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Deadmau5 (aka Joel Zimmerman) has released his second album For Lack of a Better Name, and I have a feeling it’s going to be rocking the club scene. Deadmau5’s debut album Random Album Title was without a doubt a great house album. It’s obvious that Deadmau5 wanted to go the safe route by not experimenting too much but rather focusing mixing different grooves to make it fit in well for a club atmosphere.

In For Lack of a Better Name, Deadmau5 obviously appears more comfortable, reveals more power, and become more experimental. The opening track “Fml” begins with epic percussion power, (probably influenced by the film 300), and leads to a thumping bass kick and synth shot. “Moar Ghosts N Stuff” starts out cheesy with a funeral organ, but then kicks back in to a great dance groove. With that track leading into the sequel tune “Ghosts N Stuff (Feat. Rob Swire),” it falls in to the taste of similar indie house group, Justice, which is actually a good thing… a very good thing.

The next track “Hi Friend!” is my favorite tune on the album. It is an irresistible hip house hop track that is guaranteed to get people to jump in the club. Tracks 5 through 8 pretty much follow the same formula as his debut album Random Album Title; the only difference is that the tunes are darker.

“Bot” doesn’t have enough distinction to stand out on the album. The next song “Word Problems” is pretty similar to “Sometimes Things Get, Whatever” from his debut album; this is mainly because both of those tracks use a repetitive line. The song “Soma” is once again pretty repetitive, but the piano break really reminds me of some of the work that Trent Reznor (frontman of Nine Inch Nails) did on his album The Fragile. Sadly, the title track even drags on with repetitiveness as well.

Track 9, “The 16th Hour” is a great trancy house piece that reveals Zimmerman’s passion for smashing other DJ’s into other Deadmi5e. The final track “Strobe” is over ten minutes long and is not worthy to be. Once again, this track doesn’t have much to stand out.

Overall, For Lack of a Better Name has a few gems that prove Deadmau5 to be one of the greatest mainstream house DJs around right now. I personally enjoyed his debut album much more, but this is still worth the cash to spend on for a fun time.

3.5 out of 5

[Recommended Tracks: “Fml”, “Ghosts N Stuff (Feat. Rob Swire)”, “Hi Friend!”, “The 16th Hour”]

Check out some of Deadmau5's tunes at http://www.myspace.com/deadmau5

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