LCD Soundsystem, also known as James Murphy and Company, are once again paving their own path in the world of (lesser-known) music. Their album This Is Happening, their third and supposedly final record released on May 18, demonstrates LCD’s ability to switch things up and produce powerful music with a much different sound from their previous albums.

The album begins with a subdued and understated song seeped in a saturated sound with “”Dance Yrself Clean.”” The use of cowbell and tapped drumming are the highlight of the first half of the minimalistic track. It has small traces of LCD’s usual electronics with muted indie-sounding vocals, but halfway through the song, Murphy beats it into a super-synthesized LCD norm, which is both infectious and dance-worthy.

Most songs on the album can be categorized as disco-esque. Think about the meshing of the n’70s with the next two decades of contemporary music to imagine the overall sound of This Is Happening. Songs with greater dance beats like “”One Touch,”” “”Pow Pow,”” and “”Home”” are all tracks that the average car or bedroom dancer can crank up and let their inner dance freak roam wild.

“”Drunk Girls”” is the album’s highlight and features some hilarious lyrical lines. Not only is the song catchy, but funny-but-true lyrics like “”Just ‘cause you’re hungry / Doesn’t mean that you’re lean”” as well as the cliché end-rhymed drunk girl and boy stereotypes make this track the true high point of This Is Happening.

Murphy has said on more than one occasion that they (LCD) “”don’t do hits”” because “”it ends up feeling kind of wrong””. Kudos to him for not wanting to be another bland Top 40 band.

Smooth transitioning between songs, some futuristic robot squeaks and a few name-that-inspiration songs later, you may just understand LCD Soundsystem and their unique mission. If not, there are still a few decent dance fallback tracks to keep you rocking all night long.

GRADE: B