CDVS: LCD Soundsystem Vs. Basement Jaxx

In case you haven't noticed, rock `n' roll has returned to the dance floor. Whether it's club DJs mashing the White Stripes into their mixes or catchy Franz Ferdinand singles climbing the charts, it's a trend that has been going on long enough not to be a trend anymore.

According to the recent Grammys, Simon Ratcliffe and Felix Buxton--the production duo known as Basement Jaxx--created the best dance record of 2004 with Kish Kash, a groove-heavy, ultra-polished take on their trademark progressive house. The disc features a wide array of guest vocalists, including the super-raw Dizzee Rascal and ex-NSYNCer J.C. Chasez. But the most danceable, highest energy tracks are the Prince homage "Right Here's the Spot," featuring bassist/diva Meshell Ndegeocello; "Cish Cash," racing electroclash with post-punk icon Siouxsie Sioux; and the 2:25 burst of guitar fun "Living Room," in which Buxton sings.

A month after Kish Kash, a dance-punk record called Echoes was released in September 2003. It was by The Rapture and it was produced by the DFA, another duo well-versed in the art of ass-shaking beats. James Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy took a sloppy indie rock band and produced one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year, a feat that helped create tremendous buzz for any future releases by the duo. LCD Soundsystem, Murphy's project, easily surpasses the promise he showed in the DFA.

We're talking cowbells. We're talking drum machine beats on top of live drums. We're talking Talking Heads-style vocals, taunting you on top of rubbery bass lines, melting guitar noise and liquid synthesizers--truly hot shit. LCD Soundsystem comes as two discs. The first is Murphy's real album, which is a little inconsistent but still packs plenty of fun ("Daft Punk is Playing at My House," "Disco Infiltrator") with its filler. But the second disc, a collection of previously released singles, is the true prize. Each of the seven tracks runs long and dynamic, especially the intoxicating "Beat Connection" and "Yeah." Throw it on and watch your party get cooler.

Thanks to its rock flourishes, Kish Kash is certainly one of the better dance records of recent years. But LCD Soundsystem is the first must-have record of 2005 for those who rock, those who dance and everyone in between.--Brock Radke