“B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray,” a 12-track effort, is an impressive and versatile debut from the Atlanta rapper B.o.B., who matches smooth flow with excellent rhyming, and even sings a hook here and there, too.

He was able to gather quite an interesting collective of guests for the album, including Lupe Fiasco, Eminem, Hayley Williams (Paramore), Rivers Cuomo (Weezer), Janelle Monáe, T.I., Playboy Tre, Ricco Barrino and Bruno Mars.

The versatility of the album is shown by the above list of featured guests, and the songs on the album blend a large collection of genres.

There are the more club-ready, upbeat songs like “Bet I,” which features T.I. and Playboy Tre, and his first single “Nothin’ on You,” which features Mars.

Then there are the slower, more issue-driven efforts like “Airplanes,” featuring Williams, and “Kids,” which featuring Monáe. The latter features a chorus excellently adapted from Vampire Weekend’s song “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance.”

It’s clear that B.o.B doesn’t want to be lumped with any particular genre, and especially not mainstream rap. Probably the best song is “Past My Shades,” a stellar collaboration featuring Fiasco. The song features an excellent beat, great verses from both rappers, and a hook sung by B.o.B. The duo, both Atlantic Records and tour mates, have obvious chemistry on the track.

Perhaps the biggest knock against the album is it’s short length, as it would’ve been nice to hear a couple more tracks.

However, the album is a great way for the young rapper to get his career going, and if he continues to let his talent show he certainly will be around for a while.

-Ryan Querbach/The Daily

New Pornographers

"Together"

5.8/10.0

Key Tracks: "Moves," "Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk"

Canadian power-pop royalty New Pornographers have put out acclaimed album after acclaimed album in its surprisingly lengthy 13 year career.

The Canucks have been remarkably efficient all the while, owning year and decade end lists with its applauded "Electric Version" and "Twin Cinema" and were just as solid with its 2007 release "Challengers."

"Together" follows suit — solid as ever — but in not bothering to try anything fresh or new, becomes a little stale.

You can't blame the group for following the formula; no one has complained. But it's starting to feel a little forced.

A band should offer something new with each record, if not in the greater scheme of music, at least within itself.

New Pornographers just does not sound like it is having any fun anymore.

"Together" comes off like just that — a group of people coming together and forcing out an album because it's what they are supposed to do. The talented musicians that make up the group — most of whom have other musical projects they are involved in — sound less like friends joining up for a party and more like a tense family reunion.

But you can't completely knock "Together," because it truly is another solid album.

The sunny melodies of "Silver Jenny Dollar" and trill opening strings of "Moves" will have you moving, and a host of guest artists, including members of St. Vincent, Beirut and Okkervil River, make big splashes throughout the record.

The quirky keys of "Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk" with the Neko Case/Dan Bejar echoing vocals is the most charming moment — a reminder of what the group is capable of when it's putting in the effort.

But the ominous tug of "Crash Years" may be a hint into the future. Sure, New Pornographers may be in the midst of a slow crash, but it will sound good all the while. Or maybe it will pull out of the collision just in time, we'll just have to wait and see.

The Burning Hotels

"Novels"

9.5/10.0

Who knew the best modern post-punk wouldn't come out of New York, L.A. or London, but DFW?

Steadily dominating the Southwest, The Burning Hotels had a solid EP under its belt, along with a guest appearance in the movie "Bandslam," but it outdid itself with its full-length debut, "Novels."

Part youthful exuberance and part sophisticated restraint, "Novels" is brimming with angular rock hooks and airy pop drifts that float down like a balloon onto a bed of nails, coming to a rest right before it bursts.

Most astonishingly is how quick the band has built something so lean and tight; "Novels" leaves no room for anything other than joyous rock riffs and tucked-in pop anthems.

To give a bit of context, take the zagging hooks of Bloc Party ("To Whom It May Concern"), morose new wave of Interpol ("The River") and vintage rock melodies of The Strokes ("French Heart Attack") and you've got the basis for The Burning Hotels.

Fittingly, where those three bands all faltered on their third discs is where The Burning Hotels picks up, making for a thick slice of post-punk bliss.

It makes no short order of launching into it, rocketing off with the blistering "Austin's Birthday" and zipping "Boy Or A Girl." With the occasional ballad ("Silhouette") lodged between, "Novels" races at breakneck speed through an endless stream of poppy earbugs that won't leave your head for days.

Perhaps most remarkable is how intricate and detailed each song is without being overwhelmed by its structure. The band rallies each song with an arsenal of quick-as-a-bullet chord progressions and regimented rhythm changes that are executed to the T.

The cuts in "French Heart Attack" and "Hey" are Pine-Sol clean; the echo in "Time" gives me chills. "Novels" is a perfect example of how tedious efforts and attention to detail can ultimately lead to an impeccable product.

There's no major misstep to critique, no fault to pick at. "Novels" is not perfect, but it's pretty damn close.

-Joshua Boydston