LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening (2010)

It's too much for me. Today I listened to this and Joanna Newsom's Ys. It was music to my ears, for sure.

I wonder if I got a different listening experience from This is Happening compared to most. Happening stands as LCD Soundsystem's farewell album, but as someone who hasn't really given them much of a listen, Happening didn't have that bitter-sweetness attached to it.

But I could tell that Happening was emotionally charged. It's a dance album first, and a goodbye second. Lyrically, James Murphy and co. aren't very complex, but they say a lot with simple words. I love the opening to "I Can Change" for example.

Tell me a line make it easy for me/
Open your arms/
Dance with me until I feel all right/

Juxtapose this desperation with the active, pulsating beats, and you've got great music. This is Happening works as something to dance to, but there's also a thoughtful, mature side. Not many artists can get away with seven, eight minute long tracks, but LCD Soundsystem pulls it off in stride. Surprisingly, This is Happening never gets repetitive. With every passing minute, it only gets better.

9.5/10

Beach House - Take Care (2010)

This is Beach House at its finest. I think anyone's first Beach House album is destined to be their favorite (there's a lack of variety between their albums, I think). Anyways, this is my favorite Beach House album, by a large margin too. Teen Dream sounds wistful, psychedelic, and beautiful. Standout tracks include "Silver Soul" (which was sampled on Kendrick Lamar's "Money Trees"), "Used to Be", "Better Times", and "Take Care".

9/10

Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest (2010)

I love Halcyon Digest, but I'm not sure why. I tried reading Pitchfork's review, and though it was effusive in praise, but it offered little insight in what made Digest great.

Halcyon Digest's greatest asset is mood. It's sometimes ambient, and sometimes foot-tappingly playful. The album cover is dark and a little creepy, but Digest is quite accessible. It's almost poppy, but that's not a bad thing.

Of course some songs are stronger than others, but that's to be expected. Standouts were  "Revival", which sounded a lot like an upbeat track that Yellow House-era Grizzly Bear would have released, and the epic "Desire Lines".

Still, I can't pin down what makes Halcyon Digest so good, and what makes it fall short of a 10. I do feel I could've done without "Fountain Stairs", and maybe opener "Earthquake" could've been trimmed a bit, but Halcyon Digest is superb, unique rock.

9/10